Firefox 18 slowing down over time
I'm running Firefox 18.0.1 under Windows 7, all updates current, on a Dell M6700 I7, 2.77Ghz, 8Gig ram. When I first start Firefox, it runs fine. After about 30min, it gets slow. the bookmark memu takes several seconds to draw, sites take several seconds to load/reload. This was not a problem with the same version under Windows XP using even more plugins and extensions.
If I quit and restart Firefox, it runs fast for awhile, then slows down again.
I've tried turning off most extensions and plugins and the problem does not change.
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Which security software (firewall, anti-virus) do you have?
A possible cause is security software (firewall,anti-virus) that blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.
Remove all rules for Firefox and the plugin-container from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full unrestricted access to internet for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.
See:
Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.
See "Creating a profile":
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues
If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from an existing profile to the new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.
I tired shutting off all security software and disabled the firewall with no effect. I didn't really expect any change since quiting and restarting Firefox temporarily solves the problem. This has the feel of a memory leak.
Did you try a new clean profile?
Yes, I created a new user acct to make sure it was clean. Watching memory with the Resource Monitor is showing memory for all four categories going up over time. At launch they are 242812, 228056, 52120, 175928 After about 30min of browsing: 580996, 598384, 84984, 513400
You can check the about:memory page and try to click the button at the bottom to minimize the memory usage to see if that helps.
Same problem here. Tried the new profile, no addons, mimimize memory but the problem continues.
Does it help if you run Firefox in Safe mode?
In Firefox Safe mode these changes are effective:
- all extensions are disabled
- the default theme is used (no persona)
- userChrome.css and userContent.css are ignored
- the default toolbar layout is used
- the Javascript JIT compiler is disabled
- hardware acceleration is disabled
Try to disable hardware acceleration in Firefox.
- Tools > Options > Advanced > General > Browsing: "Use hardware acceleration when available"
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes
A lot better with the hardware accelaration disabled! For the record my laptop uses Nvidia Optimus with a Nvidia NVS 4200m (Driver 9.18.13.697) for graphic intensive apps and an Intel HD (8.15.10.2418) for 2D apps.
Have you tried the following yet
Update: After six hours of disabling hardware acceleration, Firefox 18 continues working as fast as 17. Thanks for the tip Cor-el.
I updated the drivers Intel HD Graphics 3000 ver. 9.17.10.2867 and Nvidia NVS 4200M ver. 8.17.12.9679 from the DELL support site certified for my laptop. Hardware acceleration turned on and working OK.
Mozilla support.... The memory usage of Version 18.0.2 is obscene. I am seeing upwards of 1.8GB of memory used by Firefox. This is your code causing this... I did not have the problem on V16, V17 but V18 consumes memory at an alarming rate. Stop asking me to create new profiles, turn off my add ins, throw salt over my shoulder, and hop on one leg to make your code work. Fix it.
Using ADD-ons to remove memory leak. Mozilla says to remove add-ons to fix leak. Firefox sucks memory. it always has and always will. Nobody wants to admit it exsists on the Mozilla side must less fix it. Firewalls , etc do not cause the leak. You can remove all your ad-ons and leave firefox open and it will suck memory. Every tab you open drains your memory and continues to climb without opening any more. You can then close all your tabs and Firefox will not release the memory. Just fix it guys, it cant be that difficult
Exactly the same here. Checked about:memory - FIrefox just doesn't remove the closed tabs from the memory. It reaches over 1.5Gb without any plugins. I have to restart it every hour or less.
Even formatted and installed Windows XP anew and the problem still exists.