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== Updating Mozilla Firefox (Windows) ==
__FORCETOC__
Like most applications, it is important to keep your browser and email clients up-to-date to combat security flaws and gain new functionality. The instructions on this page should help you update Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird.


#To manually check for a Firefox update, click the Help menu on the menu bar, and select Check for Updates....
 <br /><br />[[Image:winfoxstp1.png]]<br /><br />
You can also find installers and documentation for the latest versions of Firefox and Thunderbird here:
#If there are updates available, click on the Get the New Version button <br /><br /> [[Image:winfoxstp3.png]]<br /><br />
*Firefox: https://www.firefox.com
#Firefox will prompt you to restart when the downloads have finished: <br /><br />[[Image:winfoxstp2.png]]<br /><br />
*Thunderbird: https://www.thunderbird.net
#* You have now successfully updated to the latest version of Firefox


== Updating Mozilla Thunderbird (Windows) ==
== Determining the Installed  Version ==


#To manually check for a Thunderbird update, click the Help menu on the menu bar, and select Check for Updates....
<br /><br />[[Image:Winstp1.png]]<br /><br />
You can find out what version of Firefox or Thunderbird you have installed on you computer by opening up the application and choosing:
#If there are updates available, the following prompt will appear: <br /><br />[[Image:Windstp2.png]]<br /><br />
*"Help > About Mozilla [application]" from the menu bar on Windows
#*Click on Update Thunderbird
*"Firefox > About [application]" from the menu bar on macOS
#After the update has completed, click on Restart Thunderbird
where [application] is either "Firefox" or "Thunderbird".
#*Thunderbird will restart and show you a pretty page telling you what the update changed
#*If there is a new version of Thunderbird available, you will have to apply the update after it has finished downloading
#After the update has completed, click on the help button in the main toolbar, and select Apply Downloaded Update Now<br /><br />[[Image:Winthunstp1.png]]<br /><br />
#*You will then have to restart Thunderbird by clicking on the restart Thunderbird link in the bottom right corner of the prompt:<br /><br />[[Image:Winthunstp2.png]]<br /><br />
#*You have now successfully updated to the latest version of Thunderbird


== Updating Mozilla Firefox (Mac OS X) ==
== Updating Mozilla Firefox (Windows & Mac) ==
#To manually check for a Firefox update, click the Help menu on the menu bar, and select Check for Updates....

*By default Mozilla Firefox will automatically update by itself. If it is currently disabled it can be enable with the following steps:
#If updates are available, click Get the New Version to begin the process.
#First navigate to options (Windows) or preferences (Mac).
#*If no updates are available, click Done to close the window.
#Once in the options (Windows) or preferences (Mac) you navigate to the Firefox Updates section
#When the install process is complete, you must restart Firefox. To close Firefox and re-open it, click Restart Firefox. <br /><br />[[Image:RestartFirefoxMac.png]]<br /><br />
#*Once in the Firefox Updates section you will see an option to “Automatically install updates”. If this is not already enabled it is recommended to enable this.


== Updating Mozilla Thunderbird (Mac OS X) ==
''Click on pictures to enlarge them''
#To manually check for a Thunderbird update, click the Help menu on the menu bar, and select Check for Updates....
<br /><br />[[Image:CheckForThunderbirdUpdatesMac.png]]<br /><br />
<br style="clear: both" />
#If updates are available, click Get the New Version to begin the process.
[[Image:windows-firefox1.png|thumb|left|300pxx300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 1: Navigate to options (Windows)]]
#*If no updates are available, click Done to close the window.
[[Image:mac-firefox1.png|thumb|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 1: Navigate to preferences (Mac)]]
#When the install process is complete, you must restart Thunderbird. To close Thunderbird and re-open it, click Done.
<br style="clear: both" />
[[Image:windows-firefox2.png|thumb|left|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 2: Navigate to advanced tab (Windows)]]
[[Image:mac-firefox2.png|thumb|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 2: Navigate to Firefox Updates (Mac)]]
<br style="clear: both" />
[[Image:windows-firefox3.png|thumb|left|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 3: Navigate to updates (Windows)]]
[[Image:mac-firefox3.png|thumb|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 3: Navigate to Automatic Updates (Mac)]]
<br style="clear: both" />
 
*If you do not want to have Mozilla Firefox auto-update you can check manually for updates with the following steps:
#First navigate to options (Windows) or preferences (Mac).
#Navigate to the Firefox Updates section (Windows and Mac)
#If an update is available click “Update to “Version”’ Button (Windows and Mac)
#Click “Restart to Update” button (Windows and Mac)
 
