Firefox uses too much memory or CPU resources - How to fix (2024)

At times, Firefox may require significant system resources in order to download, process, and display web content. If you are experiencing periods of sustained high resource usage while using Firefox, this article presents some options for you to review.

• The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the "brain" of the computer.
• The RAM (Random Access Memory) or Memory helps your computer perform multiple tasks at the same time.
• When your system resources are being heavily used, the overall performance and stability of the computer can be impacted.
• Depending on your operating system, you can review and monitor resource usage through specific tools. See the Use additional troubleshooting tools section below for more information.

Note: If you send performance data, Mozilla will gather data including memory and CPU usage, which will help make Firefox better for future versions.

The latest Firefox version may include performance improvements. Update Firefox to the latest release.

Firefox may use more system resources if it's left open for long periods of time. A workaround for this is to periodically restart Firefox. You can configure Firefox to save your tabs and windows so that when you start it again, you can start where you left off. See Restore previous session - Configure when Firefox shows your most recent tabs and windows for details.

Firefox may grind to a halt due to operating system issues, such as a pending Windows update, that can be resolved by restarting your computer.

Extensions and themes can cause Firefox to use more system resources than it normally would.

To determine if an extension or theme is causing Firefox to use too many resources, start Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode and observe its memory and CPU usage. In Troubleshoot Mode, extensions and themes are disabled, so if you notice a significant improvement, you can try disabling or uninstalling extensions.

• For more information on starting Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode and on how to find which extension or theme is causing your problem, see Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems.

Many web pages have content you don't need, but which still use system resources to display its content. Firefox's built-in content blocking can help save resources by preventing third-party tracking content from loading. See the Enhanced Tracking Protection article for details.

Some extensions allow you to block unnecessary content; for example:

• Adblock Plus and uBlock Origin allow you to hide ads on websites.
• NoScript allows you to selectively enable and disable scripts running on websites.

Please reach out to the add-on developer directly, if you need help with a specific add-on.

Each tab requires Firefox to store a web page in memory. If you frequently have more than 100 tabs open, consider using a more lightweight mechanism to keep track of pages to read and things to do, such as:

• Bookmarks. Hint: "Bookmark All Tabs" will bookmark a set of tabs.
• Save web pages for later with Pocket for Firefox.
• To-do list applications.

Some websites use scripts that use a lot of memory and/or CPU to keep them up to date, such as online mail client pages. If these scripts are not optimized, they can lead to the use of too many system resources. You can see which tabs are using the most system resources by opening the Firefox Task Manager (about:performanceabout:processes page). If you do not need these tabs open all the time, you can close them to reduce system resources usage.

Firefox hardware acceleration eases memory and CPU usage in many cases.Check in Firefox's performance settings that hardware acceleration is turned on. Also make sure that your graphics drivers are up-to-date.

Having many applications running simultaneously may cause your computer to run slowly and other applications to do so as well. By closing down some of the unnecessary applications, system usage will be reduced.

Firefox stores your data in various files in your profile folder. The file used for saving individual website settings might be corrupt. If you delete (or rename) that file, your zoom level settings will be reset but it could decrease CPU usage.

1. • Click the menu button , click Help and select More Troubleshooting Information.From the Help menu, select More Troubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
   • Under the Application Basics section next to Profile FolderProfile Directory, click Open FolderShow in FinderOpen Directory. A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.Your profile folder will open.

   Note: If you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.

   See Also

   10 Tips to Boost Your Mozilla Browser's Performance - Yellowbrick

2. Click the Firefox menu and select Exit.Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select Quit Firefox.Click the Firefox menu and select Quit.
3. In your profile folder, delete the file content-prefs.sqlite. It will be recreated next time you open Firefox.

The Refresh Firefox feature can fix many issues by restoring your Firefox profile to its default state while saving your essential information.See Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings for details.

There are a variety of troubleshooting tools that can be used both in Firefox and on your operating system to troubleshoot elevated system resource usage.

• The Firefox Task Manager (not to be confused with Windows Task Manager) is a great tool to see whether tabs and extensions are using too many system resources.
• The about:memory page allows you to troubleshoot specific issues relating to memory (for instance, caused by a website, an extension, a theme, etc.) and sometimes its Minimize memory usage button may help you instantly reduce memory usage. For guidance on use of about:memory visit about:memory.
• Even if you're not a programmer, you can try your hand at some other tools and tips Firefox developers use to debug leaks.

Operating system tools

WARNING: There are a variety of third-party programs that promise to increase your computer's performance. You should exercise caution when installing third-party software and only use reputable software provided by an official source.

If you exhausted all tips in the previous sections and your memory usage is still close to the maximum, maybe it's time for you to add more memory to your computer. Adding RAM will provide a huge performance boost.

If you exhausted all tips in the previous sections and you are still experiencing high system resource usage, it may be time to upgrade your computer. As technology progresses, software is becoming more advanced and requires more powerful computers to run effectively.