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Firefox using over 1 GB RAM after update

  • 7 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 35 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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It didn't start until the last update. I'm on Mac Snow Leopard and I tried turning off extensions. I have nothing else open, no other software except utility (to confirm its FF sucking the RAM). I have 1 or 2 tabs open. And yet it's sucking over half my RAM! I don't normally need that much and therefore haven't bothered to upgrade. No way I should need to up the RAM JUST for a browser with no extensions on and only 1 or 2 tabs open! What is going on here?

It didn't start until the last update. I'm on Mac Snow Leopard and I tried turning off extensions. I have nothing else open, no other software except utility (to confirm its FF sucking the RAM). I have 1 or 2 tabs open. And yet it's sucking over half my RAM! I don't normally need that much and therefore haven't bothered to upgrade. No way I should need to up the RAM JUST for a browser with no extensions on and only 1 or 2 tabs open! What is going on here?

All Replies (7)

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It's not AS bad in safe mode but I am seeing it climbing rapidly even in safe mode as soon as I do serious browsing. Does Safe Mode do anything but turn of add ons? (because I had already done that and it didn't work).

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Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode that temporarily turns off hardware acceleration, resets some settings, and disables add-ons (extensions and themes). If the problem goes away, that tells us one thing. If it does not, that tells us something else.


Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} While you are in safe mode;

Type about:preferences#advanced<Enter> in the address bar.

Under Advanced, Select General. Look for and turn off Use Hardware Acceleration.

Then restart Firefox. Are there any problems?


Type about:addons<enter> in the address bar to open the Add-ons Manager. Hot key; <Control>(Mac=<Command>) <Shift> A)

On the left side of the page, select Appearance. Then select Default.

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hardware acceleration was already off.....I did find something in the mac console. a lot of 'leaking' messages.

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Anyone out there going to answer? The problem has now cropped up on my work PC running Windows 10 with 'plugin container' showing as using a lot of RAM. This is even worse because I need the extensions, I work in web design and some of them are critical in helping do what I do.

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I've called the big guys to help you. Good luck.

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Does Firefox release memory when you close tabs?

Are you visiting website that have a lot of images?


You can try to 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.