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Firefox update notification on Windows 7

  • 9 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by zen322003

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Good afternoon,

Now that firefox no longer supports Windows 7 is there a way of disabling the update notificatioin? I like firefox, cannot afford to update to a newer version of Windows but find the annoyance of firefox wanting to update to aversion that does not support my system a distraction.

I know it is good practice to keep everything up to date but when the software makes this impossible ......

Any help out there, please?

Good afternoon, Now that firefox no longer supports Windows 7 is there a way of disabling the update notificatioin? I like firefox, cannot afford to update to a newer version of Windows but find the annoyance of firefox wanting to update to aversion that does not support my system a distraction. I know it is good practice to keep everything up to date but when the software makes this impossible ...... Any help out there, please?

All Replies (9)

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The latest ESR version is 115.3.1 but yours is reported as 115.0.3 so it needs to be updated. If the update process does not work, you can download and install the latest ESR.

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Hello zeroknight

I am running Firefox 32 bit 115.0.3. When the last update arrived it downloaded as 116.0 which as I understand it is/was the first 32 bit update not to support Windows 7. What your 115.3.1 refers to I am unsure but may be the 64 bit version which I do not run. I really should have made this clear in my original post.

Obviously there are no other later updates for the 32 bit version which support Windows 7 and I still need a resolution to the problem if this is possible.

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https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-users-windows-7-8-and-81-moving-extended-support

Firefox 116.0 and later including the current Fx 118.0.2 requires Windows 10 or later to run. Does not mater if Firefox is 32-bit or 64-bit on Windows.

Firefox 115 ESR is the latest you can run. ESR stands for Extended Support Release. Normally ESR is meant more for Enterprise users in mind as they need longer term stability. However the EOL Windows 7, 8, 8.1 OS users are being served the Firefox 115 ESR so they can get security and allowed stability updates for a while still as Fx 115.15.0esr is planned for in Sept 2024.

Firefox 115.0.3 was a version on Release channel however you should have gotten an update to then 115.1.0 esr version to then be on 115 ESR channel alongside when Firefox 116.0 was Released.

Unless you are posting this thread on a different Win7 computer, It looks like you actually have 64-bit Firefox on 64-bit Windows and not 32-bit Firefox based on your Firefox useragent in more system details. Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; Win64; x64; rv:109.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/115.0

You can download the current Firefox 115.3.1 esr https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/#product-desktop-esr

You can run both 32-bit and 64-bit Firefox on 64-bit Windows 7, though 64-bit would be better. You cannot however run 64-bit Firefox on 32-bit Windows.

Modified by James

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Hello James,

Many thanks for your reply and help provided.

I have downloaded and installed the update you recommended and this has removed the prompt; hopefully for good. What is the future for those of us using Windows 7 in the longer term remains to be seen, but, hopefully, there will be some sort of permanent solution which will allow us to continue usage of the browser without unnecessary interuption or difficulty.

I should point out however that your information on the browser is not correct. The Windows is indeed 64 bit but the Firefox in use is 32 bit. I downloaded the 64 bit browser sometime ago but could find no way of moving to it withiut losing all my logins & passwords, bookmarks and other add ons that I find helpful. As a result I abandoned it and stayed with the 32 bit version.

Many thanks once again for your help and explanation of the situation.

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zen322003 said

What is the future for those of us using Windows 7 in the longer term remains to be seen, but, hopefully, there will be some sort of permanent solution which will allow us to continue usage of the browser without unnecessary interuption or difficulty. I should point out however that your information on the browser is not correct. The Windows is indeed 64 bit but the Firefox in use is 32 bit. I downloaded the 64 bit browser sometime ago but could find no way of moving to it withi losing all my logins & passwords, bookmarks and other add ons that I find helpful. As a result I abandoned it and stayed with the 32 bit version.

Other major web browsers like Chromium, Chrome, Opera, Edge, Brave etc has already dropped support for the EOL Windows 7, 8, 8.1 back in January/February. Besides updating to Windows 10, the only other option to be current in OS is to say dual boot with a light Linux distro. I do suggest to stay away from heavier desktops like KDE and Gnome and go with something like Xfce or lighter.

The useragent you posted this thread with shows you are using 64-bit Firefox on 64-bit Windows 7 as the "Win64; x64" shows.

Your Profile(s) where all of your settings in in a separate place and not in the Firefox program folder so it should not matter if you went from 32-bit to 64-bit. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-remove-switch-firefox-profiles

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Hello James,

Many thanks for your reply and the information you provide.

I have looked at the page you provided a link for and although interesting some of it is beyond my understanding. I have also looked at moving my profile from Firefox 32 to 64 bit but from what I read it looks as if this could be a little beyond my abilities and contains some risks as, apparently, some data is or may be incompatible between the two.

I think my best bet (given both ability and age) is to stay with what I have and do my best to ensure my antivirus is up to date, avoid any risky sites as I currently do and not cause myself any extra problems.

May thanks once again. I have learned a little more so the time has not been wasted which is important.

Take care.

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You can possibly delete compatibility.ini in a profile to allow another installation to use this profile. See also:

Firefox doesn't expose in the user agent what version (32/64) is used for quite some time.

  • 1559747 - User-Agent string needn't reveal a user is running 32-bit Firefox on a 64-bit OS [69]
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cor-el said

Firefox doesn't expose in the user agent what version (32/64) is used for quite some time.
  • 1559747 - User-Agent string needn't reveal a user is running 32-bit Firefox on a 64-bit OS [69]

Making doing support harder however the small number of 32-bit CPU users are decreasing as time goes on.

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Many thanks for all your replies and information. It looks as if MS have done to W7 much as Apple did to their older iPhone when they wanted users to upgrade (they downgraded the function) which I consider wrong. After all I paid for a functioning facility and there was nothing in the agreement that said they would stop part of it working when they chose. Still I can update using the Windows Update route so all is (for now) not lost.

Thanks again.