UpdatingMozillaSoftware

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:

• Firefox: http://www.getfirefox.com
• Thunderbird: http://www.getthunderbird.com

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 Mac OS X

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

Updating Mozilla Firefox (Windows & Mac)

1. To manually check for a Firefox update, click the Help menu on the menu bar, and select "Check for Updates..."

   • On occasion, you may see "Apply Downloaded Update now...", rather than "Check for Updates..." -- the same process applies.
2. If there are updates available, click the "Get the New Version" or "Update Firefox" button
   • If no updates are available, click "OK" or "Done" to close the window.
3. When the install process is complete, you must restart Firefox. To close Firefox and re-open it, click "Restart Firefox".
4. Finally, verify that there are no more updates to be installed by performing Step #1 again. Depending on what version you start with, Firefox may need to run through this process multiple times.

File:Winfoxstp1.png

Step 1: Check for Updates (Windows)

File:FFcheckUpdatesMac.png

Step 1: Check for Updates (Mac)

File:Winfoxstp3.png

Step 2: Get New Version (Windows)

File:FFgetNewVersionMac.png

Step 2: Get New Version (Mac)

File:Winfoxstp2.png

Step 3: Restart Firefox (Windows)

File:RestartFirefoxMac.png

Step 3: Restart Firefox (Mac)

Updating Mozilla Thunderbird (Windows)

1. To manually check for a Thunderbird update, click the Help menu on the menu bar, and select Check for Updates....

   
   File:Winstp1.png
   
   
2. If there are updates available, the following prompt will appear:
   
   File:Windstp2.png
   
   
   • Click on Update Thunderbird
3. After the update has completed, click on Restart 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
4. After the update has completed, click on the help button in the main toolbar, and select Apply Downloaded Update Now
   
   File:Winthunstp1.png
   
   
   • You will then have to restart Thunderbird by clicking on the restart Thunderbird link in the bottom right corner of the prompt:
     
     File:Winthunstp2.png
     
     
   • You have now successfully updated to the latest version of Thunderbird

Updating Mozilla Thunderbird (Mac OS X)

1. To manually check for a Thunderbird update, click the Help menu on the menu bar, and select Check for Updates....

   
   File:CheckForThunderbirdUpdatesMac.png
   
   
2. If updates are available, click Get the New Version to begin the process. 

   • If no updates are available, click Done to close the window.
3. When the install process is complete, you must restart Thunderbird. To close Thunderbird and re-open it, click Done.