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How can I set Firefox update preferences via script so I can configure our 200 Macs to disable checking for updates?

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  • Last reply by cor-el

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Most of our Mac users do not have admin privileges. So when they get alerted about Firefox updates, they don't have the ability to install them. We would like to disable Firefox for checking for updates, then push out updates from our software server as needed. We have about 200 machines to configure. Is there a way to disable checking for updates via script (bash or Applescript)? And if so, is there a guide or web site to explain the process?

Most of our Mac users do not have admin privileges. So when they get alerted about Firefox updates, they don't have the ability to install them. We would like to disable Firefox for checking for updates, then push out updates from our software server as needed. We have about 200 machines to configure. Is there a way to disable checking for updates via script (bash or Applescript)? And if so, is there a guide or web site to explain the process?

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Use a mozilla.cfg file in the Firefox program folder to lock prefs or specify default values.

Place a file local-settings.js in the defaults\pref folder where you also find the file channel-prefs.js to specify using mozilla.cfg.

pref("general.config.filename", "mozilla.cfg");
pref("general.config.obscure_value", 0); // use this to disable the byte-shift

See:

You can use these functions in mozilla.cfg:

defaultPref();  // set new default value
pref();         // set pref, but allow changes in current session
lockPref();     // lock pref, disallow changes