How do you completely turn off update checks in Firefox v64? You can use a policies.json file to disable updates for all users. https://github.com/mozilla/policy-templates/blob/master/README.md or https://winaero.com/blog/disable-updates-firefox-63-above/

You can use a policies.json file in the distribution folder in the Firefox installation folder instead as also listed in the article, so no need to use GPO keys in the Windows Registry. • https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/customizing-firefox-using-policiesjson

Back up and restore information in Firefox profiles {web link} I use a Legacy add-on that makes backups of my user profile, Just In Case. Unfortunately, it is not compatible with the current Firefox.

Every now and then, open the profile folder and create a copy of the current profile as is to another location on your hard drive. This way you will have a backup.

If you do this each day, you will not lose much data. This should be done with Firefox Closed.

Note: In case you need to restore from these backups, you may need to overwrite old or corrupted files.

I like FredMcD's idea. But I don't like having to keep doing manual backups when this should be an automated service, particularly when Firefox deletes the existing settings every time it updates. Why can't it do an automated backup of the files before each new update, then automatically restore? Alternatively you could manually restore. This would save having to go through all the settings and addons again. Firefox MUST know that the update screws you up but appears not to care in the least! Hence my refusal to keep allowing updates.

An update should not change your profile, but we get many complaints about this issue.

You can at least uninstall the Mozilla Maintenance Service to prevent downloading updates in the background. If you disable updating via policies.json then you can only update by disabling this policy or by downloading and installing the next version (which overwrites policies.json).

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/what-mozilla-maintenance-service
• Options/Preferences -> General -> Firefox Update: "Use a background service to install updates"

The box on the Options page is to choose between silent updates and you choosing when to install an update.

It's not normal to lose settings and add-ons when updating. Maybe one or two will no longer be supported, but in my experience that is very rare.

When you update, do you lose bookmarks, history, or saved logins? If not, perhaps your Firefox is performing a Refresh, sometimes referred to as a tune-up. Sometimes Firefox suggests that. When Firefox performs a Refresh, it moves your profile folder to your Windows desktop inside a folder named Old Firefox Data. Have you noticed folders accumulating in there?

I lose ALL my current settings! The screen resets to the default view, losing my customisation settings. Meaning I have to manually restore them. All my options are reset to defaults. Meaning I have to manually restore them. All my add-ons (the sole reason I stick with Firefox) are uninstalled then reinstalled. Meaning those that are set to not update are lost forever and I have to find and install alternatives even when I have had no issue with them. It also means the add-on customisation, settings and history are lost. So, every time I get an auto update I lose about 15 minutes having to set everything up again. A previous update removed my older Roboform and installed the later version which no longer works with multiple Identities. I have had to export all my logins as a csv while I look for an alternative that works within a browser and syncs to mobile phones. As it can't be trusted to automatically retain and backup my information this will not be Firefox.

Bookmarks, and internet search history are unaffected.

This has been the case since moving to Win 10 x64. And is repeatable for two new installs, so it appears to be a basic problem with Win 10 compatability.

As I do not get any additional folders created. It may be that Firefox is refreshing without retaining the existing information. Once again, I would expect Firefox to allow me to control this unwanted action.

I wonder whether you have multiple installations of Firefox. Each installation has its own profile folder, so that certainly could disrupt things.

These are the two default install locations on Windows. If you find Firefox in both, before deleting anything, come back and report on which one links up with the data you want to keep.

• C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox

If you open the Troubleshooting Information page, you can check where your current Firefox session is running from. Either:

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Troubleshooting Information
• (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
• type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, the Application Binary row shows the path to the program file for the current session.

Anything unusual so far?

Update folder: C:\ProgramData\Mozilla\updates\812FD32D5FFA528 Profile Folder: C:\Users\***\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\ffju5sln.default-release where *** is my username. Only one instance installed on this and all other Win10's.

Last reply by Les 1 hour ago

Sorry, current forum security sometimes delays the posting of messages. And in turn, we are not notified of those posts.

What security software do you have ?

I am using Comodo Firewall and Avast Anti Virus. I do not understand what difference this makes to Firefox changing my settings when updating.