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

Lolu chungechunge lwabekwa kunqolobane. Uyacelwa ubuze umbuzo omusha uma udinga usizo.

FF 64.x How to DISABLE automatic updates

  • 10 uphendule
  • 2 zinale nkinga
  • 1 view
  • Igcine ukuphendulwa ngu McCoy

more options

Hi! Still STRUGGLING w/ FF (Vs. 64.0x) ... Each (UNwanted) update makes it worse so I want to DISABLE updates; or at least have the choice of whether or not I want to install them. I can AXS prefs.js but there are no text strings similar (exactly like) the examples online, here, etc....

I have: 'user_pref("app.update.enabled", false); ' which is already set to false so I’m not sure why I still get these updates?. PLEASE ADVISE. Thank you Signed a VERY disappointed Mozilla faithful.

HERE ARE THE DIRECTIVES FROM MY PREFS.JS (ALL RELATING TO "UPDATE")

user_pref("app.update.disable_button.showUpdateHistory", false); user_pref("app.update.download.attempts", 0); user_pref("app.update.elevate.attempts", 0); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.addon-background-update-timer", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.background-update-timer", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.blocklist-background-update-timer", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.browser-cleanup-thumbnails", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.experiments-update-timer", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.recipe-client-addon-run", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.search-engine-update-timer", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.services-settings-poll-changes", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.telemetry_modules_ping", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.xpi-signature-verification", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.service.enabled", false); user_pref("app.update.service.errors", 1);

P.S. I've used Mozilla based browsers and email clients ever since I started using PCs. I realize one gets what one pays for but, like most other S/W these days (ESPECIALLY MS WINDOWS 10) sit aeems we are the alpha testers. (“Volunteers” – despite not wanting to!) which holds VERY true for FF and Tbird. So I guess we are giving back indirectly.

Hi! Still STRUGGLING w/ FF (Vs. 64.0x) ... Each (UNwanted) update makes it worse so I want to DISABLE updates; or at least have the choice of whether or not I want to install them. I can AXS prefs.js but there are no text strings similar (exactly like) the examples online, here, etc.... I have: 'user_pref("app.update.enabled", false); ' which is already set to false so I’m not sure why I still get these updates?. PLEASE ADVISE. Thank you Signed a VERY disappointed Mozilla faithful. HERE ARE THE DIRECTIVES FROM MY PREFS.JS (ALL RELATING TO "UPDATE") user_pref("app.update.disable_button.showUpdateHistory", false); user_pref("app.update.download.attempts", 0); user_pref("app.update.elevate.attempts", 0); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.addon-background-update-timer", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.background-update-timer", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.blocklist-background-update-timer", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.browser-cleanup-thumbnails", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.experiments-update-timer", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.recipe-client-addon-run", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.search-engine-update-timer", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.services-settings-poll-changes", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.telemetry_modules_ping", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.xpi-signature-verification", 10-digits); user_pref("app.update.service.enabled", false); user_pref("app.update.service.errors", 1); P.S. I've used Mozilla based browsers and email clients ever since I started using PCs. I realize one gets what one pays for but, like most other S/W these days (ESPECIALLY MS WINDOWS 10) sit aeems we are the alpha testers. (“Volunteers” – despite not wanting to!) which holds VERY true for FF and Tbird. So I guess we are giving back indirectly.

All Replies (10)

more options

vtanyav said

Each (UNwanted) update makes it worse so I want to DISABLE updates; or at least have the choice of whether or not I want to install them.

Hello vtanyav,

In Options => General, under "Firefox Updates" you can check : "check for updates but let you choose to install them" .....

more options

Wikipedia has a list of all firefox versions and you can find the version that still allows you not too check or be notified of updates. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefox_version_history

you can use "find on page" keywords like "removed" or disabled

If anyone knows which version had the awesome add ons like user switcher/ downloading of videos/ music/ images off any page/ ad blocker and the screenshot entire page too png without scribble on. and options/ preferences with the tabs and turn off javascript/ images. that would be great...

more options

@ vtanyav

What in particular are the problems with Firefox 65 and 64 that you are struggling with?

more options

@ CapnBlack

Could you please start a new thread for your question?

Then you can provide more information like your operating system and installed extensions/plugins.

more options

McCoy said

vtanyav said
Each (UNwanted) update makes it worse so I want to DISABLE updates; or at least have the choice of whether or not I want to install them.

Hello vtanyav,

In Options => General, under "Firefox Updates" you can check : "check for updates but let you choose to install them" .....

Hi and thanks. I've done that - but I don't want FF to keep prompting me for updates. I prefer the old s/w where one has the "NEVER remind me" option - I will remember...

more options

CapnBlack said

Wikipedia has a list of all firefox versions and you can find the version that still allows you not too check or be notified of updates. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefox_version_history you can use "find on page" keywords like "removed" or disabled If anyone knows which version had the awesome add ons like user switcher/ downloading of videos/ music/ images off any page/ ad blocker and the screenshot entire page too png without scribble on. and options/ preferences with the tabs and turn off javascript/ images. that would be great...

Hi and thanks. I was *forced* to get IIRC? ?61.00 - which is when FF really "fell apart" the one I was using was 59.00 (?) maybe? There ARE more & more pages that do not display properly; mostly buttons are absent or hitting them does nothing. I have to use MSEdge (less functionality than windows 10) for Walmart which is a BIG site! Several years ago after a FF UPDATE I could not PRINT (anything from FF). After reinstalling etc... it was finally suggested to reset or something? Everything was deleted but it solved the problem. However, had 2 start from scratch w/ bookmarks, cookies, etc. & one can't get time back. I don't know what chrome is like If you FIND a FF version that does not INSIST on you upgrading to a 6x.xx version PLEASE let me know.

Thanks

P.S. The point of my reply was how updates have negatively affected FF (For me) & Y I would have liked to OMIT them until THOROUGH testing Maybe ,LOL

more options

cor-el said

@ vtanyav What in particular are the problems with Firefox 65 and 64 that you are struggling with?

Hi, I did not see this post thank you! Page displaying (Actually not displaying) IMPORTANT features like "cost", "Add to cart", "continue" ... Some pages don't do anything when a button's clicked e.g. "search" and NOTHING happens (Status bar is blank) These are really script based problems. (IMHO)??? And layout issues where a SOLID color BOX (maybe a misplaced frame(?)) sits on top of info E.G. "accept" or not; "continue" or not ... The mouse does not click thru it. There are many more and IMO this inability 2 "Never remind me" of updates is ABSENT (with later versions?) b/c FF wrote it out?

Thanks again

more options

cor-el said

@ CapnBlack Could you please start a new thread for your question? Then you can provide more information like your operating system and installed extensions/plugins.

Sorry - was this for my question? My OP was how to DISABLE prompts for updates? I have no more questions now. I assume FF has written out any possibility of removing prompts to update. Since updates have negatively affected MY experience w/ FF, & they R nearing being mandatory, next step would B taking on Mozilla LOL.... I have searched for the problems and I don't C them on the internet. And should I be able to fix it, another update will likely cause other problems. Thanx for the links.

more options

The only way to disable updates is to use a policies.json file.

more options

Also see :

https://techdows.com/2018/09/prevent-firefox-63-from-updating.html

Prevent Firefox from updating :

  1. Download and Install Enterprise Policy Generator add-on from AMO
  2. Click on its icon on the toolbar
  3. In the left pane, after scrolling down under ‘Updates & Data Collection’
  4. Select ‘Prevent Firefox from Updating’.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/enterprise-policy-generator/