Firefox freezes with "not responding" exactly two times each time I launch it
For the past month or so, every time I launch Firefox, it freezes exactly twice:
- After 5-10 seconds of just being open, it will freeze and stop responding to input. Any animations, videos, blinking text cursors, etc. in the current webpage continue to play as if nothing is wrong. After a second or two of being frozen, it will return to working correctly.
- I can use it for a few seconds and then it will do the same thing and then eventually turn white and say "(Not Responding)" in the title bar, but always immediately after a click or keyboard input happens. If I open a website and then continue working in other programs, it will not freeze until I refocus Firefox.
Once both freezes have happened, everything works as normal until I close all Firefox windows and then relaunch it later.
I provided the full troubleshooting information report below (apparently it's not public!), but in summary: Firefox version: 117.0 build 20230824132758 OS: Windows 11 version 22H2 build 22621.2215 GPU: Intel Arc A750, driver version 31.0.101.4644 (8/11/2023). I know it's is unusual, but I know someone with an Intel Arc A770, also running Windows 11, who does not have this problem with Firefox.
This does not happen on my laptop, which is also Windows 11, and Firefox Sync is working between them. I'm also using Firefox Sync with my Pixel 6 and iPhone X and neither of those has any issue.
I have already tried:
- Rebooting my PC
- Running Firefox in "Troubleshoot Mode":' no extensions enabled, same behavior
- Running Edge: no freezing issue, but I don't want to use Edge for so many reasons
- Reinstalling Firefox: I ran the Firefox uninstaller, deleted %AppData%\Mozilla\Firefox, and then reinstalled. It froze the same way immediately after launching the fresh install, before I signed in and synced all my data back.
- Running sfc /scannow: No problems found, freezing still happening
Are there any further troubleshooting step I can try, debug output I can enable/collect, etc.? This is really annoying and I'm all out of ideas.
Modified by snowplow6536
All Replies (13)
Can you go here, install this Intel tool to check that drivers are current. When done, just uninstall it. I've been using it for years with no issues. https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/intel-driver-support-assistant.html
You can also run this tool to test Firefox in Windows Sandbox. What security software are you running? If you're running a 3rd party security app, this will be a good place to see how Firefox runs without it. https://www.howtogeek.com/399290/how-to-use-windows-10s-new-sandbox-to-safely-test-apps/
Edition Windows 11 Pro Insider Preview
Version 23H2
Installed on 27-Aug-23
OS build 25936.1000
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.25936.1000.0
Modified by jonzn4SUSE
Hi jonzn4SUSE,
I actually had that Intel tool installed already, and it reports that my drivers are up-to-date.
I tried running Firefox in Windows Sandbox (good idea!) and it does not exhibit the issue. I doubt security software is the cause since I'm just using the antivirus/firewall/etc. built into Windows (I think it's just called "Windows Security" at the moment).
Thank you for the suggestions, though :)
Glad to hear that the Sandbox option shows that it's not a browser issue. I think all Window users should have this pinned on the Start Menu. ;-) Just need to look at event viewer when Firefox crashes. Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box. Type eventvwr and press Enter to open the Event Viewer
What is the make and model of your computer or is it DIY?
Modified by jonzn4SUSE
jonzn4SUSE: I don't see any new events in Event Viewer when Firefox freezes, there's just a set of three Firefox-related entries from the first time I opened it today in Windows Logs\Application:
Log Name: Application Source: Firefox Default Browser Agent Date: 2023-09-02 22:16:39 Event ID: 2 Task Category: None Level: Error Keywords: Classic User: N/A Computer: EDGE Description: The system cannot find the file specified. Event Xml: <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event"> <System> <Provider Name="Firefox Default Browser Agent" /> <EventID Qualifiers="32775">2</EventID> <Version>0</Version> <Level>2</Level> <Task>0</Task> <Opcode>0</Opcode> <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords> <TimeCreated SystemTime="2023-09-03T05:16:39.8736370Z" /> <EventRecordID>3834489</EventRecordID> <Correlation /> <Execution ProcessID="22984" ThreadID="0" /> <Channel>Application</Channel> <Computer>EDGE</Computer> <Security /> </System> <EventData> <Data>0x80070002 in RegistryDeleteValue:320</Data> </EventData> </Event> Log Name: Application Source: Firefox Default Browser Agent Date: 2023-09-02 22:16:39 Event ID: 0 Task Category: None Level: Information Keywords: Classic User: N/A Computer: EDGE Description: The operation completed successfully. Event Xml: <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event"> <System> <Provider Name="Firefox Default Browser Agent" /> <EventID Qualifiers="0">0</EventID> <Version>0</Version> <Level>4</Level> <Task>0</Task> <Opcode>0</Opcode> <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords> <TimeCreated SystemTime="2023-09-03T05:16:39.7517374Z" /> <EventRecordID>3834488</EventRecordID> <Correlation /> <Execution ProcessID="22984" ThreadID="0" /> <Channel>Application</Channel> <Computer>EDGE</Computer> <Security /> </System> <EventData> <Data>INFO - Using HTTP backend wininet.dll</Data> </EventData> </Event> Log Name: Application Source: Firefox Default Browser Agent Date: 2023-09-02 22:16:39 Event ID: 0 Task Category: None Level: Information Keywords: Classic User: N/A Computer: EDGE Description: The operation completed successfully. Event Xml: <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event"> <System> <Provider Name="Firefox Default Browser Agent" /> <EventID Qualifiers="0">0</EventID> <Version>0</Version> <Level>4</Level> <Task>0</Task> <Opcode>0</Opcode> <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords> <TimeCreated SystemTime="2023-09-03T05:16:39.7511264Z" /> <EventRecordID>3834487</EventRecordID> <Correlation /> <Execution ProcessID="22984" ThreadID="0" /> <Channel>Application</Channel> <Computer>EDGE</Computer> <Security /> </System> <EventData> <Data>INFO - Using remote settings URL: https://firefox.settings.services.mozilla.com/v1/buckets/main/collections/windows-default-browser-agent/records/state</Data> </EventData> </Event>
