The ability to block Firefox updates was removed because it's a severe security risk not to update. Each Firefox update typically contains between 10-30 fixes for known security vulnerabilities. Running older versions of Firefox will leave you exposed to these well documented holes.

While I would not recommend blocking Firefox updates, you can do so at your own risk using Windows Group Policy or a policies.json file. These policies are intended for business networks that will distribute updates using an alternative method other than the builtin Firefox updater.

The ability to disable updates will not be added to the Firefox settings because of the risk involved. The average user will find the Check for updates but let you choose to install them option more helpful. This will notify you when an update becomes available, but allow you to chose when to install the update.

Hope this helps.

Firefox is currently updating every few days, even though I set app.update.interval and app.update.promptWaitTime at 2592000 (30 days) because of this annoying behaviour. No wonder that Firefox keeps losing market share. If 10-30 vulnerabilities are involved in each update, how many of these are caused by the updates themselves? I have been using Firefox since 2004 and I do want to avoid Chrome, but Firefox's ignoring its settings is certainly putting me off.

Other browsers update just as frequently (if not more frequently) than Firefox. Updates are a good thing because it's an important part of keeping you secure online.

A couple of huge security flaws have been discovered and patched in the recent weeks, which is why you may be getting updates more frequently.

To be honest, I'm not even sure that preference is valid anymore because a bunch of the app.update.* preferences were removed in a recent update. They were easy for malware to change and they really aren't preferences that the average user should be changing.

A lot of people simply don't seem to understand how critical updates actually are. The internet is filled with bad people trying to exploit issues that they find and the software companies are just rushing to keep up. Software that doesn't get updates (or people who refuse to do the updates that companies provide) are prime targets for attackers.

Hi Wesley

You are missing my point. Firefox is riding on MY computer, at MY house, in MY town. Since this is my computer, I get to make the rules.

off-topic rant removed by moderator

Well, at least Firefox is free and it doesn't give me the feeling that I am the product because of that (i.e., the Google and Facebook principle). But I used to update monthly, soon after the Windows updates became available. All manually, in order to be in control. Apparently, such diligence makes software providers consider me reckless.

Actually, Microsoft's Background Intelligent Transfer service (BITS) is a lot worse, eating some 2 GB a month from my data bundle. I am seriously considering switching to Linux as Windows 7 nears the end of its life cycle. If the Linux version of Firefox leaves me in control like the Windows version used to do, that might convince me to take the step.

gmabilli said

You are missing my point. Firefox is riding on MY computer, at MY house, in MY town. Since this is my computer, I get to make the rules.

I have already provided you with a perfectly valid method for completely disabling the updates. Claiming that Firefox doesn't allow you to do so is quite simply false. You can stop updates if you really want to and I have already given you ample resources to do so.

@NL-T

If the above information does not resolve your issue, please consider creating a new thread containing the specific details of your issue.

I've been advised that the preferences that you have referenced in your post should still be working in the latest Firefox, so perhaps there is some other issue that's causing them not to work properly.

Hi gmabilli,

Thank you for your concern regarding automatic updates and your ability to use Firefox. I absolutely understand the frustration you're experiencing.

Your follow up reply has been edited as it does not provide more detail about your issue, and is a rant. You may view our Mozilla Support rules and guidelines.

Wesley has provided you with the relevant information to assist with updates.

Reddit has additional resources which may be beneficial to you:

https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/aywkvf/tutorial_stop_forced_updates_and_notifications/

https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/9rdxar/how_to_disable_autoupdates_so_i_dont_get_sorry_we/

Please let us know how we can help further after reviewing the resources provided by Wesley and me.

Thank you, Andrew