Update Firefox to the latest release
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Firefox automatically updates itself. This article explains how the update process works and how to manually check for updates.
- Can't open Firefox to update it? No problem! Just download the Firefox installer from mozilla.org/firefox. See the Installing Firefox article for your operating system if you need more help.
Table of Contents
How do automatic updates work?
By default, Firefox is configured to automatically check for updates.
- When an update is available, the Software Update dialog is automatically displayed. It contains a list of updates for Firefox components that are installed on your system. To begin updating your software, click . The new versions of any selected updates are downloaded and installed.
- When the install process is complete, you must restart Firefox. To close Firefox and re-open it, click .
- After Firefox restarts, all updated versions of Firefox components are available.
- Updates will be downloaded in the background and installed when you restart Firefox.
- If an update has been waiting to be installed for more than 24 hours, you'll see a notification with the option to restart Firefox and install the update.
Firefox 3.6 will automatically update to Firefox 12
Firefox 3.6 is no longer supported with security and stability updates. To keep your computer and personal information safe, Firefox 3.6 may be automatically updated to Firefox 12 in the next few weeks. For more information about your upgrade options, please see:
How do I manually check for updates?
At any time, you can check for updates.
- At the top of the Firefox window click the button, go over to the menu and select . For Windows XP: Go to the menu and select .On the menu bar click the menu and select .At the top of the Firefox window click the menu and select .
- The About Firefox window will open and Firefox will begin checking for updates. If updates are available, they will begin downloading automatically. If Firefox is already up to date, just close the About Firefox window.
- When the updates are downloaded and ready to be installed, click
. Firefox will be restarted and the updates will be installed.
- At the top of the Firefox window click the menu and select .On the menu bar click the The Software Update window will open. menu and select .
- If Check for Updates is disabled. is grayed out, see
- If major updates are available, click
- If no updates are available, click to close the window.
to begin the update process. - When the updates are ready to install, you must restart Firefox. To restart and install the updates, click
.
How do I configure update optionspreferences?
You can configure Firefox to automatically check for updates or to disable automatic updating.
- In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click and then select or , depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button and select .
- Click the panel.
- Click the optionspreferences are displayed.
- Update optionspreferences:
- Automatically check for updates to: Select the things you want Firefox to check. It can check for updates to the Firefox application, any installed add-ons (except for plugins — use the plugin check page to update them) and search engines.
- To disable automatic checking for updates, deselect all three optionspreferences. If you deselect the Firefox optionpreference, you will not receive critical security updates that may keep you safe online unless you frequently do a manual check for updates.
- To disable automatic checking for updates, deselect all three optionspreferences.
- When updates to Firefox are found: Choose how you want Firefox to manage any found updates.
- Ask me what I want to do: Firefox lets you choose if you want to download and install updates. If you do not choose to do so, you can download them at a later time.
- Automatically download and install the update: Firefox automatically downloads and installs found updates. If you wish to be prompted if the downloads will disable any installed add-ons, select that setting.
- To review the history of updates that have been downloaded and installed, click .
- Automatically check for updates to: Select the things you want Firefox to check. It can check for updates to the Firefox application, any installed add-ons (except for plugins — use the plugin check page to update them) and search engines.
- Close the page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.
You can configure Firefox to automatically check for updates or to disable automatic updating.
- In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click and then select or , depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button and select .
- Click the panel.
- Click the optionspreferences are displayed.
- Update optionspreferences:
- Automatically check for updates to: Select the things you want Firefox to check. It can check for updates to the Firefox application, any installed add-ons (except for plugins — use the plugin check page to update them) and search engines.
- To disable automatic checking for updates, deselect all three optionspreferences. If you deselect the Firefox optionpreference, you will not receive critical security updates that may keep you safe online unless you frequently do a manual check for updates.
- To disable automatic checking for updates, deselect all three optionspreferences.
- When updates to Firefox are found: Choose how you want Firefox to manage any found updates.
- Ask me what I want to do: Firefox lets you choose if you want to download and install updates. If you do not choose to do so, you can download them at a later time.
- Automatically download and install the update: Firefox automatically downloads and installs found updates. If you wish to be prompted if the downloads will disable any installed add-ons, select that setting.
- To review the history of updates that have been downloaded and installed, click .
- Automatically check for updates to: Select the things you want Firefox to check. It can check for updates to the Firefox application, any installed add-ons (except for plugins — use the plugin check page to update them) and search engines.
