diff --git a/prefs/firefox/browser.yaml b/prefs/firefox/browser.yaml
index 41575963d..23db6a4e4 100644
--- a/prefs/firefox/browser.yaml
+++ b/prefs/firefox/browser.yaml
@@ -86,3 +86,7 @@
 - name: browser.tabs.splitView.enabled
   value: false
   locked: true
+
+# See gh-12985 for details on the following preferences
+- name: browser.search.widget.new
+  value: true