Hello, I updated Firefox today with Avast, and my addons were missing from the toolbar and I had to reinstall all of them. This has actually been happening for a while this year and I’d like to know what’s causing this. Please can anyone help me?
Mozilla has changed things :
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/Distribution
Thank you, but how can I verify the add-ons and make them stay installed by default?
You can’t unless you are the developer of a add-on.
Only thing you can try/do :
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=180835.msg1279276#msg1279276
Thank you. I already set xpinstall.signatures.required to false and that doesn’t seem to have helped. I can still install the add-ons, but they don’t stay installed by default sometimes and the pages where I install them from all come up with the message “Another program on your computer would like to modify Firefox with the following for each of my add-ons”. Can I solve this by installing an ESR version of Firefox, and, if I can do that, then how can I transfer my old data and settings over?
If it is asking “Another program on your computer would like to modify Firefox with the following for each of my add-ons” or not depend on your settings.
For transferring “data” this seems to me a good option for you > about:preferences?entrypoint=uitour#sync
My advice would be to use a more simple solution: do not update Firefox using AVAST.
Do it manually when prompted by Mozilla or check weekly for FF updates using the Help tab > About Firefox option. Typically the download/install of a new version takes less than 60 secs and a restart of FF. Simple version updates are far quicker.
With xpinstall.signatures.required set to false there should be no issues as regards unsigned Addons. I would guess Firefox doesn’t like the AVAST updater tool so just don’t use it. It is unnecessary if you’re diligent with your PC maintenance and check regularly for updates.
Well, this has been happening a lot every time I restart Firefox. The add-ons used to stay installed by default and open up the tab I was on before I closed Firefox, but now I have to keep re-installing them and this may have no connection to Avast. How can I fix this? By the way, thanks for telling me how I can not update Firefox using Avast. Also, that Firefox ESR version is for organizations and I’m not a member of an organization.
All I can tell you is that I’m not having this problem with FF and it is up to date.
As indicated I am using the: xpinstall.signatures.required set to false FF about:config setting and the only Addon which I have reported as being unsigned is, ironically, “avast Online Security” ie. the older version with WebRep as I do not like the more recent signed but intrusive AVAST browser protection.
But if there was a general problem with FF Addons requiring reactivation on reboot, whether caused by AVAST/AVAST’s updater or not, I would have thought more people would have been reporting it.
Okay. I’ll post a screencap of the problem if it happens again, and, if anyone knows how to fix it, maybe they can post a solution.
Hi Caroline,
Apparently the author of the CTR (Custom Theme Restorer) extension has noted the following…
AVAST AV software,"Browser Cleanup" and disappearing Firefox add-ons. If Avasts "Browser Cleanup" still accidentally removes Firefox add-ons consider removing or disabling "Browser Cleanup" feature.
You can do this via, Control Panel > Programs & Features > Avast > Change.
Remove the “offending” feature.
If you need any extra assistance, go to forums.mozillazine.org.
Seems to be a bit of a problem, lately.
Hello, I just updated Firefox (without using Avast) and got the problem again. A screencap of the problem is attached to the post. If anyone knows a solution to the problem, please can they notify me of it? Anyway, thanks for the link to the mozillazine forums. I could post my screencap there too and see if anyone there can help me solve the problem too.
That is not a problem at all.
It is just a question.
FireFox detects that avast want to install that plug-in and is asking you if it is ok to do so or not.
Well, what’s happening in that screencap is that I have to install all my add-ons all over again when I update Firefox, and they won’t stay installed. I’d like to know how to fix this. By the way, I removed Browser CleanUp from Avast and the problem is still persisting.
Already removed FireFox completely and installed it fresh again ?
On a note:
Removing through control panel does not remove everything.
You will need to remove leftovers manually.
Thanks, Eddy. How can I remove the leftovers manually? And I haven’t removed Firefox completely and installed it fresh again because I’m a bit scared to do it because I want to keep my add-ons, tabs and settings.
Okay, I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox, and backed up my preferences. My add-ons are still in the toolbar, but only time will tell if this will solve the add-on problem…
I’ve reset my add-ons registry and I had to reinstall my add-ons again. When I uninstalled Firefox previously, I went to the Control Panel and uninstalled it. Did I uninstall Firefox wrong previously, and, if I did, how can I uninstall and reinstall it properly?
See here :
https://support.mozilla.org/hr/kb/uninstall-firefox-from-your-computer
Maybe you want to save your bookmarks :
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/export-firefox-bookmarks-to-backup-or-transfer
Thank you for the links. I’ll back my profile up as well, because that might help too.