We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

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.

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

Task Manager shows 11 Firefox running

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

I had 9 Firefox applications running in my Task Manager which was taking up too much memory (over 50%)

I came across this topic and solution here and reduced the processes in the settings from 8 to 5.

Instead of reducing the number of processes - as stated in your reply - they have increased to 11 with only 2 tabs open.

Any idea what is going on here, and how can I REDUCE the number of Firefox processes?

I had 9 Firefox applications running in my Task Manager which was taking up too much memory (over 50%) I came across this topic and solution here and reduced the processes in the settings from 8 to 5. Instead of reducing the number of processes - as stated in your reply - '''they have increased to 11 with only 2 tabs open.''' Any idea what is going on here, and how can I REDUCE the number of Firefox processes?

All Replies (3)

more options

Hello,

Every extension you use gets its own process. Please check that you do not have many extensions installed, and if you no longer need any, please get rid of them. Also note that there are a few builtin extensions.

more options

Hi andmagdo

I have only one extension.

So that's 3 processes. what about the other 8 out 11?

what builtin extensions do I have and where can I see them?

more options

It is quite normal to see more Firefox processes running.

  • process for the main Firefox thread (user interface)
  • one or more content processes, see:
    Settings (Options/Preferences) -> General -> Performance
    remove checkmark: [ ] "Use recommended performance settings"
  • process for the compositor thread
  • process for extensions
  • process for WebRender when this feature is enabled

You can find the current multi-process state on the Troubleshooting Information page (about:support).

  • "Help -> Troubleshooting Information"
    "Application Basics": Multiprocess Windows
    "Remote Processes" further down

See also the about:memory and about:processes pages for information about the process IDs.