What is the Mozilla Maintenance Service?
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- Revision id: 246828
- Created:
- Creator: Toad-Hall
- Comment: Edited the 'Thunderbird' section to show latest directions as it was out of date.
- Reviewed: No
- Ready for localization: No
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Firefox and Thunderbird install an optional service called the Mozilla Maintenance Service which allows application updates to occur in the background, without requiring you to click
in the Windows User Account Control (UAC) dialog.Note: The article only applies to Windows.
How does the Mozilla Maintenance Service work?
When Firefox or Thunderbird downloads an application update, the Mozilla Maintenance Service gets permission from Windows to allow the update to be applied, without requiring you to click this Mozilla Wiki page.
in the Windows User Account Control (UAC) dialog. Until that time, the service doesn't run so it doesn't use any computer resources and, once the update process begins, the service quits. Want more technical details? SeeNote: Firefox also has a feature you can enable that will automatically install updates, even when Firefox is not running. See this article for details.
Disabling the Mozilla Maintenance Service
If you'd like to be prompted to authorize updates, you can disable the Mozilla Maintenance Service as follows:
Firefox
- In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click and then select or , depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button and select .
- Click the panel.
- Scroll down to Firefox Updates. (Tip: You can also search for updates in the search box.)
- Uncheck the box next to Use a background service to install updates.
Thunderbird
- Click on the menu button The image "Fx57menu" does not exist. (or on 'Menu Bar' select ToolsEdit) then select which opens in a new tab.
- Select in left Pane.
- Scroll down to the Updates subsection
- Uncheck the box next to Use a background service to install updates.
- Close the Preferences tab.
Uninstalling the Mozilla Maintenance Service
You can uninstall the Mozilla Maintenance Service from your computer if you wish.
- Windows 7: See Microsoft's article, Windows 7 – How to properly uninstall programs.
- Windows 8: See the Microsoft Community forum thread, How do I delete or uninstall a program in windows 8.
- Windows 10: See Microsoft's article Uninstall or remove apps and programs in Windows 10.