''Click on pictures to enlarge them''
<br style="clear: both" />
[[Image:windows-firefox4.png|thumb|left|300pxx300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 1: Navigate to Help (Windows)]]
[[Image:windows-firefox5.png|thumb|left|300pxx300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 2: Navigate to about Firefox (Windows)]]
[[Image:mac-firefox4.png|thumb|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 1: Navigate to Preferences (Mac)]]
<br style="clear: both" />
[[Image:windows-firefox6.png|thumb|left|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 3: Click “Check for Updates” button (Windows)]]
[[Image:mac-firefox2.png|thumb|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 2: Navigate to Firefox Updates (Mac)]]
<br style="clear: both" />
[[Image:windows-firefox7.png|thumb|left|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 4: Click “Update to  “Version’” button (Windows)]]
[[Image:mac-firefox6.png|thumb|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 3:Click “Check for Updates” button (Mac)]]
[[Image:windows-firefox8.png|thumb|left|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 5: Click “Restart to Update" button (Windows)]]
[[Image:mac-firefox7.png|thumb|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 4:Click “Restart to Update" button (Mac)]]
<br style="clear: both" />
 
== Updating Mozilla Thunderbird (Windows & Mac) ==
*By default Mozilla Thunderbird will automatically update by itself. If it is currently disabled it can be enable with the following steps.
#First navigate to options->options(Windows) or preferences(Mac).
#Once in the options(Windows) or preferences(Mac) you navigate to the advanced tab.
#Once on the advanced Tab you navigate to Updates.
#*Once in the updates tab you will see an option to “Automatically install updates”. If this is not already enabled it is recommended to enable this.
 
''Click on pictures to enlarge them''
<br style="clear: both" />
[[Image:windows-thunderbird1.png|thumb|left|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 2: Navigate to options->options (Windows)]]
[[Image:mac-thunderbird1.png|thumb|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 1: Navigate to preferences (Mac)]]
<br style="clear: both" />
[[Image:windows-thunderbird2.png|thumb|left|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 2: Navigate to advanced tab (Windows)]]
[[Image:mac-thunderbird2.png|thumb|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 2: Navigate to advanced tab (Mac)]]
<br style="clear: both" />
[[Image:windows-thunderbird3.png|thumb|left|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 3: Navigate to updates(Windows)]]
[[Image:mac-thunderbird3.png|thumb|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 3: Navigate to updates (Mac)]]
<br style="clear: both" />
 
*If you do not want to have Mozilla Thunderbird auto-update you can check manually for updates with the following steps:
#First navigate to help->about Thunderbird (Windows) and about Thunderbird (Mac).
#Click the check for updates button (Windows and Mac).
#Click “Update & Restart” button (Windows) and “Restart to Update” button (Mac).
 
''Click on pictures to enlarge them''
<br style="clear: both" />
[[Image:windows-Thunderbird4.png|thumb|left|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 1: Navigate to Help (Windows)]]
[[Image:windows-Thunderbird5.png|thumb|left|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 2: Navigate to about Thunderbird (Windows)]]
[[Image:mac-Thunderbird1.png|thumb|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 1: Navigate to Preferences (Mac)]]
<br style="clear: both" />
[[Image:windows-thunderbird6.png|thumb|left|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 3: Click “Check for Updates” button (Windows)]]
[[Image:mac-thunderbird2.png|thumb|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 2: Navigate to Advanced Tab (Mac)]]
<br style="clear: both" />
[[Image:windows-thunderbird7.png|thumb|left|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 4: Click “Update & Restart" button (Windows)]]
[[Image:mac-thunderbird6.png|thumb|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 3: Navigate to Updates (Mac)]]
[[Image:mac-thunderbird4.png|thumb|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 4: Click on "Check for Updates" button (Mac)]]
[[Image:mac-thunderbird5.png|thumb|300px|alt=Refer to caption|Step 5: Click on "Restart to update Thunderbird" button (Mac)]]
<br style="clear: both" />
 
== Troubleshooting ==
If for some reason Firefox or Thunderbird refuses to update using the methods described above, please stop by the [[HelpDesk]] and have a technician assist you.

Latest revision as of 19:36, 6 April 2026

Like most applications, it is important to keep your browser and email clients up-to-date to combat security flaws and gain new functionality. The instructions on this page should help you update Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird.

