settingspreferencesauto-updatethunderbirddisable

How to disable Thunderbird AUTO UPDATE?

How can I disable the AUTO UPDATE process/function automatically used/applied by the (Mozilla) Thunderbird=TB (email-client) app? For example, in v68 series: v68.12.0 or v68.12.1, etc.?

What settings/preferences change are needed? Please show different options to disable auto-update.

Currently (at the time of writing this post) TB's last version is v78 series, it is using built in RNP based OpenPGP features, instead of GPG. TB version v68 series uses GPG based external-tools instead of built in OpenPGP features, of course GPG follows OpenPGP standards. I need to use GPG based tools, for now.

And, if TB automatically updates from v68 series (v68.12.0 or v68.12.1, etc) version into v78 series or later version (v78.4.0, etc.), then downgrading (from v78 series back into v68 series) sometimes is very complicated (or sometime not possible without data loss), if sufficient backup not-made, etc.

Info from TB v78 release notes1:

So, I want to avoid that "auto update" process, for now.

If I need to, or when I will need to, then I myself can manually select button in TB's GUI to check for updates, and then I can click on "Update" to force an update process, but otherwise, it (TB) must not AUTO UPDATE.

And, during installation of (Mozilla) Thunderbird = TB, it did not obtain my consent to do auto-update of TB in my computer. It can check for update & can also SHOW me NEW VERSION NUMBER, and can also WARN me to update. BUT IT MUST ASK ME FIRST, before running ANY update. TB/FF, etc apps MUST NOT act like they are the owner of the computer where the app is used/running, TB/FF, etc. app must follow+respect my/user's choice/preferences in my/user's computer.

Solution

  • Disable the auto-update (or app update) process used by (mozilla) Thunderbird = TB, email-client software, and Firefox = FF, web-browser software.

       TB = Thunderbird . FF = Firefox.

    in below,
    if you'll configure TB only, then avoid following config/setting that are for FF.
    if you'll configure FF only, then avoid following config/setting that are for TB.

    DISABLE AUTO-UPDATE VIA CONFIG SETTINGS IN THUNDERBIRD/FIREFOX GUI:

    Disable auto update via Thunderbird's (or Firefox's) GUI (graphical user interfacce):

    Here is DISABLE-UPDATE Recommended By Thunderbird:

    README.md#disableappupdate.


    DISABLE AUTO UPDATE VIA "ABOUT:CONFIG" = "CONFIG-EDITOR" IN THUNDERBIRD/FIREFOX:

    Change below preference/options/settings, to disable update or auto-update:

    DISABLE AUTO UPDATE VIA "REGEDIT" IN WINDOWS:

    In windows, if you want to make sure, Thunderbird app update is completely disabled, then for both 64bit & 32bit Windows or TB, follow below steps:

    In newer TB versions, above settings may be ignored, and OS other-than Windows-OS does not use Windows-REGISTRY, so, to make sure that update or auto-update is completely disabled in Linux/Unix/macOS, you have to apply POLICY RULE based solution.
    TB = Thunderbird . FF = Firefox.
    OS = Operating System (for example: Windows, macOS, Linux, Unix, Android, iOS, etc).


    UNHIDE THE HIDDEN FILES/FOLDERS:

    Users who can't view/see the files/folders mentioned in below, those users can use below commands to UNHIDE the HIDDEN files/folders:
    • in macOS > start "Finder" app , "Finder" is very similar to Windows-"Explorer" > in Finder, in left side/pane, select "Applications" > then scroll down & go into "Utilities" subfolder > then click on "Terminal" or "Terminal.app" to start it.
    • type below command inside "Terminal" ( macOS "Terminal" is like Windows "Command-Prompt"):
    defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles true
    • then you must reboot Mac-computer OR run below command:
    /usr/bin/sudo /usr/bin/killall Finder /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app
    or, run just this: /usr/bin/sudo /usr/bin/killall Finder
    or, just this: sudo killall Finder
    then all hidden files+folders will by-default be shown to user in macOS Finder. )
    • in Windows, start/open windows "File Explorer" (aka "Explorer", aka "Windows Explorer") from the taskbar , select "View" > "Options" > change folder and search options : select the "View" tab and, in "Advanced" settings, select "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" > and also select "Show File name extensions" > then "OK".

    in macOS, inside any file browsing window, user can also press below THREE buttons altogether ONCE, to show HIDDEN files/folders:
    [Command⌘] + [Shift⇧] + [.>]
    if user press-es above three buttons again, file-browsing-window will HIDE the HIDDEN files/folders.

    By default in macOS, "Finder" will keep most of the file's extension hidden . But we need to see all File's extension, so we can be sure & not make mistake . To view all file's extension, do below steps:
    in macOS > start "Finder" app > goto main menu > Finder > Preferences > Advanced > select "Show All Filename Extensions" option.


    DISABLE AUTO UPDATE VIA CHANGING THUNDERBIRD UPDATE POLICIES:

    For TB/FF version v62 & later, and TB/FF ESR v60 & later, please read essential instruction on policies that any OS user first need-to understand, here.

    {
  "policies": {
    "AppAutoUpdate": false
  }
}
    {
  "policies": {
      "DisableAppUpdate": true
  }
}
    {
  "policies": {
      ...
      "ExtensionUpdate": false
      ...
  }
}

    the ... in above is your other policy rules.

    TB = Thunderbird . FF = Firefox.


    DISABLE AUTO UPDATE VIA CHANGING THUNDERBIRD "PREF.JS" CONFIG FILE:

    For TB/FF version v62 & earlier, user would need-to & can do these changes:

    TB = Thunderbird . FF = Firefox.


    DELETE UPDATE-EXECUTABLE IF IT WAS AUTO-DOWNLOADED BY THUNDERBIRD:

    Thunderbird=TB will auto download new updates/executables inside this/these below mentioned sub-folder(s), before you applied above settings, if TB has already obtained update, then remove it with below procedure:

    ADD EXCEPTION RULE INTO UPDATE/VERSION MONITORING APPS:

    There are various apps, that can trigger/start/initiate an auto-update process for other apps, (as "updating" techniques/settings are publicly known). Usually these apps obtain version number of your local app(s), in your computer. Then they obtain version number for specific last updated app, either from monitoring app's own remote web-server, or obtain version number from local app developer's remote web-server.

    So, if you're using such (monitoring) app(s), then you MUST also have+need to create an EXCEPTION (rule) for Thunderbird (or Firefox) app, inside that/those monitoring app(s), so-that those monitoring apps do-not initiate/trigger an auto-update process.
    Example:

    How To Get OLDER Thunderbird(TB) or Firefox(FF) Version:

    Below sites contain installer program, integrity-code (hash/checksum) files, etc for different versions and for different languages & localities:

    Portable Editions:

    Windows:

    NOTE:

    App's devs will release various types of updates. Some "update" are mainly feature related update (feature addition, removal, fix, patch, update, etc), some "update" are mainly app's security related update (security enhancement, improvement, patch, bugfix, etc), etc, etc.
    USER / YOU NEED TO INSTALL THE SECURITY RELATED UPDATES, ATLEAST,
    as it secures your computer thus in-turn it secures your/user's safety,
    provided that, you/user can trust app's devs, that they/devs will release update that is/are actually beneficial for app's USER / YOU, and does not violate/abuse your or any other user's any human-rights.