Tor-Browser Downloader in Qubes Template VM, doesn't update corresponding AppVMs, or wipe bookmarks on corresponding AppVM's. Whats going on?

After reading the documentation in Using Tor Browser in Qubes-Whonix , I have come to the conclusion that if you use “tor-browser downloader” in a Template VM such as “whonix-workstation-17”, all of the App Qubes (ex: anon-whonix) attached to “whonix-workstation-17” should also get an update to Tor Browser. On top of that, the corresponding App Qubes (attached to the TemplateVM) should also get their copy of “Tor Browser” completely reset, (i.e. erasing bookmarks, resetting preferences, erasing history, etc.), when using the “Tor-Browser Downloader” in a TemplateVM (ex: “whonix-workstation-17”).

However,

in my case, when using the tor-browser Downloader on “whonix-workstation17” TemplateVM, my corresponding App Qubes (anon-whonix), DOES NOT get an updated Tor-Browser, and DOES NOT get it’s bookmarks, preferences, history, etc. erased. Instead, Tor Browser in the App Qube opens up the old Tor Browser version, and it still has all of its bookmarks, history, and preferences set as if I never upgraded Tor-Browser with Tor-browser Downloader inside of the “whonix-workstation-17” Template VM. As a note, I restarted both the App Qube and Template VM after doing a reinstall upgrade with tor-browser downloader in the TemplateVM, and still get the same results. Also, this happens with every whonix based TemplateVM and Corresponding AppQube that I have.

My question is,

Why is this happening and how do I fix this? Is my understanding of the use of “Tor-Browser downloader” inside of a Qube TemplateVM incorrect? Or is there something wrong with my TemplateVM/AppQube, that I am reinstalling/upgrading Tor-Browser in?

Could you please tell me why this is happening, if this is the normal result, and if not, how to fix this so that Tor Browser gets updated in the AppQube when updated in the TemplateVM using tor-browser Downloader? Thanks!

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You should start by upgrading Whonix to version 18:

If you are still usng Qubes OS 4.2.4, upgrade it to 4.3.0 as well.

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This is incorrect. The version of Tor Browser present in a Whonix-Workstation TemplateVM only gets automatically installed in new AppVMs, not existing ones. Quoting from the documentation page you linked to:

Running Tor Browser Downloader by Whonix inside the Template (whonix-workstation-18 ) ensures that new App Qubes and Disposables are created with a copy of the latest Tor Browser version.

Individual AppVMs receive Tor Browser updates automatically via Tor Browser’s internal updater.

(It would be more intuitive if updating the template version of Tor Browser updated all AppVMs. However, Tor Browser isn’t intended to be launched from a system-wide installed location, it’s intended to be launched from a user’s writable home directory. Templates don’t affect AppVM home directories, so it’s not possible for the template to deliver Tor Browser updates to the home directories of each AppVM. Instead, the templates store a copy of Tor Browser in a system-wide location, which gets copied to the user’s home directory the first time Tor Browser is started. After that, further updates of Tor Browser are the responsibility of the browser itself.)

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Expected.

Tor Browser Update: Technical Details

No indications that something is wrong.

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