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I hate 5.7. How can I roll back to 5.6?

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I hate the operation of 5.7. How can I easily roll back to 5.6? Please do not feed me the line about security risks of rolling back. How does 5.7 add security features? It just screws up the operation of Firefox.

I hate the operation of 5.7. How can I easily roll back to 5.6? Please do not feed me the line about security risks of rolling back. How does 5.7 add security features? It just screws up the operation of Firefox.

Chosen solution

First, thanks to MkII and Fred McD for trying to help! You two are way better than the Mozilla support team. I found my own way to roll back, and here is how I did it. 1) Uninstall Firefox. Your bookmarks, etc ought to be saved in your AppData so they sould be safe. 2) Download the version of Firefox you want. In my case I downloaded 56.02. 3) Disconnect from the Internet. 4) Install the downloaded version. 5) Make changes in preferences, especially how you receive updates. Leaving them on automatic is going to give you crap version 57.0. 6) While still disconnected from the Internet, search for 'How to refresh Firefox'. Obviously it won't be able to find anything, but at the bottom of the page, an information bar pointed out that I updated to a new version of firefox and it asked if I wanted to refresh Firefox. Click on refresh. 7) Recheck your preferences, especially updates, these might have reverted to factory settings from refresh. 8) When you are satisfied, reconnect to the Internet 9) Profit!

I'm sure this post will be taken down as soon as one of the monkeys at Mozilla sees it. If anyone wants to repost these instructions on Reddit, please feel free.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (17)

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What do you hate about 57? I'm afraid that I do have to tell you that we don't support downgrading, Firefox 57 contains important security fixes that are not in 56, so now that the update is out we can't recommend that you go back. You can see the security issues fixed in 57 at https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/security/advisories/mfsa2017-24/

What issues are you having with 57? We can help you so you can keep using the modern, faster, more stable and far more secure 57

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My question was, "How do I roll back to 5.6?" If you can't help me, then I'll start using another browser.

As for your question, what monkey designed the new Firefox? The bookmarks are all over the map. I'm guessing some focus group wants Firefox to look like a version of Candy Crush. Tell me how that helps security?

One last time, how do I roll back to 5.6?

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Hello, you can rollback with the installer here: [link removed by modern] choose your operating system and language version from this ftp and then run the installer. If this solved your problem, mark as solution.

Modified by user633449

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I also don't like the new version, I lost over half of my add-ons, what happened to "capture and print what you want" and "forward a web page" I don't see these in your "manage your add-ons" anymore.

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I rolled back 5.7 to 5.6. As I was fixing my options, particularly the option about never remembering history, and so when I restarted Firefox, it was version 5.7 again! Okay, I uninstalled Firefox from my computer, and I went back to the download for 5.6.02. Refreshed Firefox because it still had the useless Bookmark issue, and everything looked good. Tried to fix my options - you remember "The Never Remember History" option? When it restarted, bam, crappy 5.7 again! Both times I checked the Never Check For Updates option, yet both times, I have been the unlucky recipient of 5.7. How do I NEVER see 5.7 again?

Edit: I tried to uninstall Firefox, and then I used regedit,exe to erase all registries of Firefox and Mozilla. Downloaded 5.6.02 again, and once I tried to change my Preferences again, 5.7. Gods...why?

Edit Part 2: Uninstalled Firefox. Tried to find all folders mentioning Firefox or Mozilla and deleted. Went to AppData and deleted all references to Firefox and Mozilla. Did regedit.exe again, and made sure I found all registries referring to Mozilla and Firefox and deleted them. Download 5.6.02 and started to enter my preferences - made sure to check off 'Never Check For Updates' - and once again, 5.7 gets on my machine.

Seriously...what spyware; bloatware have you installed on my machine?

Modified by user1417468

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peelingyellowsiding said

what monkey designed the new Firefox? The bookmarks are all over the map. I'm guessing some focus group wants Firefox to look like a version of Candy Crush. Tell me how that helps security?

