Mozilla has removed the ability to disable updates in Firefox browser from version 63 as they’ve got rid of ‘Never check for updates’ option Under Firefox Updates in General section of preferences and now you’re left with two options: Automatically install updates and Check for updates but let you choose to install them.
The closest you can get to turn off Firefox automatic updates with available options is the second one, but that also checks for updates and nags you to update to latest Firefox version. If you don’t want to turn on the second option and looking to disable updates in Firefox 63 anyway (mind you no about:config preference available), you can, here is how.
Note: For security reasons, you should always be running the latest Firefox version, unless you have a strong reason to say No, the browser should be left to update automatically.
Prevent Firefox from updating in version 63 or later
1. Download and Install Enterprise Policy Generator add-on from AMO
2. Click on its icon on the toolbar
3. In the left pane, after scrolling down under ‘Updates & Data Collection’
4. Select ‘Prevent Firefox from Updating’.
Has that helped you? Do you have a valid reason to disable Firefox updates?
That is ridiculous. Why stop updates when they are good and needed?
This is for users who used ‘never check for updates’ option in Firefox previous version to disable Firefox updates, they’ve their own reasons, we’re not recommending them to do so.
Users who wish to disable updates have their own reasons for doing so and do not need to explain themselves to you. Firefox has always had add-ons which can alter some of its functions. If you don’t like this one, feel free to not install it.
The Enterprise Policy Generator add-on doesn’t work with ff63 portable (I follow updates through a different website and don’t like the way ff is heading and forcing their so called improvements [just a reduction in choice – deprecating quite a few features lately] to our throats). Do you know a solution? I’ll follow your reply through this page. By the way, thank you for all the tips, they are very good! :)
Check this: https://portableapps.com/node/57057
How do you know add-on is not working, I suggest you install Enterprise policy generator extension and check everything except the second one under Updates & Data collection, ensure use background service to install updates is unchecked, I am not sure that service actually works for portable, better to disable it anyway.
Never ever open about Firefox from the help menu, that triggers update check.
To make this setting work for Firefox portable, put the distribution folder that contain policies.json file into these both folders:
FirefoxPortable\App\Firefox
and
FirefoxPortable\App\Firefox64
Another way is to edit the prefs.js file and add the following line:
user_pref(“app.update.enabled”, false);
This can also prevent installing updates automatically.
I think they’ve made the pref redundant when they made changes to updates.
app.update.enabled=false only disables auto-update; it still checks for updates.
Can also rename the updater.exe file in the Firefox directory.
When you want it to check, just rename it and restart Firefox.
Brilliant and simple. Used this method (renaming updater.exe) on FF portable v56.02. Works great.