Firefox won't update

[DeepSouth]

I've looked around online and can't find the answer to the exact problem I'm having. Firefox just will not update. It won't automatically update, it won't manually update. This is my first time running Linux and I'm really not the most computer-savvy person out there, so if this is a stupid question please pull your punches a little.

[all41]

edited: to say welcome to Mint and the forums. Glad you're here.
You really to to say more about your setup.
Please open a terminal from your Menu or by Ctrl+Alt+T and either type or copy/paste the following terminal inquiry:

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inxi -Fxz

press enter.
Then copy/paste those results back here.
Then in the same terminal window type or copy/paste:

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firefox --version

Paste those results here also.

Then in the same terminal window enter or copy/paste:

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mintupdate

If there are errors copy and paste those here as well.

[AZgl1800]

I've looked around online and can't find the answer to the exact problem I'm having. Firefox just will not update. It won't automatically update, it won't manually update. This is my first time running Linux and I'm really not the most computer-savvy person out there, so if this is a stupid question please pull your punches a little.

If you are using the Firefox that came with the Linux package, it will NOT update every time that Mozilla makes a new release.

e.g., my Win7 PC wants to update FF almost every day. that is a super PITA for me, as I use a user with super restricted rights... so I have to download the new image, and then run "Install as Administrator".

but, on Linux, until the Linux dev team makes a new release, we will not get a new update.
it will show up when it is deemed necessary.

IMO, Mozilla has gone crazy with their updates, I won't do it until it is 3 months old or more.
it just is NOT necessary.... never in 20+ years have I had a problem doing this.

However, on Linux, if the Update Manager shows an update for FF, it goes along with all the other updates.

Now, having said that. You can remove FF in Software Manager.
Then you can go to the Mozilla website and download the .deb package for Linux and install that.
IF, you do so, then your FF will update every time Mozilla releases a new update.

your choice.

[kevin987]

I just update Firefox when it shows up in the Update Manager. Every 2 weeks I think. I have the most current supported official release according to Wikipedia: 63.0.3

Edit: I have Firefox 63.0.3 on both Linux Mint 17.3 and 19.

[owie196]

I can't update Firefox either and am new to Linux. The update says failed to fetch packages.

[Schultz]

owie196 wrote:
I can't update Firefox either and am new to Linux. The update says failed to fetch packages.

I think the usual remedy for the "failed to fetch packages" message is to try a different mirror.

[philotux]

owie196 wrote:
I can't update Firefox either and am new to Linux. The update says failed to fetch packages.

I think the usual remedy for the "failed to fetch packages" message is to try a different mirror.

Schultz that's not the problem. See: viewtopic.php?f=90&t=283120&p=1562948#p1562948

[Schultz]

The message in the thread you linked to is different, "Unable to correct missing packages."

[Flemur]

Firefox just will not update. It won't automatically update, it won't manually update.

1 - Do what all41 said.
2 - Rather than say "firefox won't update", provide the actual steps you did which didn't work, and the resulting messages, etc., e.g.

"I did

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sudo apt-get update

and got these errors....[errors]

or

"I ran the update manager and it said ....blah blah"

[Flemur]

The message in the thread you linked to is different, "Unable to correct missing packages."

It's the same guy, who can't update because he is running Mint 15.

[philotux]

The message in the thread you linked to is different, "Unable to correct missing packages."

Right! Couldn't explain the discrepancy, but since it's the same poster...

[Schultz]

Since he (owie196) is now getting a different message, hopefully he has installed a current version of Mint.

EDIT
Seeing that only 23 minutes has past between his two posts, I doubt that he has.

[MtnDewManiac]

Wait, there are two different users asking for help with two different issues in the same thread? This is confusing. Why don't people start their own threads?

Regards,
MDM

[DeepSouth]

I appreciate the responses, I just dug my laptop out the construction project that is my house. I'll run through the suggestions tomorrow and get back with the results.