Firefox how to stop automatic updates?

ariespaan · Oct 3, 2023

Hi,

I work with Windows-11 and I use Firefox for Internet-browsing
When a new FF-version is released i always get an update-message.

I want to stop that FF comes with that messages when a new release is available for I want to decide when i want to install a new version

I stopped the action that FF is automatic installed, because in the past i found some errors in the installed version

I wait always some weeks to install, when i see there are no problems reported in the new version

My only problem is: What can I do to stop that FF is coming with the update-messages every time

Thanks for all advises

Josey Wales · Oct 3, 2023

Don't install the maintenance service.

alvinmail · Oct 3, 2023

Josey Wales said:
Don't install the maintenance service.

For me Work ...

Firefox Disable message: New version available

Hi, I work with Windows-11 and I Use Firefox for Internet-browsing When Firefox releases a new version, I always get the message: There is a New Version Available, I want to stop that Firefox, give me that update-message, every time they release a new version My Question is: What can i do...

www.elevenforum.com

Josey Wales · Oct 3, 2023

I would prefer to not use a reg hack.

johnlgalt · Oct 3, 2023

Josey Wales said:
Don't install the maintenance service.

And if it is already installed, go into Settings and disable using the Maintenance service, and then uninstall it from Windows.

antspants · Oct 3, 2023

Not sure if this still works

From about:config Menu

Code:

Type “about:config” in the Firefox address bar then press “Enter“.
Search for the
app.update.auto setting.
Double-click the “app.update.auto” option to toggle the setting.
If set to “true“, automatic updates are enabled. If set to “false“, automatic updates are disabled.

Otherwise, I use the registry.
(For the benefit of you & other users)

To disable Updates in Firefox 63 and above via the registry, do the following:

Code:

1 Close Firefox.

2 Open the Registry Editor app.

3 Go to the following Registry key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies

4 Create a new subkey here named Mozilla.
You will get the path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Mozilla.

5 Under the Mozilla key, create a new subkey Firefox.
You will get the path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Mozilla\Firefox.

6 On the right, create a new 32-Bit DWORD value DisableAppUpdate
Note: Even if you are running 64-bit Windows you must still create a 32-bit DWORD value.
Set its value to 1.

Edit; Sorry if you read that before I edited, I’d doubled up on a process.

Also, the message shouldn’t show when applying these fixes. When you look in Firefox/about, it should read “An administrator has disabled this feature” (or similar) when you look at the update section. I find it weird that you’re still being notified.

johnlgalt · Oct 3, 2023

More info on this about:config setting:

App.update.auto - MozillaZine Knowledge Base

kb.mozillazine.org

Josey Wales · Oct 3, 2023

Don't install the maintenance service.

I know this works, there is no need to complicate it further. But by all means do what you want!

Josey Wales · Oct 3, 2023

johnlgalt said:
More info on this about:config setting:

App.update.auto - MozillaZine Knowledge Base

kb.mozillazine.org

This page was last modified on 10 December 2010, at 16:54.

johnlgalt · Oct 3, 2023

And if it is already installed, disable it, then uninstall it.

What is the Mozilla Maintenance Service? | Mozilla Support

Firefox and Thunderbird install Mozilla Maintenance Service to allow seamless background updates. Learn how it works and how to disable or remove it.

support.mozilla.org

johnlgalt · Oct 3, 2023

Josey Wales said:
This page was last modified on 10 December 2010, at 16:54.

And the function it performs is still there in Firefox to this day.

Go check your drivers in Windows, some of them will have an inordinately old driver date of 21 Jun 2006. Doesn't make them any less valid.

antspants · Oct 3, 2023

johnlgalt said:
And the function it performs is still there in Firefox to this day.

antspants · Oct 3, 2023

Josey Wales said:
Don't install the maintenance service.

Yes. This also.

Josey Wales · Oct 3, 2023

johnlgalt said:
And the function it performs is still there in Firefox to this day.

Go check your drivers in Windows, some of them will have an inordinately old driver date of 21 Jun 2006. Doesn't make them any less valid.

I know this but why add stuff to stop it from updating? You can remove something that will take up less space[albeit minimal] and perform the same function.

antspants · Oct 3, 2023

Josey Wales said:
I know this but why add stuff to stop it from updating? You can remove something that will take up less space[albeit minimal] and perform the same function.

I would assume some users want to toggle the ability to be informed of updates. Using about:config is quicker than installing and uninstalling the maintenance service.

johnlgalt · Oct 3, 2023

Josey Wales said:
I know this but why add stuff to stop it from updating? You can remove something that will take up less space[albeit minimal] and perform the same function.

That is not an addition. That setting in about:config is, and has been, a part of Firefox since the time that Mozillazine KB article was written. It's a setting you toggle true or false. There are thousands of such settings baked into Firefox that are accessible / modifiable from about:config (or by creating / editing a userprefs.js file that overrides the default prefs.js settings, as well as the about:config settings). Kinda like editing an existing Windows Registry key (not creating a new one).

