ThisCalculator

Everyday

Turn Off AI Features in LibreOffice & Keep Docs Local

Updated · Standard formula, shown below

LibreOffice is a free, open-source office suite that runs entirely on your computer. Recent versions include optional, experimental AI features that can send data to remote servers for processing. If you prefer to keep your documents completely local and private, you can disable these features in a few minutes. This guide shows you exactly where to find the settings and what to change, so your work never leaves your machine.

What You’ll Need

  • A computer with LibreOffice installed (version 24.8 or later, where AI features are present).
  • Administrator rights on your user account (needed only if you want to change settings for all users).
  • About 5 minutes of time.

Step-by-Step

  1. Open LibreOffice. Launch any component, such as Writer, Calc, or Impress. The settings are shared across all modules.
  2. Go to the Options dialog. On Windows/Linux, click Tools in the menu bar and select Options. On macOS, click LibreOffice in the menu bar and select Preferences.
  3. Navigate to the AI section. In the left panel of the Options dialog, expand the Tools category (if present). Look for an entry named AI or Artificial Intelligence. In some versions, it may be under General or Advanced.
  4. Disable AI features. Uncheck the box that says Enable AI features or Allow AI services. If there are sub-options (e.g., for specific features like “Summarize” or “Translate”), uncheck those as well.
  5. Disable remote connections (if available). Some builds have a separate setting for “Remote AI” or “Cloud services”. Uncheck any option that allows sending data to external servers.
  6. Check the “Advanced” tab. Go to Tools > Options > Advanced. Look for a checkbox labeled Enable experimental features. If it is checked, uncheck it. This often disables AI-related experimental options.
  7. Apply and restart. Click OK to save the changes. Close and reopen LibreOffice to ensure the settings take effect.
  8. Verify. After restarting, check that the AI menu items (like “AI Tools” or “Smart Assist”) are grayed out or missing. If they still appear, repeat steps 3–6 and ensure you saved.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to uncheck sub-options. Even if the main AI checkbox is off, some individual features may remain enabled. Uncheck every AI-related box.
  • Changing settings in the wrong profile. LibreOffice uses a user profile. If you also have a portable version or a different installation, you need to change settings in each.
  • Not restarting LibreOffice. Some changes only apply after a full restart. Make sure to close all open documents and quit the application completely.
  • Assuming AI is off by default. In some versions, AI features are opt-in, but in others they may be on by default. Always check the settings.

Tips

  • Use a firewall. Even after disabling, you can block LibreOffice from accessing the internet at the firewall level for extra privacy.
  • Disable automatic updates. Updates may re-enable AI features. After updating, re-check your settings.
  • Use the “Expert Configuration”. If you’re comfortable, you can go to Tools > Options > Advanced > Expert Configuration and search for “AI” to see all related settings. Change any that are set to true to false.
  • Keep a backup of your profile. Before making changes, you can copy your user profile folder (usually in %APPDATA%\LibreOffice on Windows or ~/.config/libreoffice on Linux) so you can restore it if needed.

Troubleshooting

I don’t see any AI options in the settings. Your LibreOffice version may not include AI features, or they are hidden. Check your version under Help > About. If you have an older version, there’s nothing to disable. If you have a very new version, the AI settings might be in a different location—search the Options dialog for “AI”.

AI menu items still appear after disabling. This can happen if the settings didn’t save properly or if you have multiple profiles. Try restarting LibreOffice, then check again. If they still appear, go to Tools > Options > Advanced and ensure “Enable experimental features” is unchecked.

LibreOffice is still connecting to the internet. Even without AI, LibreOffice may check for updates or access help content online. To fully block network access, use your operating system’s firewall to deny outgoing connections for the LibreOffice executable (e.g., soffice.exe on Windows, soffice on Linux/macOS).

My documents were already sent to an AI service. If you used an AI feature before disabling, some data may have been transmitted. Unfortunately, you cannot undo that. Going forward, keep AI disabled and consider using a firewall to prevent any future connections.

Settings revert after an update. LibreOffice updates can reset some preferences. After updating, re-open the Options dialog and re-disable AI features. You can also set the configuration file to read-only, but that may cause other issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does LibreOffice have built-in AI? Recent versions include experimental AI features, such as AI-based translation or summarization, but they are optional and not enabled by default in all distributions. You can disable them as described.

Will disabling AI affect my documents? No. Your documents remain fully functional. AI features are add-ons that you can use or ignore. Disabling them does not change formatting, macros, or any core functionality.

Are my documents already stored in the cloud? No. LibreOffice is a local application. Your documents are stored on your computer unless you explicitly save them to a cloud folder (like Dropbox or OneDrive). AI features may send snippets of text to a server, but the documents themselves are not automatically uploaded.

Can I use AI features later if I change my mind? Yes. Simply re-enable the AI options in the same settings dialog. There is no permanent lock.

Does LibreOffice send any data without my permission? LibreOffice does not send data without your consent. AI features require you to actively use them, and they typically ask for confirmation before sending data. Disabling them ensures no data is sent.

Is there a way to completely remove AI components from the installation? On some operating systems, you can install a custom build that excludes AI features, but that is advanced. The simplest method is to disable them in settings, which prevents any use.

Related

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.