Hi MarcoJH, your Firefox identified itself as version 63, which is the current release.

Did you have an opportunity to work through the suggestions in this article: Quick fixes if your Firefox slows down.

I'd also encourage checking add-ons, since some may use a lot of background resources. You can view, disable, and often remove unwanted or unknown extensions on the Add-ons page. Either:

• Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
• "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
• type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions.

Then cast a critical eye over the list on the right side. Any extensions Firefox installs for built-in features are hidden from this page, so everything listed here is your choice (and your responsibility) to manage. Anything suspicious or that you just do not remember installing or why? If in doubt, disable (or remove).

Any improvement?

MarcoJH said

I am not interested in updating my operating system

That is fine. You are running the Windows Updater program? All this does is to update the current programs.

Make sure you are not blocking content.

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} by holding down the <Shift> (Mac=Options) key, and then starting Firefox.

A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?

One issue that seems more common lately is Firefox's Tracking Protection feature. When it is blocking content in a page, a shield icon will appear at the left end of the address bar next to the padlock icon. This article has more info on managing this feature: Tracking Protection {web link}

Thank you, that helped. I had overlooked the Add-ons vs the Extensions.

I disabled all Add-ons.

I have kept the extension running - Ad-Block. I find advertisements really distracting. (Prefer my adds come in the form of algorithmic content manipulation!! Hah!)

Still a small lag. Still will not load a favorite page and stalls briefly before loading a pages. I do keep several tabs open.

Here is the list of Add-ons and one extension:

Add-Ons: 1. ) OpenH264 Video Codec 1.7.1 2.) Widevine Content Decryption Module provided by Google Inc. 1.4.9.1008 3.) Shockwave Flash 31.0.0.122 (browser tells me I need this to view some online videos (like PBS Newshour etc?) EXTENSIONS: 1.) AdBlock 3.20.0

Any recommendations with Add-ons or Extensions is appreciated! Or if tabs open slow browser down, and strategy to manage?

-MarcoJH

Thank you, that helped

Helped how? Did the problem go away or what?

Add-ons vs the Extensions

Anything added to the browser is an add-on. There are themes, extensions, and plugins.

Still will not load a favorite page

What page is that? Any error messages?

Any recommendations

Disable all extensions. Then restart the browser.

If there is still a problem, it could be Hardware Acceleration. How to disable Hardware Acceleration {web link}

FredMcD said

MarcoJH said

I am not interested in updating my operating system

That is fine. You are running the Windows Updater program? All this does is to update the current programs.

---

Make sure you are not blocking content.

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} by holding down the <Shift> (Mac=Options) key, and then starting Firefox.

A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?

---

One issue that seems more common lately is Firefox's Tracking Protection feature. When it is blocking content in a page, a shield icon will appear at the left end of the address bar next to the padlock icon. This article has more info on managing this feature: Tracking Protection {web link}

Thank You for your input! I am automatic updating Windows 7, and using their anti-virus program. I started Firefox in SAFE mode with no difference in lag noted. I have not read the article on the Tracking protection yet, but I do have a few tabs open that show that icon. While disabling extensions in above suggestion has helped, pages still have a lag, and don't load all content - like the font tool bar on google email ( I open it and it takes a few minutes to load all the icons, and "buttons." Also on YouTube "buttons" either don't work or really lag.) I will keep chipping away at it - and then it will all change again!!

MarcoJH said

EXTENSIONS: AdBlock Any recommendations with Add-ons or Extensions is appreciated! Or if tabs open slow browser down, and strategy to manage? -MarcoJH

• After years of using AdBlock Plus, I dumped it and now use uBlock Origin. Friendlier on Memory and my FF Sessions go longer before I need to Exit and ReStart FF. AdBlock at times will 'run wild' on Memory and really mess things up. I have yet to have such a problem with uBlock Origin.

• Do you have Windows-7 SP1? If with SP1, you should still be getting Windows Updates.

• Sometimes, I get horrible InterNet navigation lags with huge delays when clicking on links. Close programs and a computer reboot fixes - for a while, anyway - though I haven't seen this in a while. I don't know if AdBlock Plus had anything to with it or not.

• Also, I do Router and Modem ReStarts every so often:

• I had some strange, slower connect speed recently on my wired computer and all other wireless devices, including poor SmartCast

• The following procedure corrected my ISP speed and Windows and Browser performance:

• The following is for separate Modems and Routers:

• Unplug both the Modem and Router.
• Wait at least 30 Seconds.
• Plug-in Modem in first.
• Wait at least 60 Seconds.
• Plug-in Router.
• Wait at least 2 minutes.

• Finally, it's possible one or more of your devices needs to

be ReBooted to recover access or expected performance.

• Full details in this article from www.LifeWire.com:

• https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-properly-restart-a-router-modem-2624570

~Pj

If you use Adblock Plus then you can consider uBlock Origin as a replacement to see if that works better (lower memory footprint).

• https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/

You can try to disable hardware acceleration in Firefox to see if that has effect.

• Options/Preferences -> General: Performance
  remove checkmark: [ ] "Use recommended performance settings"
  remove checkmark: [ ] "Use hardware acceleration when available"
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/performance-settings

Close and restart Firefox after modifying the setting for changes to take effect.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-extensions-themes-to-fix-problems

You can check if there is an update for your graphics display driver and check for hardware acceleration related issues.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/upgrade-graphics-drivers-use-hardware-acceleration