But if you're talking about the maintenance service, the user is already using Fx, so presumably it's already installed - so they should uninstall it. And unchecking the setting to use the maintenance service is the first step. Plus, the maintenance service is only so the updates can be performed in the background, without UAC triggers, that normal program updates trigger. It won't prevent automatic updates in and of itself.

From the link I posted earlier:

Firefox and Thunderbird install an optional service called the Mozilla Maintenance Service which allows application updates to occur in the background, without requiring you to click Yes in the Windows User Account Control (UAC) dialog.

How does the Mozilla Maintenance Service work?

When Firefox or Thunderbird downloads an application update, the Mozilla Maintenance Service gets permission from Windows to allow the update to be applied, without requiring you to click Yes in the Windows User Account Control (UAC) dialog. Until that time, the service doesn't run, so it doesn't use any computer resources and, once the update process begins, the service quits. For more details, see this Mozilla Wiki page.

Note: Firefox also has a feature you can enable that will automatically install updates, even when Firefox is not running. See this article for details.

In Firefox Nightly, there is an additional setting regarding updates that hasn't propagated to Firefox stable yet, that is closer to (but still not exactly) what the OP wants - 0 notifications.

Firefox Settings:

Firefox Nightly settings:

Josey Wales · Oct 4, 2023

I do not have that box Checked, and I never up date Firefox, I remove the old version then install the new one using custom install and if you don't have The maintenance service when doing a custom install it will not ask you to install it. This may or may not be the best way to do this, but I have been doing it this way since Firefox 4.0. And using about:config you are modifying the program. I used to do a great deal of customizing Firefox using CSS but I have found that doing this may make Firefox look the way you want it but I just do not have the time to do it properly and at my age , I may mess it up. Like I said in an prior post to do it however you want to. I do it this way right or wrong my Firefox is quite fast.

johnlgalt · Oct 4, 2023

Josey Wales said:
And using about:config you are modifying the program.

And when you change a single setting in regular Firefox Settings you're also modifying Firefox.

Same in Windows - changing a setting is modifying Windows. And we do it all the time.

And, for the record, the OP wants to modify Firefox - to never receive a notification that an update is available.

As for your way of upgrading Firefox versions - that's cool, I used to do the same thing. But now, for me it's easier to update through the program itself, so that is the way I go. The main reason is that I don't have to then point a new clean install at my existing profiles, though, admittedly, that is a trivial thing to do. But doing it ever few weeks is more hassle than I want to deal with.

I do periodically start with a clean install (but old profiles), but that is usually because I also start with a clean Windows install.

And as for CSS and other mods, I too used to make a lot of mods, especially to make it look like I wanted, but now I just turn things on and / or off in settings and about:config and call it a day. Pre-57, it was easier to do, and they started restricting it, but I also found out they did a good job of incorporating many of the changes I used to make manually into the UI itself via settings, so I still get most of what I want out of it, in terms of how the UI both looks and works.

Josey Wales · Oct 4, 2023

johnlgalt said:
And when you change a single setting in regular Firefox Settings you're also modifying Firefox.

Same in Windows - changing a setting is modifying Windows. And we do it all the time.

And, for the record, the OP wants to modify Firefox - to never receive a notification that an update is available.

As for your way of upgrading Firefox versions - that's cool, I used to do the same thing. But now, for me it's easier to update through the program itself, so that is the way I go. The main reason is that I don't have to then point a new clean install at my existing profiles, though, admittedly, that is a trivial thing to do. But doing it ever few weeks is more hassle than I want to deal with.

I do periodically start with a clean install (but old profiles), but that is usually because I also start with a clean Windows install.

And as for CSS and other mods, I too used to make a lot of mods, especially to make it look like I wanted, but now I just turn things on and / or off in settings and about:config and call it a day. Pre-57, it was easier to do, and they started restricting it, but I also found out they did a good job of incorporating many of the changes I used to make manually into the UI itself via settings, so I still get most of what I want out of it, in terms of how the UI both looks and works.

I just read the OP again and there is no modify mentioned, just ask how to stop stop it.

Hi,

I work with Windows-11 and I use Firefox for Internet-browsing
When a new FF-version is released i always get an update-message.

I want to stop that FF comes with that messages when a new release is available for I want to decide when i want to install a new version

I stopped the action that FF is automatic installed, because in the past i found some errors in the installed version

I wait always some weeks to install, when i see there are no problems reported in the new version

My only problem is: What can I do to stop that FF is coming with the update-messages every time

Thanks for all advises

johnlgalt · Oct 4, 2023

Not sure why you are trying to run in circles here.

The OP wants Firefox to stop giving him notifications about updates. He already updates manually when he feels the update is safe.

That would be a modification of Firefox, to suppress the notifications.