To check for updates in Firefox, click the menu button (three lines), go to Help and Report, and select About Firefox. Firefox checks for updates on its own and downloads any it finds. When the download is done, click Restart to update Firefox.
This guide follows Mozilla’s support articles Update Firefox to the latest release, How to fix the Update Failed error message, I found a fake Firefox update and Update to the latest version of Firefox for Android. It covers checking for updates on a computer, how automatic updates work, Microsoft Store installs, fixing failed updates, spotting fake update pages, and updating Firefox on a phone.
How to Check for Updates in Firefox
- Click the menu button at the right side of the Firefox toolbar.
- Go to Help and Report and select About Firefox. The About Mozilla Firefox window opens.
- Wait while Firefox checks for updates. If one is available, it downloads automatically.
- When the download is complete, click Restart to update Firefox.
Result: Firefox restarts on the newest version. If there’s nothing to install, the window says Firefox is up to date. You may see one of two messages: “Firefox is up to date” and “Restart to update Firefox.”
Older guides call the menu item Help. Mozilla’s current steps use Help and Report.
On a Mac
Mozilla’s troubleshooting article also gives a Mac shortcut: on the menu bar, click the Firefox menu and select About Firefox. The same update window opens.
How Firefox Updates Itself
Mozilla says Firefox updates automatically in most cases. It also notes that Firefox may still be downloading an update in the background even if the About Firefox window says it’s up to date, and that updates are applied after you restart Firefox. If Firefox has been open for days, closing and reopening it is often enough.
To see how Firefox installs updates, click the menu button, select Settings, and choose About Firefox on the left. Mozilla says this page is where you configure update behavior.
Result: You can confirm your version and update settings in one place.
Installed Firefox From the Microsoft Store?
Mozilla notes that its update steps only apply if you downloaded Firefox from Mozilla. If you installed Firefox from the Microsoft Store, updates come through the Microsoft Store instead, so check for updates there.
What to Do if a Firefox Update Fails
Mozilla’s How to fix the Update Failed error message article suggests these fixes:
- Restart your computer: another program, or a copy of Firefox that didn’t close properly, can block the update. Restart, open Firefox, and check About Firefox again.
- Close other programs: some programs that start with your computer can interfere with updates.
- Run as administrator (Windows): restart, type firefox in the Start menu, right-click it, and select Run as Administrator.
- Install over your current version: download the Firefox installer from Mozilla, close Firefox, and run it. Mozilla says all of your data is preserved.
If you’re on a school or work computer, Mozilla says IT admins may lock Firefox to a specific version. In that case, you may see no updates or a message saying you’re already up to date.
How to Spot a Fake Firefox Update
Mozilla warns about fake pages and ads that claim you need an “urgent” or “critical” Firefox update. These are scams meant to install malware or a malicious extension. If you think one got in, see how to remove an add-on in Firefox.
- Real: the update check in About Firefox, or a Heartbeat notification bar that says Firefox is critically out of date with an Update Now button.
- Fake: a website or ad that asks you to download and run a file. Mozilla says Firefox’s update system never does this, except for the Heartbeat notice.
If you see a fake notice, don’t click it, and don’t open any file it offers. Check for updates from the menu instead.
How to Update Firefox on a Phone
Firefox on a phone updates through your app store, not the About Firefox window. Mozilla says Firefox for Android tells you when an update is available through Google Play. To check your version, tap the three-dot menu, tap Settings, and tap About Firefox. Then open Google Play, go to your apps, and tap Update next to Firefox if it’s listed. On an iPhone or iPad, update Firefox from the App Store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will updating Firefox delete my bookmarks or passwords?
No. Mozilla says that even when you reinstall Firefox over your current version to fix an update problem, all of your data is preserved. It’s still a good idea to back up your bookmarks from time to time.
Can I stop Firefox from updating automatically?
Mozilla recommends keeping automatic updates on for security. If you need to control them, see our guide to turning off automatic updates in Firefox.
More Firefox Guides
- How to turn off automatic updates in Firefox
- How to show the menu bar in Firefox
- How to change the search engine in Firefox
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.