This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Menus browsing lag

Howl
Howl
more options

I suddenly have a considerable lag with menus browsing. The "roll down" ones, like when you click "File", "Bookmarks" etc and a table with contents appear. Mainly bookmarks. The highlight is lagging behind the cursor. It just started one day. Absolutely everything else both on my PC and in FF works perfectly fine except for menus. Smaller ones seems to be working fine, but everything larger than ~15 positions starts to lag. I've tried resetting FF and it solved the problem until I restarted the PC few times and it started lagging again. I've tried safe mode with everything disabled and it worked, but I don't have many addons, and disabling them individually didn't solve the problem. I don't know what else safe mode disables that may lead to this. Plus since resetting worked initially too but then lag started again I don't know if safe mode is the same way.

I suddenly have a considerable lag with menus browsing. The "roll down" ones, like when you click "File", "Bookmarks" etc and a table with contents appear. Mainly bookmarks. The highlight is lagging behind the cursor. It just started one day. Absolutely everything else both on my PC and in FF works perfectly fine except for menus. Smaller ones seems to be working fine, but everything larger than ~15 positions starts to lag. I've tried resetting FF and it solved the problem until I restarted the PC few times and it started lagging again. I've tried safe mode with everything disabled and it worked, but I don't have many addons, and disabling them individually didn't solve the problem. I don't know what else safe mode disables that may lead to this. Plus since resetting worked initially too but then lag started again I don't know if safe mode is the same way.

All Replies (2)

LorenZippilli
LorenZippilli
more options

Judging from your Windows XP operating system I recommend upgrading to Windows Vista / or 7 as it evolves every time Firefox is consuming more and more RAM and Windows XP operating systems like an obsolete at the time. Use an earlier version of firefox or try to upgrade your OS.

To find updates go to www.microsoft.com NOTE: Not all old PCs support updates that you suggest. Therefore refer requirements.

Second Option: when utilis FireFox sierre all programs that do not use high with Task Manager

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
more options

Sorry you are having that problem with menus.

Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if the problem goes away. Firefox Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode that temporarily turns off hardware acceleration, resets some settings, and disables add-ons (extensions and themes).

If Firefox is open, you can restart in Firefox Safe Mode from the Help menu:

  • In Firefox 29.0 and above, click the menu button New Fx Menu, click Help Help-29 and select Restart with Add-ons Disabled.
  • In previous Firefox versions, click on the Firefox button at the top left of the Firefox window and click on Help (or click on Help in the Menu bar, if you don't have a Firefox button) then click on Restart with Add-ons Disabled.

If Firefox is not running, you can start Firefox in Safe Mode as follows:

  • On Windows: Hold the Shift key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
  • On Mac: Hold the option key while starting Firefox.
  • On Linux: Quit Firefox, go to your Terminal and run firefox -safe-mode
    (you may need to specify the Firefox installation path e.g. /usr/lib/firefox)

When the Firefox Safe Mode window appears, select "Start in Safe Mode".

Safe Mode Fx 15 - Win

If the issue is not present in Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, theme, or hardware acceleration. Please follow the steps in the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article to find the cause.

To exit Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before opening Firefox for normal use again.

When you figure out what's causing your issues, please let us know. It might help others with the same problem.