My computer is DIY with these main components:
- MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI Motherboard
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
- 32 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4-3200 RAM
- Intel Arc A750
- WD Black SN750 SE SSD
Modified by snowplow6536
jonzn4SUSE: I don't see any new events in Event Viewer when Firefox freezes, there's just a set of three Firefox-related entries from the first time I opened it today in Windows Logs\Application:
Log Name: Application Source: Firefox Default Browser Agent Date: 2023-09-02 22:16:39 Event ID: 2 Task Category: None Level: Error Keywords: Classic User: N/A Computer: EDGE Description: The system cannot find the file specified. Event Xml: <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event"> <System> <Provider Name="Firefox Default Browser Agent" /> <EventID Qualifiers="32775">2</EventID> <Version>0</Version> <Level>2</Level> <Task>0</Task> <Opcode>0</Opcode> <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords> <TimeCreated SystemTime="2023-09-03T05:16:39.8736370Z" /> <EventRecordID>3834489</EventRecordID> <Correlation /> <Execution ProcessID="22984" ThreadID="0" /> <Channel>Application</Channel> <Computer>EDGE</Computer> <Security /> </System> <EventData> <Data>0x80070002 in RegistryDeleteValue:320</Data> </EventData> </Event> Log Name: Application Source: Firefox Default Browser Agent Date: 2023-09-02 22:16:39 Event ID: 0 Task Category: None Level: Information Keywords: Classic User: N/A Computer: EDGE Description: The operation completed successfully. Event Xml: <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event"> <System> <Provider Name="Firefox Default Browser Agent" /> <EventID Qualifiers="0">0</EventID> <Version>0</Version> <Level>4</Level> <Task>0</Task> <Opcode>0</Opcode> <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords> <TimeCreated SystemTime="2023-09-03T05:16:39.7517374Z" /> <EventRecordID>3834488</EventRecordID> <Correlation /> <Execution ProcessID="22984" ThreadID="0" /> <Channel>Application</Channel> <Computer>EDGE</Computer> <Security /> </System> <EventData> <Data>INFO - Using HTTP backend wininet.dll</Data> </EventData> </Event> Log Name: Application Source: Firefox Default Browser Agent Date: 2023-09-02 22:16:39 Event ID: 0 Task Category: None Level: Information Keywords: Classic User: N/A Computer: EDGE Description: The operation completed successfully. Event Xml: <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event"> <System> <Provider Name="Firefox Default Browser Agent" /> <EventID Qualifiers="0">0</EventID> <Version>0</Version> <Level>4</Level> <Task>0</Task> <Opcode>0</Opcode> <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords> <TimeCreated SystemTime="2023-09-03T05:16:39.7511264Z" /> <EventRecordID>3834487</EventRecordID> <Correlation /> <Execution ProcessID="22984" ThreadID="0" /> <Channel>Application</Channel> <Computer>EDGE</Computer> <Security /> </System> <EventData> <Data>INFO - Using remote settings URL: https://firefox.settings.services.mozilla.com/v1/buckets/main/collections/windows-default-browser-agent/records/state</Data> </EventData> </Event>
My computer is DIY with these main components:
- MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI Motherboard
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
- 32 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4-3200 RAM
- Intel Arc A750
- WD Black SN750 SE SSD
zeroknight: I didn't realize I could do that! Unfortunately, blocking the only one listed (start10_64.dll) and restarting didn't fix the freezing issue.
Where did you get Firefox? I would look at the processes running before starting Firefox. Something is clearly a problem and Sandbox has shown that it's not a browser issue. Use these tools to get more detail about the processes running. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer
May the Schwartz be with you. ;-))
I downloaded Firefox from mozilla.org, both for the real installation and for my Sandbox test.
I didn't see anything interesting in Process Explorer (nor Process Monitor, though I don't know quite enough about Windows syscalls to know what would be interesting!)
However, your suggestion gave me the idea to restart Windows in safe mode and then try launching Firefox to see if there was some other process interfering. But unfortunately not, because it still froze the same way with Windows running in safe mode. I think that removes any suspicion from Intel driver problems or other 3rd party applications on the system.
Modified by snowplow6536
Did you ever turn off hardware acceleration?
No, I just verified and I have "Use recommended performance settings" checked. Unchecking it reveals the hardware acceleration checkbox, which is checked.
Ok... does it work when this option is unchecked?
Ah, I see what you were asking now, sorry! But I just tested it and no, it still froze when relaunching after disabling hardware acceleration.
To clarify:
- "Use recommended" enabled -> freezes
- "Use recommended" disabled but hardware acceleration enabled -> freezes
- "Use recommended" disabled and hardware acceleration disabled -> freezes
Modified by snowplow6536