Feb 06, 2023, 17:28 pm
(This post was last modified: Feb 06, 2023, 17:38 pm by Resurgence. Edited 2 times in total.)
Unfortunately, Firefox no longer allows users to disable automatic updates. This has upset some users of the browser.
Whether it is with unnecessary user interface changes or more serious changes like security addons being disabled without the users consent, some are concerned about the decreasing control users have over the browser.
Security updates are said to be important, but if they come with a loss of user control and important features, then some may prefer to do without the "upgrades". Besides, you can always enhance the security of the browser yourself by hardening it via changing settings in about:config and by using additional security addons.
Disabling automatic updates may be necessary if:
* You like the version you are using and do not want to upgrade
* You don't want some addons to be disabled with future upgrades
* You don't want some browser features to be changed or removed
* You no longer put your trust in Mozilla's actions
How to Disable Automatic Updates:
1. Go to your Firefox default installation directory
2. Create a new folder in your Firefox default installation directory and call it distribution
3. Copy/Paste the text and characters below into a blank text file:
{
"policies": {
"DisableAppUpdate": true
}
}
4. Name the new file policies.json and save the file
5. Put the policies.json file in your new distribution folder
6. Start Firefox
7. Go to the Settings menu (in Linux it is Edit>Settings)
8. Note that at the top of the Settings menu, this message appears indicating the changes you just made:
![[Image: vmHJ1uLK_o.png]](https://images2.imgbox.com/80/83/vmHJ1uLK_o.png)
9. For further verification of the changes - In Settings>General, in the Firefox Updates section, note the following message:
![[Image: 7zDjBUvn_o.png]](https://images2.imgbox.com/72/e5/7zDjBUvn_o.png)
---------------------------
Tor Browser:
This can also be done in Tor Browser if you wish.
You can follow the steps above for Tor Browser.
If you have already completed the steps for Firefox, then you don't have to go through the steps again, just copy/paste the distribution folder with the policies.json file in it and place it in your Tor Browser default installation directory.
Whether it is with unnecessary user interface changes or more serious changes like security addons being disabled without the users consent, some are concerned about the decreasing control users have over the browser.
Security updates are said to be important, but if they come with a loss of user control and important features, then some may prefer to do without the "upgrades". Besides, you can always enhance the security of the browser yourself by hardening it via changing settings in about:config and by using additional security addons.
Disabling automatic updates may be necessary if:
* You like the version you are using and do not want to upgrade
* You don't want some addons to be disabled with future upgrades
* You don't want some browser features to be changed or removed
* You no longer put your trust in Mozilla's actions
How to Disable Automatic Updates:
1. Go to your Firefox default installation directory
2. Create a new folder in your Firefox default installation directory and call it distribution
3. Copy/Paste the text and characters below into a blank text file:
{
"policies": {
"DisableAppUpdate": true
}
}
4. Name the new file policies.json and save the file
5. Put the policies.json file in your new distribution folder
6. Start Firefox
7. Go to the Settings menu (in Linux it is Edit>Settings)
8. Note that at the top of the Settings menu, this message appears indicating the changes you just made:
9. For further verification of the changes - In Settings>General, in the Firefox Updates section, note the following message:
---------------------------
Tor Browser:
This can also be done in Tor Browser if you wish.
You can follow the steps above for Tor Browser.
If you have already completed the steps for Firefox, then you don't have to go through the steps again, just copy/paste the distribution folder with the policies.json file in it and place it in your Tor Browser default installation directory.