Why can’t the devs have it update in the background or on next startup? I was in the middle of my work when I got this. Now I need to close everything and go through all the logins and 2FA again. 😡

Chrome is much better at this, hands down. It has never interrupted me the way Firefox does during updates.

  • dubs@lemm.ee
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    11 months ago

    I use it on both Windows and Mac, I’ve never seen this o.o

  • Psythik@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    I’ve been using Firefox since 1.0PR and I’ve never seen this message before. For me, Firefox has always quietly downloaded the update in the background and then installed it the next time I used it.

    I’m curious to know just exactly what it is you’re doing to make this message come up.

    • PrettyLights@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      I saw this yesterday on Linux after a typical update command and it surprised me. Restarting FF reopened all my tabs without issue and it wasn’t really an inconvenience to me.

    • Takumidesh@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      I typically keep Firefox open all the time with 50-100 tabs, (using various extensions to keep the organized)

      This happens to me every few weeks and it’s genuinely annoying, unless I had all my tabs saved it just lose them, and instead of giving me a chance to do that, Firefox just becomes useless until I hit the button.

      I don’t understand why, if it’s going to put a page like this up anyway, that it doesn’t just restart on its own; I would prefer it to not do either but at least that removes the unneeded button click.

    • casual_turtle_stew_enjoyer@sh.itjust.works
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      11 months ago

      You should be able to replicate it with:

      • Ubuntu 20.04 container
      • Install Firefox from a deb earlier than 120.0.1(current in repo)
      • Open a few tabs and navigate to various web apps
      • apt update, upgrade
      • Once update completes, open new tab and navigate somewhere, you’ll get this message

      Not sure if it actually happens with each update, but it seems so to me.

  • KiranWells@pawb.social
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    11 months ago

    For anyone who is still confused about what causes this: Firefox launches copies of itself when creating new website instances (usually when loading a website that has not already been loaded). Because of this, if it is updated in the background (through any means; I usually see this after a manual system update), Firefox has to restart when you try and load a new site because it cannot create any compatible copies of itself, since the old version is the one that is still running and the copies would use the new (updated) version.

    The solution is to only update when Firefox is closed, or restart it when it asks.

  • Red@reddthat.com
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    11 months ago

    This happens when FF updates out of band. Ie package manager.

    Your windows updates are probably set to also get applications when it updates. Turn that off and see what happens (next month).

    • loutr@sh.itjust.works
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      11 months ago

      I see it under linux after updating Firefox through the package manager. Maybe OP’s distro auto updates packages?

    • voxel@sopuli.xyz
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      11 months ago

      it usually happens on linux (and maybe macos??)
      if you update firefox using your system package manager it will ask for a restart

  • Tebz@lemmy.ml
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    11 months ago

    I feel like I only see this on Linux installs and never on windows.

  • mateomaui@reddthat.com
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    11 months ago

    Probably already been said, but I’m wondering why you haven’t just checked the box in Settings for automatic updates that says “When Firefox is not running”, because I’ve never encountered this problem with that turned on.

  • BananaTrifleViolin@kbin.social
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    11 months ago

    That’s a Linux (and similar) issue. When Linux updates via it’s package managers it will update Firefox in the background even though it’s open. Firefox then forces you to close it rather than open other tabs to prevent problems.

    But you don’t have to install Firefox via the package managers or flathub. You can build it yourself or install a binary manually and I believe it well self update as it does on other platforms. I haven’t done it for a while though.

    Otherwise manually control Linux updates so it doesn’t mess with Firefox when you’re in the middle of something important.

    Edit: the exception on Windows would be if some other software is handling firefox’s updates or there is a group policy / system management of Firefox. I’ve never had this issue on windows on my own PCs

    Edit: btw I have had worse happen on windows with chrome on a work pc. An update was forced on my and chrome close itself without warning and reopened with the update. Pissed me off no end.

    • Haggunenons@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      In 4 or 5 years on Ubuntu I have no memory of ever seeing it.

      My complaint is the roulette of sometimes being unable to reopen my last session after restarting my computer. I’d say once every 10 restarts, the “reload last session” button is grayed out and I lose all my open tabs.

      • AlteredStateBlob@kbin.social
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        11 months ago

        You could try pinning tabs you want to keep before restarting. I do the same if I really want to be sure. Pinned tabs generally survive restarts, even during updates.

      • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        I had this exact scenario (asking me to restart after an update) happen to me yesterday on pop os which is Ubuntu based. And I’ve definitely seen it other times too. Having said that, it was absolutely no big deal whatsoever.

        I don’t remember seeing the other issue you mention. I’ve literally had some tabs open several months. Have you tried looking for the “restore tabs” option in the History menu when this happens? Afaik that’s available even if you don’t have any option set to save your tabs

      • MrMcGasion@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        If you are okay with trusting an extension, I use Tab Session Manager, it takes snapshots of all your open windows and tabs, and it can restore them when, for example, you forget to restore the previous session before closing Firefox, and overwrite the previous session of dozens of tabs, with the current session that you don’t care about.

        I usually just rely on the built-in restore, but having the backup just in case is such a relief to have on those occasions when “reload last session” is grayed out.

        • Haggunenons@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          Awesome! Thanks so much, this sounds exactly like what I need. I really appreciate you letting me know about this.

  • OrekiWoof@lemmy.ml
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    11 months ago

    My pet peeve is when it updates and instead of letting me go on my way, it opens the stupid “Firefox has updated” tab.

    Nobody asked, just duck off, shut up.

    • meat_popsicle@sh.itjust.works
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      11 months ago

      The site that launches after updates is for telemetry - the request gives them information on the updater (IP, geo location, OS, localization, fonts, fingerprinting, etc).

  • Skipcast@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    I have never seen this in all my time using Firefox. It always tells me there’s an update available and prompts a restart but I can still continue using the browser.

  • Still@programming.dev
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    11 months ago

    just don’t update stuff unless you’re ready to restart apps? cuz you’re not gonna get the new stuff until it restarts anyway. also it should restore your session

  • Audalin@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    And if you’d tried to use a search engine in that new tab, you’re presented with a blank tab after restart, having to remember what your search query was.