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I had logged this issue in early 2025 but it has never been resolved and still exists.

I received a reply today, Tuesday 7th July, from Wayne Mery, who said "If you are still having problems when using a newer version, please post a new question and we'll take a new look at it.". as the original post has been archived.

So, here are the details:

"I am currently running Thunderbird 152.0.1 (64-bit) and I don't get an automatic prompt for updates and haven't been getting them since I updated to Supernova and now Nebula.

I have the settings set to Check for updates, but let me choose whether to install them, which is the setting I have always had and I used to get automatic prompts for updates with a window opening to show the details of the update as I get in Firefox.

Can someone tell me how to get these automatic updates back."

I have attached a screenshot of the original version.

Thanks.

What's with all the updates recently? It is getting annoying having to update almost every week and most updates are useless and not needed for my operating system. If things were done right in the first place then all these updates would not be needed.

One HUGELY annoying issue with Firefox is it's incessant desire to auto-update in the middle of my work! I have disabled this "feature", opting to be notified when there are new updates so I can choose when it will be less inconvenient. However, Firefox has opted to ignore that setting and still auto-updates, often when I'm in the middle of a project. This has to be fixed. What can I do to insure that Firefox obeys this setting?

I am facing an issue with Firefox where every time the browser updates, all of my accounts get logged out, including YouTube, ChatGPT, and other websites. I have already tried repairing, uninstalling, and reinstalling Firefox, but the problem still persists.

Desired behaviour Please add an option that would make Firefox update only when:

• a) Firefox is completely closed — no open windows, no active profiles, no running `firefox.exe` processes of any kind.
• b) A Windows reboot or shutdown has occurred.

Current problem Currently, Firefox sometimes initiates an update while a session is still open — for example, when opening a new profile or seemingly at random. This interrupts active work and forces the update at an inconvenient time, meaning all tabs and workflow are disrupted.

Suggested improvements

• A good extra option could be modelled on Windows Update, which provides a series of delay settings.
• The update should wait until all `firefox.exe` processes have ended (currently, opening a new profile can trigger an update even with another profile running).
• A forced update that disrupts current work feels overly aggressive, especially when the update is not mission-critical. Even if it is critical, the timing should be a user choice.

Alternative approaches

• A selection could be provided to wait until the user has naturally finished, with all instances closed by choice, or until the computer is restarted after a Windows boot.
• A popup could appear with options to delay, or a notification saying "Update needed — please close browsers." There is no need to force this.

Workaround difficulty At present, the only way to achieve this is by writing a script. This overly aggressive update behavior could instead be controlled by a simple setting for advanced users. Being overly concerned about security to this level, should be a user choice not force. Turning it off and making it manual is still not as helpful as automation.

Great work, I just noticed this occurring several times in the few months mid session. All good wishes

I don't know who was the absolute [edited] to have the idea of forcing updates while the user is still working on the browser by shutting the browser down. Can someone else help me understand how to stop this nonsense??

And yes, I had the option "Check for updates but let you choose to install them" selected, and I'm still being molested by this forced restart """feature"""!

Every time I'm in the middle of an important work session, Firefox will suddenly refuse to open new tabs and prevent the ones that are already open from connecting and receiving updates. It erase private tabs and messes up everything!

I was in a call with my boss, and it got dropped because Firefox decided to update?? And DEMANDED that I close the browser IMMEDIATELY to continue using it????? What the hell???????????

I've only been running into this problem in the past few months, and I'm honestly shocked by how little uproar I'm seeing online about this bug. This is by far the worst think I've ever seen in a browser.

Anyway, I appreciate any help. I saw a trick to permanently disable updates, but I don't want to disable them. I just want them to be installed either when I CHOOSE or when the bloody browser is NOT in use!

I think Firefox is probably the best browser on the internet. But one major flaw that has always been with it but has never been fixed is that unlike other browsers, Firefox updates on startup. It may only take a few moments, but it's not very pleasant for the user to wait even a few moments for the browser to launch. It seems better to either update in a separate process like other browsers, or at least give the user the option to decide to update at startup or in the background like other browsers.

Firefox keeps making me restart nearly every day. I had a form I was trying to fill out and because of the restart I lost it 4 times! How many updates are you doing "in the background" that opening a new tab tells me to restart and then I lose stuff. Surely you are not updating every day.

I have my Firefox update settings on "Check for updates but choose when to install". When I get the pop-up to advise that there is an update available I select the "Update later" option but the update loads regardless of my choice. This happens on both my PC and laptop. I use a variety of online software for my work and frequently one or more will stop working or crash and Firefox advises that the problem is caused by an update needing to restart. The reason I choose to Update Later is so that I can just get on with my work and then update Firefox when it suits me. Currently, I end up having to shut down all open browser windows and then go through and sign in to all required windows and tabs again before I can continue with work. Needless to say this is VERY ANNOYING. Please advise why the updates are loading automatically when I have set my preference set to Update Later.

Updating on June 20, the existing Thunderbird version in a flash of a second was replaced by a new blank one. All files and settings were lost. I needed an expert who (at cost of course!) managed to roll back the program with all files and settings as they were. This was a disaster, how can such effect happen? Right now I do not trust the updates anymore and will not implement new updates.

I have Firefox set to NOT update unless I tell it to. However, it still updates on its own without asking me if it should. So every time Firefox updates, I have to close the app and log back in to everything that I was using. Since, I use browser based software for work and need to open and close tabs pretty much all day. Thus, the ability to NOT update is actually fairly crucial to getting my work done.