YES!!! this is exactly the kinda thing I'm having!

They completely changed the look to a 'windows 10' minimalist theme that looks utterly crap. They then changed the main menu from a slightly touch screen compatible windows 8 panel to an xp drop down menu; shuffled all the icons round just for the sake of it (including putting the refresh button to the side and out of the way (Why!!!)); shrunk everything in the new tab menu with only selection based customization (not even a enlarge icons or modifications to the presentation of the 'home screen' menus) and then converted their thumbnail to a vector graphics image and pasted it as a pixel based one just to make a point. The ONLY reason I'm still with Firefox is there search bar but they are really pushing it with this forced updated version. Funny thing to is that most people who use Firefox, don't like the way the big brand companies are taking things (windows, google, etc) and yet we are getting ever closer to that being what we're left with

So don't worry man, I feel your pain but sadly I don't think there is a way to revert, other than complaining for a fix to be made.

Modified by VRDVCgamer

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Chosen Solution

First, thanks to MkII and Fred McD for trying to help! You two are way better than the Mozilla support team. I found my own way to roll back, and here is how I did it. 1) Uninstall Firefox. Your bookmarks, etc ought to be saved in your AppData so they sould be safe. 2) Download the version of Firefox you want. In my case I downloaded 56.02. 3) Disconnect from the Internet. 4) Install the downloaded version. 5) Make changes in preferences, especially how you receive updates. Leaving them on automatic is going to give you crap version 57.0. 6) While still disconnected from the Internet, search for 'How to refresh Firefox'. Obviously it won't be able to find anything, but at the bottom of the page, an information bar pointed out that I updated to a new version of firefox and it asked if I wanted to refresh Firefox. Click on refresh. 7) Recheck your preferences, especially updates, these might have reverted to factory settings from refresh. 8) When you are satisfied, reconnect to the Internet 9) Profit!

I'm sure this post will be taken down as soon as one of the monkeys at Mozilla sees it. If anyone wants to repost these instructions on Reddit, please feel free.

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6) While still disconnected from the Internet, search for 'How to refresh Firefox'. Obviously it won't be able to find anything, but at the bottom of the page, an information bar pointed out that I updated to a new version of firefox and it asked if I wanted to refresh Firefox. Click on refresh.

Ummm, you can refresh Firefox through about:support. No need to do all this.

I'm sure this post will be taken down as soon as one of the monkeys at Mozilla sees it. If anyone wants to repost these instructions on Reddit, please feel free.

What do you take us for, power hungry censorship mods who delete anything they don't like? While downgrading versions isn't a Mozilla recommended thing to do, we're certainly not going to censor people who do post instructions to, so feel free to take off your tin foil hat.

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Moses said

6) While still disconnected from the Internet, search for 'How to refresh Firefox'. Obviously it won't be able to find anything, but at the bottom of the page, an information bar pointed out that I updated to a new version of firefox and it asked if I wanted to refresh Firefox. Click on refresh.

Ummm, you can refresh Firefox through about:support. No need to do all this.

I'm sure this post will be taken down as soon as one of the monkeys at Mozilla sees it. If anyone wants to repost these instructions on Reddit, please feel free.

What do you take us for, power hungry censorship mods who delete anything they don't like? While downgrading versions isn't a Mozilla recommended thing to do, we're certainly not going to censor people who do post instructions to, so feel free to take off your tin foil hat.

The reason why I'm wearing my 'tinfoil hat' as you like to call it is because FredMcD posted a reply on Nov 14, 2017, 2:56:09 PM but it is no longer on this thread. Albiet, maybe FredMcD deleted his reply by himself. Now MkII posted a link at 5:00pm yesterday to a rolled back version of Firefox, but at 5:29, the monkey that calls itself Tyler Downer edit the post and the link is no longer there. Maybe the monkey that parts the Red Sea doesn't censor comments on these threads, but it appears someone does.

