This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Firefox cannot update

  • 5 cavab
  • 2 have this problem
  • 14 views
  • Last reply by ideato

more options

Firefox doesn't auto-update. It has stopped on version 14.0.1. When updating via "help -> about firefox" it tries to connect to the server but cannot. When trying to download the latest full version the download gets cancelled. After double-clicking on the file "Firefox Setup 16.0.2.exe" ( the cancelled one) it starts downloading but after it completes the download, the exe file disappeares from the "downloads" folder!! Tried disactivating all add-ons but no change.

I'm using 7,avast pro, comodo firewall and malwarebytes

Firefox doesn't auto-update. It has stopped on version 14.0.1. When updating via "help -> about firefox" it tries to connect to the server but cannot. When trying to download the latest full version the download gets cancelled. After double-clicking on the file "Firefox Setup 16.0.2.exe" ( the cancelled one) it starts downloading but after it completes the download, the exe file disappeares from the "downloads" folder!! Tried disactivating all add-ons but no change. I'm using 7,avast pro, comodo firewall and malwarebytes

Chosen solution

FInally solved it.

Problem was that firefox wouldn't let me downlod anything, fresh firefox copy either. I csuppose I could just uninstall firefox and use another browser to download and set it up again, but why does it have to get to that?

I googled "firefox doen't download" and one of many returns was from Mozilla suggesting a number of possible solutions.

What did the trick was to "Disable virus scanning in Firefox preferences" so Avast stopped deleting downloaded files.

Now why this did not happen on my other pc with the same configuration, remains a mystery...

Thank you ideato and cor-el for yor trouble!

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (5)

more options

Hello pkanlis, see if the firewall is the problem :Configure firewalls so that Firefox can access the Internet or avast.


thank you

more options

OK thanks , I'll give it a try

Nope, no go. Configured comodo firewall according to mozilla help, added "firefox.exe" and firefox's "maintenanceservice.exe" to trusted files but still won't update.

Even closed firewall completely but still won't update!

Modified by pkanlis

more options

If there are problems with updating then best is to download the full version of the Firefox installer.

Download a fresh Firefox copy and save the file to the desktop.

Uninstall your current Firefox version, if possible, to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.

  • Do NOT remove personal data when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because all profile folders will be removed and you will also lose your personal data like bookmarks and passwords from profiles of other Firefox versions.

Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.

Your bookmarks and other profile data are stored in the Firefox Profile Folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure that "remove personal data" is NOT selected when you uninstall Firefox.


more options

Seçilmiş Həll

FInally solved it.

Problem was that firefox wouldn't let me downlod anything, fresh firefox copy either. I csuppose I could just uninstall firefox and use another browser to download and set it up again, but why does it have to get to that?

I googled "firefox doen't download" and one of many returns was from Mozilla suggesting a number of possible solutions.

What did the trick was to "Disable virus scanning in Firefox preferences" so Avast stopped deleting downloaded files.

Now why this did not happen on my other pc with the same configuration, remains a mystery...

Thank you ideato and cor-el for yor trouble!

more options

You are welcome, it is not trouble to us, we are here because we like to help people.