How To Turn Off Firefox Update Notifications

To turn off Firefox update notifications, open Firefox’s Settings, go to the General panel, and under “Firefox Updates,” select “Check for updates but let you choose to install them.” This stops automatic installations while still showing a notification when an update is ready, a balance that keeps you in control without fully disabling security patches, which Mozilla strongly recommends keeping enabled. If you need to eliminate the pop-ups entirely, you must use advanced methods like Group Policy or the Registry, but be aware that doing so can leave your browser vulnerable to known exploits.

Stop automatic installations in Firefox settings

The most straightforward way to manage update notifications is through Firefox’s built-in Preferences. This method is ideal if you want to prevent Firefox from installing updates in the background while still being alerted that a new version exists. To do this, click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the upper-right corner, then select “Settings” (or “Options” on Windows, “Preferences” on macOS). From there, navigate to the “General” panel and scroll down to the “Firefox Updates” section.

1. Open Firefox and click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the upper-right corner.
2. Select “Settings” (or “Options” on Windows, “Preferences” on macOS).
3. In the left sidebar, click “General.”
4. Scroll down to the “Firefox Updates” section.
5. Select the radio button next to “Check for updates but let you choose to install them.”
6. Close the tab, your changes are saved automatically.

This setting prevents automatic installations, but Firefox will still check for updates and display a notification that an update is available or that the browser is out of date. That means you’ll still see pop-ups, but you won’t have to worry about the browser updating itself without your consent. If your goal is to avoid interruptions while browsing, this is the safest option because it keeps the update mechanism active, reducing the risk of missing critical security fixes.

Disable background update downloads on Windows

If you’re on Windows and want to stop Firefox from silently downloading updates in the background, even before you make a choice, uncheck the option “Use a background service to install updates” in the same “Firefox Updates” section. This feature, when enabled, allows Firefox to download and install updates even when the browser is closed, which reduces interruptions but also means files are being fetched without your direct action. Unchecking it ensures that no update files are downloaded until you explicitly initiate the process.

1. In the same “Firefox Updates” section, locate the checkbox labeled “Use a background service to install updates.”
2. Uncheck the box.
3. Close the tab to save the change.

This option is primarily for Firefox on Windows and requires that Firefox was installed with the installer and that the Mozilla Maintenance Service is functional. If you’re using a version installed from the Microsoft Store or a portable build, this checkbox may not appear. Disabling background downloads is a good middle ground: you’ll still get notified about updates, but nothing will be downloaded until you click “Install” yourself.

Turn off updates completely using Windows group policy

For administrators managing multiple devices, the Group Policy Editor provides a centralized way to enforce a “Disable Firefox Updates” policy across an entire network. This method is useful when you need to maintain a specific browser version for compatibility reasons across all users, and it ensures that no individual user can re-enable updates through the Settings interface. To use this method, you must have Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education edition, as the Group Policy Editor is not available on Windows Home.

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type “gpedit.msc,” and press Enter.
2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Mozilla > Firefox.
3. Double-click the policy named “Disable Firefox Updates.”
4. Select “Enabled,” then click “Apply” and “OK.”

Once enabled, this policy prevents Firefox from checking for updates or displaying update notifications for all users on the network. It’s a powerful tool for organizations that need consistent browser versions across their infrastructure, but it also means those users will not receive security patches until the policy is changed. Mozilla strongly recommends keeping automatic updates enabled for security reasons, so only use this method if you have a clear and justified reason, such as compatibility with internal web applications that break in newer versions.

Disable updates via the Windows registry

If you’re an advanced user on a standalone Windows machine and don’t have access to Group Policy, you can disable Firefox updates by creating a registry entry. This method is equivalent to the Group Policy approach but applies only to the local machine. It’s a direct and effective way to turn off update notifications completely, but it requires careful editing of the Windows Registry, which can cause system issues if done incorrectly. Always back up the registry before making changes.

1. Press the Windows key + R, type “regedit,” and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Mozilla\Firefox. If the “Mozilla” or “Firefox” keys don’t exist, right-click on the parent key, select New > Key, and create them.
3. Right-click in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it DisableAppUpdate.
4. Double-click the new value, set its data to 1, and click “OK.”
5. Close the Registry Editor and restart Firefox.

This registry entry tells Firefox to treat updates as disabled, which means it will never check for updates or show notifications. Unlike the Settings method, this cannot be overridden from within the browser, making it a hard lock. However, it’s important to note that this method is not officially supported by Mozilla, and modifying preferences in about:config is an advanced method that can lead to unexpected behavior if done incorrectly. Use this only if you fully understand the consequences and have a specific need to freeze the browser version.

A note on Firefox ESR and 'never check for updates'

If you want the option to completely turn off update checks, you’ll need to use Firefox Extended Support Release (ESR), not the standard version. In Firefox ESR, you can find an option labeled “Never check for updates” in the Update section under Advanced settings, which completely turns off automatic updates. This is the only version of Firefox that offers this choice through the user interface, and it’s designed for organizations that need a stable, long-term version with minimal changes. For standard Firefox, the closest you can get through Settings is “Check for updates but let you choose to install them,” which still checks for updates and shows notifications. If you’re on standard Firefox and want to eliminate all update prompts, your only options are the Group Policy or Registry methods described above, both of which carry security risks. Mozilla strongly recommends keeping automatic updates enabled for security reasons, as disabling them can leave the browser vulnerable to exploitable security risks. If you must use an older version for compatibility, consider using Firefox ESR instead, as it receives security backports without major feature changes, giving you a safer way to maintain a consistent browsing environment.