Firefox ESR updates automatically by default, but you can disable this in Settings

Firefox Extended Support Release (ESR) is designed for organizations and users who need stability over the latest features. By default, it checks for updates automatically and installs them without asking. If you want to control when updates happen — or prevent them entirely — you can change this behavior in three places: the main Settings panel, the update preferences, and (on some systems) your operating system itself.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you want to check for updates manually, defer them, or stop them completely. Most users find the Settings approach fastest; system administrators managing multiple machines may prefer the policy file method.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Firefox ESR, go to Settings, then System, and change the update setting from "Automatically install updates" to "Check for updates but let me choose to install them" or "Never check for updates".
  • If you choose "Check for updates but let me choose", Firefox will notify you when an update is ready and you decide when to install it.
  • Choosing "Never check for updates" stops all update notifications, but you will need to manually download and install security patches from mozilla.org when they become available.
  • On Windows, macOS, and Linux, you can also disable updates by editing the policies.json file in your Firefox profile folder, which is useful if you manage Firefox across multiple computers.
  • Even if you disable updates, Firefox will still show a notification badge on the menu button when a new version is available.

Disable automatic updates through the Settings menu

This is the simplest method and works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Open Firefox ESR and click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click System in the left sidebar. Scroll down to the Updates section.

You will see three radio button options. The first, "Automatically install updates", is selected by default. Click the second option, "Check for updates but let me choose to install them", if you want Firefox to notify you when an update is ready but wait for your approval before installing. Click the third option, "Never check for updates", if you want to stop all automatic checking entirely.

Once you select your preference, the change takes effect immediately. Firefox will not restart or ask for confirmation. If you chose the middle option, Firefox will show a notification in the menu button when an update is available; if you chose the third option, no notifications will appear (though you can still check manually by going back to Settings and clicking "Check for updates now").

Manually check for updates when you choose to defer them

If you selected "Check for updates but let me choose to install them", Firefox will periodically check for new versions and notify you. When you see the notification, you can install the update immediately or wait. To install it later, return to Settings > System > Updates and click the Check for updates now button, or wait for Firefox to check again automatically (usually within a few days).

When an update is ready and you have deferred it, Firefox displays a small badge on the menu button. Clicking the menu button shows an option to download and install the update. You can also restart Firefox to complete the installation if it has already been downloaded in the background.

Stop all update checks with the policies.json file

If you manage Firefox ESR on multiple computers or want a more permanent block that survives profile resets, you can edit the policies.json file in your Firefox profile folder. This method works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, though the file path differs by operating system.

First, close Firefox completely. Then navigate to your profile folder: on Windows, type %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles in File Explorer; on macOS, open Finder, press Command+Shift+G, and type ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles; on Linux, open your file manager and navigate to ~/.mozilla/firefox. Open the folder with a name ending in .default-esr (or .default if you do not see the ESR variant).

Inside that folder, create a new text file and name it policies.json (if it does not already exist). Open it with a text editor and add the following lines:

{ "policies": { "Updates": { "enabled": false } } }

Save the file, then restart Firefox. The update checks will now be disabled. If a policies.json file already exists, add the "Updates" section inside the "policies" object instead of replacing the entire file.

Understand the security trade-off of disabling updates

Firefox ESR releases security patches roughly every four weeks, and critical fixes sometimes arrive between regular releases. If you disable all update checks, you will not be notified when these patches become available. You will need to manually visit mozilla.org/firefox/new, download the latest ESR version, and install it yourself.

For most users, deferring updates (the middle option) is safer than disabling them entirely. You still get notified when updates are ready, but you control the timing. This is especially important if you use Firefox for banking, email, or other sensitive tasks where security vulnerabilities can be exploited quickly.

If you work in an organization with a dedicated IT team, they may have a different update strategy — such as testing updates on a subset of machines before rolling them out to everyone. In that case, ask your IT department whether they have configured Firefox updates through a group policy or management tool, which would override your personal settings.

Re-enable automatic updates if you change your mind

To go back to automatic updates, return to Settings > System > Updates and select "Automatically install updates". If you used the policies.json method, delete the "Updates" section from that file (or delete the entire file if it contains nothing else), save it, and restart Firefox.

Firefox will resume checking for updates on its normal schedule. Any updates that were skipped while checking was disabled will be offered the next time Firefox checks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Firefox still work if I never install updates?

Yes, Firefox will continue to run, but it will become increasingly vulnerable to security exploits as time passes. Websites may also begin blocking older versions. If you disable updates, plan to manually install new versions at least every few months, or switch back to automatic updates.

Can I delay updates for a specific number of days?

Firefox ESR does not have a built-in "delay for X days" option. Your choices are automatic installation, manual installation when you choose, or no checking at all. If you need updates to wait for testing before deployment, you may need to use Firefox in a managed environment with group policies or a mobile device management tool.

Does disabling updates affect Firefox Sync or my bookmarks?

No. Disabling updates only controls whether Firefox checks for and installs new versions. Your bookmarks, passwords, history, and Sync settings are unaffected. They will remain the same whether you update or not.

What if the policies.json file does not work?

Make sure the file is named exactly policies.json (not policies.json.txt), that it is in the correct profile folder (the one ending in .default-esr), and that the JSON syntax is correct (no extra commas or missing brackets). If Firefox still checks for updates, the file may not be in the right location or may have a syntax error. Use a plain text editor like Notepad (Windows), TextEdit in plain text mode (macOS), or gedit (Linux) to avoid hidden formatting.

Can I disable updates for Firefox but not other Mozilla products?

Yes. The policies.json method disables updates only for Firefox itself. Other Mozilla applications like Thunderbird have their own update settings and are not affected. If you use the Settings menu to disable updates, only Firefox is changed.