Why does Firefox automnatically download updates when I have it set to let me choose whether to install them?
I have my Update options set to "Check for updates but let me choose whether to install them." For the last few updates, even when I select "Ask later" when the update window pops up, after a few times it downloads the update on its own. This just happened again with V.29, which I DO NOT want to install.
1. How do I fix this so it doesn't happen again? 2. How do I stop V.29 from installing now that it has started?
I'm using IE to post these questions because I'm afraid if I open Firefox, it will finish downloading V.29. If it does, I will quit Firefox and go to IE because I've heard about the changes in V. 29 that I do not want.
I'm using Windows 8.
All Replies (10)
There was a previous way by going through the Options menu to disable updates but after disabling it through there, when you would go to Help > About Firefox, it would update regardless of that setting.
You can set these prefs in about:config to disable automatic updating:
app.update.auto - false
app.update.enabled - false
app.update.silent - false
Thank you - I can do that AFTER I stop V.29 from installing but until then, based on what happened the last couple of times, I can't open Firefox or it will automatically.
I desperately need the answer to my second question - how to stop the download and install of V.29. When I was last in Firefox on May 10th when I posted this question, it was downloading. I closed Firefox in hopes that it would stop the download. I want to go back in to Firefox rather than switch to IE or Chrome but won't open it until I know I can stop the install.
- automatically download and install.
As I understand it, the question is if an update is available, Firefox also download it in spite of the custom settings. I think, however, does not start the installation without your approval.
You can look at the Classic Theme Restorer extension to restore some functionality that was lost with the arrival of the Australis style in Firefox 29.
- Classic Theme Restorer: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/classicthemerestorer/
You can check the settings of the CTR extension via its Options/Preferences button on the "Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions" page.
Firefox 29 and later versions have the Australis interface that looks different than the user interface in Firefox 28 and older versions.
- With the Australis interface the orange Firefox menu button has been replaced by the three bar Firefox Menu button at the far right end of the Navigation Toolbar
A consequence of this new menu button is that you no longer can hide the Navigation Toolbar - There is a star like button to the right end of the search bar on the Navigation Toolbar to bookmark the current web page and a "Show your bookmarks" button next to it to open the Bookmarks in a drop down menu
- It is still possible to have the menu bar visible via the right-click context menu on the toolbars to have menus like the the Bookmarks menu
See also:
zoli62: I would like to think that is true but it is not my experience. As I said, for the past few updates, I have not approved it but said "ask me later". After a few times of doing that, over a week or two probably, it downloads on its own, without my approval. Then when I open Firefox, it installs the update before it will open any other sites. Since I did not want it to download those times either, I would have stopped it from installing if that option was readily available.
Lotekgirl: You have turned on silent install?
Modified by zoli62
I don't know what "silent install" is. In my Updates options, "Use a background service to install updates" is checked. I was told, when it was too late to change it, that this might be the problem. But with "Check for updates but let me choose whether to install them" checked, it should not install without my permission no matter what else is checked.
"As I said, for the past few updates, I have not approved it but said "ask me later". After a few times of doing that, over a week or two probably, it downloads on its own, without my approval."
If you happen to miss the dialog window that gives you the option to "Ask me later" as a method of postponing the inevitable, that dialog will time out in like 15 seconds and then go ahead & download the update without waiting for your response. That has always been the action of that preference since Mozilla started automatic updates on Firefox - like 7 to 8 years ago. Never check for updates (not recommended : security risk) does still allow the user to postpone updating Firefox - but not forever.
Mozilla feels very strongly that their users run the latest and most secure browser which is available. Mozilla would rather that people use a different currently up-to-date browser, than continue to use an outdated version of Firefox.
Uncheck this: "Use a background service to install updates" After that something will change?