How can I prevent “update program” pop-up (not the update engine and virus definition pop-up) from disappearing until I manually dismiss it. Is this possible?
Currently using Avast free version 6.0.1000.
Go to ‘Settings’, then ‘Popups’, the default is 20 seconds. Personally I go the opposite way, 10 secs is more than enough for me but I let it at their default.
no need to make the popup last longer :
>>> there’s a button to make the popup stick until you close it, this button is on the alert itself. Then you can close it whenever you want. And even re-open it >>> right click the avast icon and select last popup 
My program is currently up to date. Is there any way to accomplish what I want to do without waiting until the next “update program” pop-up? Thanks for your help! The last pop-up was for update engine and virus definition. 
You can’t as the suggestion is a one off click the pin and the pop-up stays until you dismiss (unpin) it (see image), there is no GUI option/setting for that.
Fortunately Program update notifications aren’t that regular an occurrence.
You can also right click on the avast tray icon and select ‘Show last popup message’ if you missed it (see image2), but won’t allow you to click on it to get the update, you would have to do a manual program update from the UI.
Yes,
You will only get “A New Version of Avast is Available-Please download now.” (Program Update) about every 5-6 months when a new version has been out for awhile, and Avast feels strongly enough that it is ready for easy update download with minimal to no problems.
However, when a program update is released, you will generally get an announcement within 12-24 hours of general release that a new version is available when you open the Avast GUI. You can than download it through the program updater, but if there hasn’t been that general grace period of a few months, you might have problems because very new program updates are going to have little bugs. That’s just the way it is.
It is good to check the forum for help and consensus of issues, if you are trying to decide to wait for Update Notification through the pop-up, or proceed with the install when the message shows that a program (new version) update is available through the GUI.
In Contrast, you will get a “Virus Definitions Have Been Automatically” updated, (Definitions Updates) usually twice a day, with update checks at four hour intervals in free versions of Avast, and I believe it is hourly in the paid versions of Avast.
Jack