Just Me Or Is FireFox Slower?

by 68 replies
77
FireFox has been my preferred browser for a few years now, the features are great and with all the add-ons it's an integral part of my IM toolbox.
Lately i have started noticing a definite reduction in speed (loading times) along with crashes and freezes.
I was just wondering if the problem is with my PC or are there other FF users who are experiencing the same issues?

Cheers :confused:
#main internet marketing discussion forum #firefox #slower
  • I've been having loads of problems with FF of late. It's slow and crashes a lot.

    I'm using Google Chrome right now, as FF recently crashed and the Adobe plugin has problems also.

    I'm hoping a fix will come along soon.

    Brian
    • [1] reply
    • All the plugins on FF make it run slow and or crash. I got to a point where my quad core couldn't run video in Firefox without it 'lagging'. IE is no better and Chrome just smashes the lot of them. Get on Chrome.
  • No it's not just you. I'm having some trouble with FF since a couple days ago.
    Im using Safari right now, and everything is going smoothly.
    • [1] reply
    • I don't have the issue anymore when I upgraded to the latest version. I had the same problem when I was with Firefox 3.6.8
      • [1] reply
  • To be honest, firefox just starting working better for me.

    About a month ago I switched from Google Chrome and I am liking the newer version of firefox.

    it crashed on me about twice in the last month but that's about it
    • [1] reply
    • That's funny - was exact reverse for me. Firefox was getting all buggy plus SEOquake stopped working. So I downloaded Chrome and its working great. Seems faster and the Chrome version of SEOQuake is working fine. Computers are funny things....

  • Hi,
    take a look at what modules are enabled, if you have a lot or if some of them are buggy this can cause your crashes.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [2] replies
    • I should do that myself thinking about it. Thanks for the reminder.

      I'll disable all of the addons and see how it performs. I'll reinstall them one at a time.

      Brian
      • [1] reply


    • "I usually love firefox... but since I upgraded to the newest one I've had nothing but problems too.. thought it was something about me LOL.

      Salegurus - What windows platform are you using?"


      • [1] reply
  • I use Firefox for an about 3 years and i do not have any problems with it.
    I found it the best web browser after Chrome.
    Also, Google Chrome it's more faster than any other browser.
    • [1] reply
    • I use FF and I'm completely satisifed. Works really well.

      Marian
  • Glad I found this thread. I was thinking that there was a situation with my laptop (maybe it is) because the lag time is increasingly agonizing with the few crashes so it appears to be that it is an external problem with Firefox itself...

    Hope this issue gets resolved soon - it's the best browser imo.



    -Shaleniie
  • It depends on you specs IMO. Firefox is good, but I have found it to be a resource hog. I have been using Chrome as of late and have been very satisfied.
  • If you look in your task manager when firefox with plug-ins is running you will now see a program running called plugin-container.exe.

    It is Firefox's new great idea that has a lot of complaints yet FF say it isn't so
    plugin-container.exe - Google Search

    I'm sure they'll be releasing another update soon.
    • [ 3 ] Thanks
    • [2] replies
    • Ken, you're dead on! Right after the July FF update, virtually all of my machines that use FF were running slow and freezing. After checking Task Manager I noticed the plugin-container.exe file using an extreme amount of resources.

      After researching this .exe file, I came to learn that many FF users were having the same problem and here's the solution that I used: How to Stop Firefox plugin-container.exe Process? | TechnoGadge

      Giles, the Crew Chief
      • [3] replies
    • When ever FF crashes, I get a message about plugin-container.exe having a problem. That's definitely the problem!
  • I have way too many add-ons/tabs open/downloads going on at once so i don't blame firefox though.

    i'm going to go organize my bookmarks, set a more minimalistic theme, disable some add-ons hopefully that'll do the trick. D:
  • I use FF only for the features for some creative work.

    Normal internet surfing and research, I use Chrome. It is much faster.
  • BTW, Chrome uses a distinct process for each opened tab. I wonder if this is a positive approach or not.
  • Firefox does have a problem over time of building up a huge SQLite database. This slows it down to the point of freezing when you type in an address or fill in a form since each keystroke accesses the database. To correct this problem, you'll need to follow some steps to purge the database and prevent it from becoming huge in the future.

    See this Lifehacker article for more details: Make Firefox Faster by Vacuuming Your Database
  • I'm noticing FF is a little laggy as well and something's wrong with my History. When my computer restarted after doing updates, my tabs that I had open in three windows got closed and for some reason FF won't let me reopen them since it grayed the option out. Don't know why because it never did this before.
  • after the version 2.6 FF went down in performance and speed, the loading times were increased, and many exploits for the FF exist today, some of which won't crash your browser but will occupy your processor and freeze your other processes and your web experience.

