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How do I stop Firefox from automatically updating 'in the background'?

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  • Last reply by James

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Firefox keeps telling me it has "installed an update in the background" and needs reset. This is really disruptive of my work as I have to reopen everything. How do I prevent Firefox from doing this without my consent? I want to be able to install updates when it's convenient and not disruptive, not have them forced on me like this. [Not sure if this matters, but I am using Linux Mint.]

Firefox keeps telling me it has "installed an update in the background" and needs reset. This is really disruptive of my work as I have to reopen everything. How do I prevent Firefox from doing this without my consent? I want to be able to install updates when it's convenient and not disruptive, not have them forced on me like this. [Not sure if this matters, but I am using Linux Mint.]

All Replies (5)

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How do you completely turn off update checks in Firefox v64? You can use a policies.json file to disable updates for all users. https://github.com/mozilla/policy-templates/blob/master/README.md

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Hi aquamarine18, have you tried the "ask me before installing" setting on the Preferences page? This is how it looks that setting looks on Windows:

To set that, try this:

  • Linux: "3-bar" menu button (or Edit menu) > Preferences
  • Windows: "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options
  • Mac: "3-bar" menu button (or Firefox menu) > Preferences
  • Any system: type or paste about:preferences into the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it

In the search box at the top of the page, type updat and Firefox should filter to the relevant section where you can change your setting.

If you use a custom distribution of Firefox, it's possible that some settings are locked out, but I would be surprised if this one can't be changed.

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You seem to be using the Firefox version from the repositories and not the version from the Mozilla server. Only if you use the latter then you can control updates from within Firefox. If you use the former (Ubuntu repositories) then updating is under control of Ubuntu. You would have to switch to the Firefox version from the official Mozilla server if you want to control the updates yourself.

Modified by cor-el

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I am using the Mozilla that came with my linux when I installed the OS.

jscher2000 I do not have that option -- the way mine looks doesn't let me choose anything really.

Thank you for the answers.

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aquamarine18 said

jscher2000 I do not have that option -- the way mine looks doesn't let me choose anything really.

You do not have any Updates settings in your Preferences because you are using a third-party package build from Ubuntu and not a official build from Mozilla from say www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/

Mozilla does not provide updates to Firefox builds they did not well build.

Modified by James