- Close the page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.
You can configure Firefox to automatically check for updates or to disable automatic updating.
- In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click and then select or , depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button and select .
- Click the panel.
- Click the optionspreferences are displayed.
- Firefox updates:
- Automatically install updates (recommended: improved security): Firefox automatically downloads and installs found updates.
- Warn me if this will disable any of my add-ons: If you wish to be prompted if the downloads will disable any installed add-ons, select that setting.
- Check for updates, but let me choose whether to install them: Firefox lets you choose if you want to download and install updates. If you do not choose to do so, you can download them at a later time.
- Never check for updates (not recommended: security risk): Firefox will not check for updates. Warning: If you select this setting, you will not receive critical security updates that may keep you safe online unless you frequently do a manual check for updates.
- To review the history of updates that have been downloaded and installed, click .
- Automatically install updates (recommended: improved security): Firefox automatically downloads and installs found updates.
- Automatically update:
- Add-ons: Check this to receive automatic updates to your Add-ons (except for plugins — use the plugin check page to update them).
- Search Engines: Check this to receive automatic updates to your search engines.
- Close the page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.
You can configure Firefox to automatically check for updates or to disable automatic updating.
- In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click and then select or , depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button and select .
- Click the panel.
- Click the optionspreferences are displayed.
- Firefox updates:
- Automatically install updates (recommended: improved security): Firefox automatically downloads and installs found updates.
- Warn me if this will disable any of my add-ons: If you wish to be prompted if the downloads will disable any installed add-ons, select that setting.
- Check for updates, but let me choose whether to install them: Firefox lets you choose if you want to download and install updates. If you do not choose to do so, you can download them at a later time.
- Never check for updates (not recommended: security risk): Firefox will not check for updates. Warning: If you select this setting, you will not receive critical security updates that may keep you safe online unless you frequently do a manual check for updates.
- To review the history of updates that have been downloaded and installed, click .
- Automatically install updates (recommended: improved security): Firefox automatically downloads and installs found updates.
- Automatically update:
- Search Engines: Check this to receive automatic updates to your search engines.
- Close the page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.
You can configure Firefox to automatically check for updates or to disable automatic updating.
- In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click and then select or , depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button and select .
- Click the panel.
- Click the
- Firefox updates:
- Automatically install updates (recommended: improved security): Firefox automatically downloads and installs found updates.
- Warn me if this will disable any of my add-ons: If you wish to be prompted if the downloads will disable any installed add-ons, select that setting.
- Check for updates, but let me choose whether to install them: Firefox lets you choose if you want to download and install updates. If you do not choose to do so, you can download them at a later time.
- Never check for updates (not recommended: security risk): Firefox will not check for updates. Warning: If you select this setting, you will not receive critical security updates that may keep you safe online unless you frequently do a manual check for updates.
- To review the history of updates that have been downloaded and installed, click .
- Use a background service to install updates: Firefox will use the Mozilla Maintenance Service when installing updates. This will remove the need to authorize Firefox to make changes to your computer through the User Account Control dialog in Windows 7 and Vista.
- Automatically install updates (recommended: improved security): Firefox automatically downloads and installs found updates.
- Automatically update:
- Search Engines: Check this to receive automatic updates to your search engines.
- Close the page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.
You can configure Firefox to automatically check for updates or to disable automatic updating.
- In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click and then select or , depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button and select .
- Click the panel.
- Click the
- Firefox updates:
- Automatically install updates (recommended: improved security): Firefox automatically downloads and installs found updates.
- Warn me if this will disable any of my add-ons: If you wish to be prompted if the downloads will disable any installed add-ons, select that setting.
- Check for updates, but let me choose whether to install them: Firefox lets you choose if you want to download and install updates. If you do not choose to do so, you can download them at a later time.
- Never check for updates (not recommended: security risk): Firefox will not check for updates. Warning: If you select this setting, you will not receive critical security updates that may keep you safe online unless you frequently do a manual check for updates.
- To review the history of updates that have been downloaded and installed, click .
- Automatically install updates (recommended: improved security): Firefox automatically downloads and installs found updates.
- Automatically update:
- Search Engines: Check this to receive automatic updates to your search engines.
- Close the page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.
I'm having problems with updating, what can I do?
These articles will help you with issues related to updating Firefox:
Based on information from Software Update (mozillaZine KB)