This forum is largely staffed by volunteers.

My question: How do I disable "Download firefox update" nag?

There is no built-in setting to stop Firefox from checking for and notifying you of available updates. There is an Enterprise Policy feature (group policy or policies.json file) to block Firefox from checking for updates intended for users of software update management tools.

Are you asking about this because you encountered a problem with an update?

More importantly; how do I stop your software -- running on MY computer -- from sending who knows what private information to your servers when it "checks for updates"?

This is the update check URL from my Firefox. It is GET request, meaning that it passes information via the URL:

https://aus5.mozilla.org/update/6/Firefox/85.0.2/20210208133944/WINNT_x86_64-msvc-x64/en-US/release/Windows_NT%2010.0.0.0.18363.1256%20(x64)/ISET:SSE4_2,MEM:8042/default/default/update.xml

It follows this template:

https://aus5.mozilla.org/update/6/%PRODUCT%/%VERSION%/%BUILD_ID%/%BUILD_TARGET%/%LOCALE%/%CHANNEL%/%OS_VERSION%/%SYSTEM_CAPABILITIES%/%DISTRIBUTION%/%DISTRIBUTION_VERSION%/update.xml

that I found here:

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\application.ini

If your question is can you edit that to reduce or replace the information Firefox would normally fill in? I have no idea what effect that might have. Modify at your own risk.

This forum is largely staffed by volunteers.

I'm not sure of the relevance of that statement in this context.

There is no built-in setting to stop Firefox from checking for and notifying you of available updates.

And there is the crux of the issue. Why not? It certainly isn't a technical restriction.

So why does Mozilla feel it needs to impose its will on its users. And what gives it that right.

If I wanted to be nannied by a corporate entity, I'd use Apple products. I never have and never will.

My ideal would be that security updates would be kept entirely separate from functionality changes.

And when *I* decide to upgrade, I would be able to install the new version as a standalone entity so that I could try it along side my current version. That way if it breaks something I can continue to use my existing version until the problem is resolved.

If your question is ...

That's not even vaguely "My question"; so a straw man.

Seems clear from the lack of real response, that I'm not going to get anywhere here, so time to download Vivali/Opera/Bravo/Midori/UR/Maxthon/Lunascape and see it I cannot find a browser that allows ME to control what happens on my machine.

Hello iDontWantAnAccountISimplyWantToAskAQuestion,

I think Firefox needs to collect required information just like any other browser to offer you latest updates such as scanning your current installed Firefox version and if it doesn't match the latest version, it will suggest you the update. But this has to be collected which is necessary in order to provide you timely updates. Other than that Firefox won't collect unnecessary information.

Regarding the (You stopped listening to your users), keep in mind that this forum is largely staffed by volunteers and not Mozilla employees.

If you need some attention from Mozilla employees officially, i would suggest you to go to https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/contact/

You will get a response if your question/issue is constructive/valid.

https://qsurvey.mozilla.com/s3/Give-feedback-landing-page

"Please check back soon

We've paused submissions to this form so that we can improve how we collect feedback."

That's how I ended up here :(

Why is it difficult to avoid being notified of updates in Firefox? It is the industry standard to auto-update software that loads untrusted content, and the alternative is to notify you of updates. I understand you don't even want to be informed, so I mentioned the available control mechanism. Search it up.

It is the industry standard to auto-update software that loads untrusted content, and the alternative is to notify you of updates.

Sounds impressive -- definitive even --but what it translates to is "Google & Apple get away with it, so we thought we should do it to." Cos, ape'ing them is a sure fire way to bring the users flooding back!

Why would they change if FF is the same as what they've got? FF should be differentiating itself, not copying them.

FF was the browser for the discerning -- read computer/web literate -- users; but now you're treating them like sheep.

For the record at least two of the alternative browsers I mentioned above allow me to disable automated update checking; still waiting on conformation from the rest.

Oh. And as for that overly complicated and badly document Enterprise Policy hack. Now you given me the URL, it was the work of seconds to add it to my hosts file, so thanks for that. (I do realise that you're trying to help me.)

However, that still not really the point is it.

When a FOSS project forgets is raison d'etre (not to mention, is own slogan/mission statement "Firefox is created by a global non-profit dedicated to putting individuals in control online."), and starts acting like those same, smug, self-righteous corporations it set out to offer an alternative to, it time for its users to move on. As they have in their droves. Add me to that number.

Don't worry, I won't bug you further.

jscher2000 said

It is the industry standard to auto-update software that loads untrusted content, and the alternative is to notify you of updates.

Sounds impressive -- definitive even --but what it translates to is "Google & Apple get away with it, so we thought we should do it to." Cos, ape'ing them is a sure fire way to bring the users flooding back!

You might not be very familiar with browser vulnerabilties. No one makes their software more secure to win popularity points.

And as for that overly complicated and badly document Enterprise Policy hack. Now you given me the URL, it was the work of seconds to add it to my hosts file, so thanks for that. (I do realise that you're trying to help me.)

I never doubted that you would persist until you shot yourself in the foot.

However, that still not really the point is it. When a FOSS project forgets is raison d'etre (not to mention, is own slogan/mission statement "Firefox is created by a global non-profit dedicated to putting individuals in control online."), and starts acting like those same, smug, self-righteous corporations it set out to offer an alternative to, it time for its users to move on.

Don't caricature Mozilla's mission as a browser war, read the details here: https://www.mozilla.org/about/manifesto/

Don't caricature Mozilla's mission as a browser war,

I didn't! (And you know so.)

I quoted it, and pointed out that they are no longer "putting individuals in control".

So, another strawman, and like everything else you said in this post, a pathetic attempt at a put down.

You just went from being the patient guy that tried to help, to the bozo that lost sight of the point. Knew you would.