Share this article

Improve this guide

Why Does Firefox Use so Much Memory & How to Reduce High Usage

Some browsers are more efficient than Firefox

6 min. read

Updated onAugust 19, 2024

updated onAugust 19, 2024

Share this article

Improve this guide

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Key notes

Firefox is one of thebest web browsers for all devices. However, it is not without its issues, one of them being the report from users that it uses too much memory on their Windows PC.

This affects the performance of Firefox and the other programs and processes running on the computer. This makes it all the more important to identify and eliminate the underlying cause.

So, here is all you need to know about why Firefox is using too much memory and the best solutions for it.

Why does Firefox use so much memory?

There are a few factors that can make Firefox use so much memory. Below are some of the prevalent ones:

How can I fix Firefox if it’s using a lot of memory?

Before making changes to your browser to fix this issue, try the following troubleshooting steps:

1. Switch to a different browser

The quickest and most hassle-free way to get back online without errors is to use a different browser.

If Firefox keeps using tons of resources, we suggest you try a lightweight alternative likeOpera GX. This browser aims to load pages fast, even on lower-end PCs.

That is why it implements dedicated features like RAM and CPU limiters. YOu can easily enable them, and the browser will not bypass the limits, hence offering peak performance.

Using other apps while browsing the web can become demanding, but if you enable the bandwidth limiter feature and set how much data you want to allocate to your browser, your other apps will run faster too.

Opera GX

2. Update Firefox to the latest version

After updatingFirefoxto the latest version, check if the Firefox is still using too much memory

3. Start Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode

Firefox will now launch with extensions and other custom settings disabled, and if it works fine, you know what’s using too much memory.

So, disable extensions one by one, or revert any changes made to the browser setting and see how it behaves. Hopefully, you’ll find the problematic plugin in no time.

4. Disable themes and extensions

After selecting the Default theme, restartFirefox,and check if it still uses a lot of memory. Many users like to customize Firefox with new themes and improve the browser’s functionality with extensions.

Although the experience can be impressive, it can later cause your browser to hog your system resources.

5. Use about:memory feature

One of the excellent built-in features of Firefox is the memory and performance optimizer. Using the memory tool, you can reduce or stop Firefox from using a lot of memory.

6. Enable hardware acceleration

Hardware acceleration is one of the superb features on modern browsers that help with load sharing. It is especially useful when playing a media file as it transfers some load from your CPU to the GPU.

If this feature is disabled, it can strain your PC resources, including the memory. So, you need to enable it to get the best performance from your browser.

7. Reset your browser

If the fixes above do not stop Firefox from using many resources, you need to reset Firefox to default. This will clear up the settings you might have made to the browser that might be causing the problem.

Firefox using too much memory is a major concern, and you should now be able to fix it by using one of our solutions listed above.

If you are experiencingmemory leaks on Firefox, check our detailed guide to fix it.

Feel free to let us know the solution that worked for you in the comments below.

More about the topics:Computer Memory,PC performance

Loredana Harsana

Windows Software Expert

Loredana is a passionate writer with a keen interest in PC software and technology. She started off writing about mobile phones back when Samsung Galaxy S II was on top of the world and she fell in love with tech of all sorts.

Whenever she’s not at her work desk, you’ll find her enjoying refreshing tea flavors, spilling stories on paper, and listening to the radio.

User forum

3 messages

Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes

Comment*

Name*

Email*

Commenting as.Not you?

Save information for future comments

Comment

Δ

Loredana Harsana

Windows Software Expert

Loredana is a tech enthusiast who tackles mobility, privacy, and networking in easy-to follow guides for everyone.