Modified by user1417468

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I don't appreciate you calling people trying to assist you "monkeys". Also, the reason the post by MkII was edited was because he linked to a direct executable instead of the page where the executable lives. This is to prevent any unintended downloads and/or trap .exes.

From the language and conduct section of our Forum rules and guidelines that James linked above,

Link to content rather than posting it in its entirety, unless you are the copyright holder or have permission from the copyright holder. Do not post direct links to executable files. Moderators may remove these links to protect users from potentially malicious downloads. (You can post a link to the webpage that contains the file download but it may also be removed if a Moderator finds that the web page content could be harmful or if the web page link is spam.)
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Fair enough Moses. My memory failed me on MkII's post. I thought it was a link to a Mozilla webpage with the executable on that webpage, and not a direct link to an executable. Though I am amused that the moderators on this thread did not even attempt to help me with my question. Not only do you discourage people from rolling back to a previous version, you won't even make the attempt to help someone with their request in this matter. It may not be censorship, per se, but it is a disappointment. As for the moderators being monkeys, it started out with the roll out of version 57, and how, "If you give a thousand monkeys a thousand typewriters, they will eventual come up with the entire works of Shakespear." At first the update made absolutely no sense - like monkeys hammering at typewriters, but while I was looking for a new web browser, I found out that Mozilla is trying to make a Firefox to compete with Google Chrome's market share. The idea, if Firefox is more like Google Chrome, it'll attract more users! I'm sorry o' bearded one that parts seas, I don't see how that is going to work, and if I were you and everyone else at the Firefox project, I'd be polishing up those resumes and sending 'em to Google. Good luck with your endeavors, I have my rolled back version of Firefox until I find a different web browser. I finally understand the fun of trolling, though it bores me quickly. Cheers.

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Moses said

I don't appreciate you calling people trying to assist you "monkeys".
Moses, if you were trying to help, nobody would be having this conversation. If you were trying to help, you guys would have fixed the link instead of deleting it. You would have provided a link to the old versions (on your own) instead of whining about people calling you out. If you see your role as not actually being helpful (as it appears from this thread), may I respectfully suggest you change your name to Mordac. People are having real problems with this poorly planned/executed update that is being forced down our throats before APIs are ready, before extensions are ready (or could be ready), etc. Many of us want to roll back - maybe just for a little while until the new version calms down. Mozilla is repeating the mistakes Microsoft made in trying to force windows 10 down everyone's throat on their schedule. Don't be that guy who helps Mozilla repeat the mistakes of Microsoft.

Modified by testy

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Tyler Downer said

What do you hate about 57?

I'm not OP but I'll answer...

The UI's looks like Windows 3.1 puked and died, and it's hideous and hard on the eyes, and screws up all your settings.

What issues are you having with 57? We can help you so you can keep using the modern, faster, more stable and far more secure 57

Well, you wanna help, then find some genius to restore the UI from Firefox as it was, and get rid of this blocky square brutalist nonsense. Until then, I'm goin' to Chrome :)

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James said

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/forum-rules-and-guidelines#w_language-and-conduct

Tell ya what, when they un-break Firefox maybe people won't be livid.

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Tyler Downer said

What do you hate about 57? I'm afraid that I do have to tell you that we don't support downgrading, Firefox 57 contains important security fixes that are not in 56, so now that the update is out we can't recommend that you go back. You can see the security issues fixed in 57 at https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/security/advisories/mfsa2017-24/ What issues are you having with 57? We can help you so you can keep using the modern, faster, more stable and far more secure 57

I will give it a try. But only if I can recover my session manager sessions. I closed firefox yesterday and I have one session with 30 tabs that i don't want to loose. I have tried looking thought the .js files but can't find the URLs. Firefox[obviously] and Linux.

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How is a Windows 3.1 style UI 'modern' again? Anyway, just point us to the button to restore the old UI.