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!

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.

Firefox uses too much memory

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

mpbrais
mpbrais
more options

I use Firefox, latest edition 34.0.5 on a desktop and on a portable, both with Windows 7, Professional Edition on the desktop and Home Edition on the portable. Each Windows is up to date.

When I start Firefox on the portable, Task Manager tells me it uses around 150 mB. Rapidly this increases with each new page opened, to reach 1.5-1.8 GB. Then Firefox slows down, stops responding. I have to shut it off and restart. Then the memory usage is again 150-160 mB.

I do not have this problem on the desktop. The memory usage will increase from 150 mB to never more than 280mB.

Any idea ?

Thanks

I use Firefox, latest edition 34.0.5 on a desktop and on a portable, both with Windows 7, Professional Edition on the desktop and Home Edition on the portable. Each Windows is up to date. When I start Firefox on the portable, Task Manager tells me it uses around 150 mB. Rapidly this increases with each new page opened, to reach 1.5-1.8 GB. Then Firefox slows down, stops responding. I have to shut it off and restart. Then the memory usage is again 150-160 mB. I do not have this problem on the desktop. The memory usage will increase from 150 mB to never more than 280mB. Any idea ? Thanks

All Replies (2)

Scott
Scott
more options

You have quite a few plug-ins installed - one of them could be causing the issue you describe. Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if the problem goes away. Firefox Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode that temporarily disables extensions (amongst other things).

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

  • Click the menu button New Fx Menu, click Help Help-29 and select Restart with Add-ons Disabled.

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

  • Hold the Shift key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.

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

Safe Mode Fx 15 - Win
cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Note that your System Details List shows multiple Flash plugins.

  • Shockwave Flash 15.0 r0
  • Shockwave Flash 16.0 r0

You can find the installation path of all plugins on the about:plugins page.

You can check the Flash player installation folder for multiple Flash player plugins and remove older version(s) of the plugin (NPSWF32) and possibly (re)install the latest Flash player.

  • (32 bit Windows) C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash\
  • (64 bit Windows) C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash\

You can create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problem.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.