    My personal recommendation, as someone who has 19 years of experience in the computing industry, is to either:
    a) live with the problems until they realize what BS they've made the browser into
    b) switch to a different browser (Chrome, IceWeasel(a completely free FF alternative, as FF has some copyrighted parts in it), Safari, or the dreaded IE)

    A little known fact is: At the last hacker convention in Las Vegas the only browser who couldn't get hacked was Google's Chrome. It has proved as the most stable one.
    • [1] reply
    • I usually love firefox... but since I upgraded to the newest one I've had nothing but problems too.. thought it was something about me LOL.

      Salegurus - What windows platform are you using?

      I have windows 7/64 bit, and firefox crashes on me a minimum of 2-3 times a day. (Once if I am not working much in it, but frankly I work in it 90% of my day, so "once" is a rarity).

      I HAVE turned my plugins off - only some improvement.

      After watching it, I found that leaving the following running:
      Java
      Java enabler

      in the plugins kept freezing it.

      So I disabled them, and only turn them on when I need it (specific sites that I know of).

      I also found that in my processes, there is one running called "jusched.exe" which is the java updater.

      If I remember to stop it from running before I start my browser, it doesn't crash "as much/as fast". However, half the time I forget to turn it off and my browser crashes first.

      Also, I noticed that the websites that it *typically* freezes on, if you look in the bottom left bar, (where it normally says "done"), often there is something trying to load like Doubleclick or some other adnetwork on the page.

      Part of me thinks they're using some sort of javascript that the browser doesn't like... or firefox just can't handle some of it anymore.

      At one point, I had thought it was my browser protection/antivirus system, but since I have that disabled (browser wise-I manually scan) - it's not that.

      Trust me - I've been ready to pull my hair out many times over this. While I'm not glad it's happening, I'm glad to know others are in the same boat.

      (Frustrating that FF doesn't see it as "their" issue and they blame plugins. Really? What if you AREN'T using plugins?? What's the reason now?)

      Amber
  • I did use Chrome until it couldn't handle doing Jtv, which I was using a lot at the time.
  • After a slow load startup the first time it is run, my FF works very well. Got SEOBook, webmaster, and SEOQuake add-ins and all fine. And keeping up with latest updates. (Now 3.6.8)
  • I have been using Google Chrome as my main browser for about 6 months. I use FireFox and Internet Explorer as well, all have different purposes, but chrome for general browsing. I just like it.
  • It is due to the lot of addons installed in firefox. I uninstalled a few addons and now it is fast.
  • Same here, although I use a mac. On the WF, or any webpage that is kinda long in length; the scroll bar lags in speed. It'll take ages to scroll down from top to the bottom.

    I like Chrome much better these days. :-)
  • Chrome surpassed FF about 6 months ago, FF is sluggish,
    couldn't go back to FF now.
    • [1] reply
    • I agree. Even after cleaning most of my add-ons from it, it starts to boggle down with windows 7 when too many browsers are open, or there are one too many website features it cannot seem to handle now.

      Chrome. Go for it.
  • Now I found a lot of people here who's been having same problem as me, finally.

    Initially, I thought its just my mac computer who's crashing when Firefox freezes a lot of times. I tried it on my Desktop installed with Vista and it was the same. I would be doing something and at some point it would just crash with me being completely clueless why. I mean I don't even use more than 10 plugins.

    Right now Im using Safari but I really do hope Mozilla fixes this problem soon.
    • [1] reply
    • I've tried FF over the years and it's never been as fast as IE for me.

      I want to switch to Chrome but the bookmark handling sucks! If they ever get around to a pinned bookmark frame with a scroll bar, I'll make the switch.
  • I've same problem with FF. But I think FF still the best friendly browser for me so I can't change it.
  • Are you using any add-ons. I've found by removing add-ons many of the issues go away, but I agree Firefox and the recent updates have been less stable lately.
  • Firefox is my favorite browser and I use it often. I can not live without it. It is not slow. I think that there is problem in your PC. You should delete all the cookies and temporary files and then try. i hope your problem will be solved. If not solve the reinstall it.
    • [1] reply
    • I m not using much Firefox..i always prefer chrome or opera..try to install it again and after that check still you getting same issue with that??
  • It's not just you. It's been very slow for me too. I've been using Chrome more and more lately.
  • Yes me too, what a royal pain it is! I was told that FF is the preferred browser for WordPress so that is why I changed, UGH!
  • That's the exact reason you should use Chrome! It is so fast and I can't ever see myself using FF again, at least not for a while... That's coming from someone that used to swear by FF too!
  • You know what salegurus.....

