How to stop Firefox's version 64.

0 from showing the update nag

screen?
/C:/Users/rodri/OneDrive/BC/windows 7 - How to stop Firefox's version 64.0 from showing the update nag screen_ - Super User.html

Edit 24. May 2019: The accepted answer doesn't work for version 66.0.5 (64 Bit), at least not
for me. (And I assume it doesn't work for any other new version.)

I have Firefox 64.0 (64-bit) running on Windows 7 Home Premium.

I'm totally sick of the update nag screen showing up seemingly once daily or even more often.

Even more I'm sick of the FACT that Firefox connects somewhere to the Mozilla website to check for new
versions: The Update nag screen info changed to suggesting to update to 65.0 from suggesting to 64.1
before.

What I have done so far: I have read MANY webpages about this topic, and I have changed nearly all
http:// and https:// addresses in about:config

My Question: Is there a way to stop the update nag screen?

(Bonus question: Is there a way by modifying Firefox through the UI, through about:config, with
notepad++ or with the help of for example winrar to modify the .jar files from stopping Firefox to connect
to Mozilla's update servers to check for the newest version.)

(If NOT, then Bye-bye Firefox.)

And btw, I'm surfing on a small mobile MB-contingent of fast data transfer, so hitting the update button
once accidentally could simply either stop me from using the internet probably for up to a month, or
COST REAL LIFE MONEY for more MB quota.

09.May.2019 Look out!! I manually downloaded the Firefox 65.0.5 installation file, and then let it run: It
didn't carry over the distribution directory and the policies.json file in it!!! What do they think?

windows-7 firefox privacy automatic-update

edited May 24 '19 at 1:24

asked Feb 20 '19 at 16:25

John
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3 Answers
active oldest votes
8

Is there a way to stop the update nag screen?

Yes. Read on.

The option to Never check for updates was removed from about:preferences . You can use the
DisableAppUpdate enterprise policy as a substitute.

Source Firefox 63.0, See All New Features, Updates and Fixes

Policies can be specified using the Group Policy templates on Windows

(https://github.com/mozilla/policy-templates/tree/master/windows), configuration profiles on macOS
(https://github.com/mozilla/policy-templates/tree/master/mac), or by creating a file called
policies.json .

On Windows, create a directory called distribution where the EXE is located and place the file there.

On Mac, the file goes into Firefox.app/Contents/Resources/distribution.

On Linux, the file goes into firefox/distribution, where firefox is the installation directory for firefox,
which varies by distribution.

...

DisableAppUpdate

This policy turns off application updates.

{
"policies": {
"DisableAppUpdate": true
}
}

Source policy-templates/README.md at master · mozilla/policy-templates

So create a file called policies.json containing:

{
"policies": {
"DisableAppUpdate": true
}
}

And place it in the appropriate directory as documented above.

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edited Feb 20 '19 at 21:12

answered Feb 20 '19 at 21:06

DavidPostill♦
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0

There are a bunch of app.update.* preferences in about:config, app.update.enabled = false should

do it.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/App.update.enabled

answered Feb 20 '19 at 16:29

spikey_richie
2,30711 gold badge77 silver badges1616 bronze badges

It's set to false.(For as long as I know about that option, so quite some time.) -Does not work as far
as I have read; and it doesn't work. ): – John Feb 20 '19 at 16:30
1

That was removed in v63.0. See my answer. – DavidPostill♦ Feb 27 '19 at 14:28

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0

First, you type about:preferences#advanced in the address bar. Under Advanced, Select Update.

[v56+] Type about:preferences#general in the address bar. Select Update.then select the option of name
i.e never check updates and also turn off Use a background service to install updates

answered Feb 27 '19 at 13:56

sunny brown
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