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Stop firefox update nags

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 19 views
  • Last reply by Tanyac

Tanyac
Tanyac
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I am well aware that the Firefox version on the dozen or so PCs here are out of date. Problem is, Firefox updates regularly break things, or the UI changes. We have been seeing "Your Firefox is critically out of date" prompts every time we use Firefox.

One person clicked on the update and it broke several things such as bookmarks, a online game and a couple of addons. Fortunately I take backup images of PCs every night so we were able to restore the system.

I only have one test PC here. I am already working on several major projects and just don't have time to test, resolve issues and update Firefox at this time.

In the mean time, is there a way to stop this incessant nag that our browsers are critically out of date.

I'd rather not get into an argument about why the update is required, or how or why it breaks things. They are what they are. All I want to do is stop the nag.

thanks

I am well aware that the Firefox version on the dozen or so PCs here are out of date. Problem is, Firefox updates regularly break things, or the UI changes. We have been seeing "Your Firefox is critically out of date" prompts every time we use Firefox. One person clicked on the update and it broke several things such as bookmarks, a online game and a couple of addons. Fortunately I take backup images of PCs every night so we were able to restore the system. I only have one test PC here. I am already working on several major projects and just don't have time to test, resolve issues and update Firefox at this time. In the mean time, is there a way to stop this incessant nag that our browsers are critically out of date. I'd rather not get into an argument about why the update is required, or how or why it breaks things. They are what they are. All I want to do is stop the nag. thanks

All Replies (4)

FredMcD
FredMcD
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First, Type about:preferences#advanced<enter> in the address bar. Under Advanced, Select Update.

[v56+] Type about:preferences#general<enter> in the address bar. Select Update.

Select Never Check For Updates.

Also turn off Use a background service to install updates <Windows Only>

Install Older Version Of Firefox {web link} Be sure to read everything here.

If you still want to downgrade, look under; I still want to downgrade. Click the Directory of other versions and languages link. Look for the directory of the version that you want. But, remember that old versions may have security issues.

You should also check out Firefox; Extended Support Release {web link} ESR Notes System Requirements

Tanyac
Tanyac Question owner
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All versions here are 55.0.3. All installs have "Never Install Updates" enabled. The maintenance service is never installed when Firefox is installed. I found this setting too... app.update.service.enabled. turned it off. It still nags about being "Critically out of date".

Not concerned about "Extended Support", unless the browser stops working because Mozilla decide to block older versions from working. (Is that even possible).

As I said, I'm well aware of the risks of running old versions of anything. New versions are not always better (eg fix one thing, break another - Windows is the perfect example of that). I just can't have updates breaking things every few months. Ultimately, it means spending more time in crisis mode fixing things - and of course, extremely grumpy users.

Modified by Tanyac

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
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Tanyac said

It still nags about being "Critically out of date".

I am using a few much older versions - one of which is Firefox 38.5.0 and the only time that I see a message like that, it coming from the webpage. Get the same at time with Firefox 41.0.1.

Are you certain that is coming from Firefox? Maybe post a screenshot of Firefox when that message is showing. Any chance that is coming from the webpage or a domain?

Tanyac
Tanyac Question owner
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the-edmeister said

Tanyac said
It still nags about being "Critically out of date".

I am using a few much older versions - one of which is Firefox 38.5.0 and the only time that I see a message like that, it coming from the webpage. Get the same at time with Firefox 41.0.1.

Are you certain that is coming from Firefox? Maybe post a screenshot of Firefox when that message is showing. Any chance that is coming from the webpage or a domain?

Sorry, I haven't been able to reply - this site hasn't been working for me for a couple of days.

The homepage on my PCs is a web page I wrote which is on my Windows 2012 R2 server. It a local web page - I do not have my own domain registered.

IE. It's coming from Firefox.

Re the versions; I have only seen this message when I upgraded from 54.0.1 to 55.0.3. I don't recall ever seeing this message on 54.0.1, but then, it may be something Mozilla introduced at the time 55 was released.

This is what the message looks like... https://imgur.com/a/u6YYJ49

Clicking the learn more link takes me here... https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/rate-your-firefox-experience-heartbeat

I'd say this is a Firefox issue not a specific site issue.

Modified by Tanyac