You can also find installers and documentation for the latest versions of Firefox and Thunderbird here:

Determining the Installed Version

You can find out what version of Firefox or Thunderbird you have installed on you computer by opening up the application and choosing:

  • "Help > About Mozilla [application]" from the menu bar on Windows
  • "Firefox > About [application]" from the menu bar on macOS

where [application] is either "Firefox" or "Thunderbird".

Updating Mozilla Firefox (Windows & Mac)

  • By default Mozilla Firefox will automatically update by itself. If it is currently disabled it can be enable with the following steps:
  1. First navigate to options (Windows) or preferences (Mac).
  2. Once in the options (Windows) or preferences (Mac) you navigate to the Firefox Updates section
    • Once in the Firefox Updates section you will see an option to “Automatically install updates”. If this is not already enabled it is recommended to enable this.

Click on pictures to enlarge them

Refer to caption
Step 1: Navigate to options (Windows)
Refer to caption
Step 1: Navigate to preferences (Mac)


Refer to caption
Step 2: Navigate to advanced tab (Windows)
Refer to caption
Step 2: Navigate to Firefox Updates (Mac)


Refer to caption
Step 3: Navigate to updates (Windows)
Refer to caption
Step 3: Navigate to Automatic Updates (Mac)


  • If you do not want to have Mozilla Firefox auto-update you can check manually for updates with the following steps:
  1. First navigate to options (Windows) or preferences (Mac).
  2. Navigate to the Firefox Updates section (Windows and Mac)
  3. If an update is available click “Update to “Version”’ Button (Windows and Mac)
  4. Click “Restart to Update” button (Windows and Mac)

Click on pictures to enlarge them

Refer to caption
Step 1: Navigate to Help (Windows)
Refer to caption
Step 2: Navigate to about Firefox (Windows)
Refer to caption
Step 1: Navigate to Preferences (Mac)


Refer to caption
Step 3: Click “Check for Updates” button (Windows)
Refer to caption
Step 2: Navigate to Firefox Updates (Mac)


Refer to caption
Step 4: Click “Update to “Version’” button (Windows)
Refer to caption
Step 3:Click “Check for Updates” button (Mac)
Refer to caption
Step 5: Click “Restart to Update" button (Windows)
Refer to caption
Step 4:Click “Restart to Update" button (Mac)


Updating Mozilla Thunderbird (Windows & Mac)

  • By default Mozilla Thunderbird will automatically update by itself. If it is currently disabled it can be enable with the following steps.
  1. First navigate to options->options(Windows) or preferences(Mac).
  2. Once in the options(Windows) or preferences(Mac) you navigate to the advanced tab.
  3. Once on the advanced Tab you navigate to Updates.
    • Once in the updates tab you will see an option to “Automatically install updates”. If this is not already enabled it is recommended to enable this.

Click on pictures to enlarge them

Refer to caption
Step 2: Navigate to options->options (Windows)
Refer to caption
Step 1: Navigate to preferences (Mac)


Refer to caption
Step 2: Navigate to advanced tab (Windows)
Refer to caption
Step 2: Navigate to advanced tab (Mac)


Refer to caption
Step 3: Navigate to updates(Windows)
Refer to caption
Step 3: Navigate to updates (Mac)


  • If you do not want to have Mozilla Thunderbird auto-update you can check manually for updates with the following steps:
  1. First navigate to help->about Thunderbird (Windows) and about Thunderbird (Mac).
  2. Click the check for updates button (Windows and Mac).
  3. Click “Update & Restart” button (Windows) and “Restart to Update” button (Mac).

Click on pictures to enlarge them

Refer to caption
Step 1: Navigate to Help (Windows)
Refer to caption
Step 2: Navigate to about Thunderbird (Windows)
Refer to caption
Step 1: Navigate to Preferences (Mac)


Refer to caption
Step 3: Click “Check for Updates” button (Windows)
Refer to caption
Step 2: Navigate to Advanced Tab (Mac)


Refer to caption
Step 4: Click “Update & Restart" button (Windows)
Refer to caption
Step 3: Navigate to Updates (Mac)
Refer to caption
Step 4: Click on "Check for Updates" button (Mac)
Refer to caption
Step 5: Click on "Restart to update Thunderbird" button (Mac)


Troubleshooting

If for some reason Firefox or Thunderbird refuses to update using the methods described above, please stop by the HelpDesk and have a technician assist you.