Overview of Automatic Updates in Brave
Automatic updates are essential for keeping your Brave browser secure, stable, and equipped with the latest features. By default, Brave updates itself in the background, but advanced users or administrators may wish to control when and how those updates occur. This article provides detailed instructions for managing automatic updates on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems, as well as guidance on enterprise policies, manual checks, and troubleshooting.
Why Manage Automatic Updates
- Security Compliance: Ensure updates only occur during maintenance windows to comply with corporate policies.
- Stability: Avoid interruptions during critical tasks by scheduling updates at convenient times.
- Bandwidth Control: Prevent automatic downloads from consuming network resources during peak hours.
- Customization: Test new releases in a staging environment before rolling them out broadly.
Managing Automatic Updates on Windows
Method 1: Using Brave’s Built-in Settings
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Open Brave and click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the upper right corner.
- Select Settings and navigate to About Brave.
- If auto-updates are enabled, you will see “Brave is up to date.” To disable automatic checks, click the Disable button if present.
- To re-enable updates later, revisit this page and click Enable.
Method 2: Disabling the Brave Update Service
Using Windows Services
- Press Win R to open the Run dialog, type services.msc, and press Enter.
- Locate Brave Update Service in the list.
- Right-click, choose Properties, and set Startup type to Disabled.
- Click Stop if the service is running, then Apply and OK.
Method 3: Using Group Policy (Enterprise)
- Download the Brave Policy files from the official repository: GitHub Policy Templates.
- Import the ADM/ADMX template into your Group Policy Management Console.
- Under Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Brave, configure AutoUpdateCheckPeriodMinutes to control the check interval (0 to disable).
- Enforce policies to target machines via Active Directory.
Managing Automatic Updates on macOS
Using Brave Preferences
- Open Brave and choose Brave → About Brave from the menu bar.
- If updates are enabled, you’ll see a status message. To disable automatic checks, hold Option and click the refresh icon.
- To re-enable, repeat the process without holding Option.
Disabling Auto-Update via Terminal
- Open Terminal and run:
defaults write com.brave.Browser AutoUpdate -bool false - Restart Brave for changes to take effect.
- To revert, replace false with true in the command above.
Managing Automatic Updates on Linux
Updating via Package Manager
- On Debian/Ubuntu:
- Edit /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/20auto-upgrades and set:
APT::Periodic::Unattended-Upgrade 0
- Edit /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/20auto-upgrades and set:
- On Fedora/RHEL:
- Disable dnf‐automatic:
sudo systemctl disable –now dnf-automatic.timer
- Disable dnf‐automatic:
Using Command-Line Flags
- Launch Brave with the flag –disable-brave-update to prevent update checks during that session:
- brave-browser –disable-brave-update amp
Enterprise-Level Auto-Update Configuration
Cross-Platform Policies
- Access Brave’s policy schemas: Policy Templates.
- Configure AutoUpdateCheckPeriodMinutes to a specific interval or set to 0 to disable.
- Use JSON or registry entries on Windows, plist on macOS, and JSON policy files on Linux.
Policy Example (JSON)
Policy | Value | Description |
---|---|---|
AutoUpdateCheckPeriodMinutes | 0 | Disable automatic update checks |
DisableAutoUpdate | true | Prevent Brave from auto-updating |
Manual Update Checks
Checking for Updates Manually
- Open About Brave in the menu. Brave will automatically search for and download available updates.
- Click Relaunch to apply the update once the download completes.
Manual Installation
- Download the latest installer from the official Brave website: https://brave.com/download/.
- Run the installer to overwrite the existing version while preserving settings and profiles.
Troubleshooting Update Issues
Common Errors
- Download Failed: Check network connectivity or proxy settings.
- Permission Denied: Ensure you have administrator rights.
- Service Crashes: Inspect logs in %LOCALAPPDATA%BraveSoftwareBrave-BrowserUser Data.
Resolving Failures
Clear Update Cache
- Delete the Update folder under:
C:Program Files (x86)BraveSoftwareBrave-Browser (Windows) - Restart Brave and retry the update.
Reinstall Brave
- Uninstall Brave via system settings (preserving user data).
- Download and run the latest installer from Brave Official Download.
Conclusion
Managing automatic updates in Brave allows you to balance security, performance, and administrative control. Whether you’re an individual user or part of a large IT department, the methods outlined here provide flexible options for scheduling, disabling, or enforcing updates across all major platforms. Regular maintenance and policy review will ensure Brave remains secure and up to date while fitting seamlessly into your workflow.
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