    I think that you are not the only one which is strange. My FF browser does those things too. Not too sure why. It is very odd that you ask this because I thought that it was just me.

    Weird.

    Tal
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • I had a similar problem with IE8, after a couple of weeks of freezing, I found out the problem was caused by an Adobe add-on. I disable the add on and the problem went away.

    My FF gives me no trouble other than slow on the initial load. I also have Safari and Chrome installed, and I just downloaded SeaMonkey which is a Mozilla product that appears designed to compete against Chrome and Safari. I am told SeaMoney is a "stripped down" FF version, but the interface is much more similar to Safari than it is to IE or FF.
  • I used to love FF, but not lately. It's is getting slower and slower. More error messages that it "can't load scripts' etc. I've checked FF forums and many are reporting the same things. I don;t know if its add-ons or not.
    _____
    Bruce
    • [1] reply
    • Crew Chief posted this above:

      How to Stop Firefox plugin-container.exe Process? | TechnoGadge

      Definitely make sure you try it. I followed the instructions today (after I realized I didn't have it all turned off as it should have been), and FF hasn't crashed YET since!

      And as it stands, I have 11 tabs open, 3 of them videos, some are pages that refresh, and the others are longggg threads.

      Usually it's crashed 3 x by now.

      The above instructions have made a big difference

      Amber
  • There are some things you can do to make firefox faster. Type about:config into your url bar and decrease the cache size, etc. That should make it go faster
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • No crashes, but it is definitely slower, particularly when loading.

      Tried Chrome, but it just does not have the Addons that make FF so good.

      Sigh! Maybe version 4 will fix matters????
  • Honestly I have not noticed this. I use Chrome mostly, but usually have Firefox open as well.

    And, of course, I would never even think of using Explorer. Opera's not bad these days, either.
  • I normally use Firefox for browing and never had a problem with it. Occassionly, it does slow down. but not that bad. Anyone knows if Google Chrome is actually faster?
    • [1] reply
    • Chrome initial load time is better than FF, few seconds for Chrome, Up to 2 minutes for FF.
      When watching videos streams, the two performs equally.
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • To me, it seems like it is caching with much greater frequency. Very frustrating when you are editing posts.
  • I have been having problems with FF lately, it has been locking up and eventually shutting down on me. I think it could have something to do with the add-ons that the user is able to install. At any rate, I do not plan to switch as it is still more reliable than any other browser I have used.
  • I've found that Firefox doesn't connect as well as explorer
  • Yes! Firefox has been so slow lately that I've actually been using IE.

    I'm sure it is because I have it loaded down with addon's, but the thing that is really annoying is that every time an update for one of the addon's is released FF freezes and then crashes.
  • My FF crashed so often I had to fire up that other one. ;P
  • I have noticed it a little bit slower compared to chrome
    • [1] reply
    • The latest version is 3.6.8-1.2

      I have no problems at all. I run FF on openSuse Linux 11.2 and the plugin container thing actually is a benefit. Flash is poorly supported in Linux and that container has already blocked a flash crash.

      Bugger Chrome, G tracks me enough already.

      Regarding excessive addons, I have had up to 31 installed with no problems. Both on XP and Linux. I only have 15 at the moment. Perhaps they don't cause problems because I disable toolbars until I want to use them, leave SEOQuake off till I need it etc. Install whatever you like, just leave them turned off until you need them.
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • The recent update gave me a load of bugs...pages don't load or they load with no images, etc...not just you.
  • I thought it was just me because I have lots of addons. I only use FF when I want to use the tools (css, seo, etc). Other than that the browsing experience is a real drag.

    Rich
  • Have you downloaded your patch for windows 7 and firefox compatilbity,There is one about i did that for my desktop computer and have had no problems the only problems i have is with add ons crashing on my vm mac softwere of windows vista which.Is explanable because of install errors i think

    You can find out more from here about the patch

    http://voices.washingtonpost.com/sec...tly_insta.html
  • Not only running slower, but it also crashes when trying to play videos saying the Adobe plugin has crashed. Has anyone else had this problem?

    Peter Twist
  • I have noticed issues with it too. Sometimes it just spins and spins when it opens a new webpage without doing anything.
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • you are not alone sometime i face this problem but overall you can't say that Firefox is slow browser its still my favorite browser because of its ad-ons and simplicity and user firendly.
Join the discussion

Next Topics on Trending Feed

  • 77

    Just Me Or Is FireFox Slower?

    FireFox has been my preferred browser for a few years now, the features are great and with all the add-ons it's an integral part of my IM toolbox. Lately i have started noticing a definite reduction in speed (loading times) along with crashes and freezes. I was just wondering if the problem is with my PC or are there other FF users who are experiencing the same issues?