Just for fun, testing and learning blocking FF updates trought EIS

Hello,

How to block FF updates without breaking browser, trough EIS firewall?

If I click on FF settings > General > Allow FF To > Automatically install updates (Recommended) or
Check for updates but let you choose to install them

FF will search for updates when restart.

FF v121.0 - December 18, 2023
Win 10 22H2 (OS build 19045.3803)

Thanks
Camelia

Hola, there is an easier way.
Just create a subfolder 'distribution' in C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\

Create a file named policies.json with the following content:

Code:

{
"policies": 

  {
    "DisableAppUpdate": true
   }

}

This is like any regular text file and can be done with notepad.

Copy this file into C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\distribution\
It will act as an administrative policy blocking automatic updates.

Callender said:

Or you can just toggle this on/ off as required.
Toggle Firefox Update : Easily Enable or Disable Automatic Updates in Firefox

That's a nice way to do.
In my personal case I'm better off with my policies.json because it has a lot more entries and I don't know if all of these could be moved to the registry.
This is what it looks like:

Code:

{
  "policies": {
    "DisableAppUpdate": true,
    "DisableFirefoxAccounts": true,
    "DisableFirefoxStudies": true,
    "DisableMasterPasswordCreation": true,
    "DisablePocket": true,
    "DisableSetDesktopBackground": true,
    "DisableTelemetry": true,
    "FlashPlugin": {
      "Default": false
    },
    "NoDefaultBookmarks": true,
    "OfferToSaveLogins": false,
    "PasswordManagerEnabled": false,
    "Permissions": {
      "Camera": {
        "BlockNewRequests": true
      },
      "Location": {
        "BlockNewRequests": true
      },
      "Microphone": {
        "BlockNewRequests": true
      },
      "Notifications": {
        "BlockNewRequests": true
      }
    },
    "Preferences": {
      "browser.taskbar.lists.enabled": false,
      "browser.taskbar.lists.frequent.enabled": false,
      "browser.taskbar.lists.tasks.enabled": false,
      "browser.urlbar.suggest.bookmark": false,
      "browser.urlbar.suggest.history": false,
      "browser.urlbar.suggest.openpage": false,
"browser.urlbar.suggest.searches": false,
"keyword.enabled": false,
"browser.fixup.alternate.enabled": false,
"browser.urlbar.speculativeConnect.enabled": false
    },
    "PromptForDownloadLocation": true,
    "SearchBar": "separate",
    "SearchSuggestEnabled": false
     }
}

Hello,

The policies.json seems complicated for me, I would like to try first the .reg file but I do not have under Policies the key Mozilla
Do I have to create it manually?



Thanks
Camelia

Callender said:

Just copy the text into notepad. Save As .reg file and merge it.

Or download and merge this

policies.reg

Callender said:

For good measure you should uninstall Mozilla Maintenance Service (if installed)

How to disable Silent Updates in Firefox

Running the policies.reg and uninstalling Mozilla Maintenance Service (installed)
Can I still update FF manually downloading and running FF to the latest version from Directory Listing: /pub/firefox/releases/ even if "DisableAppUpdate" is disable (1 = Disabled)?

Thanks
Camelia