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How to reduce the memory usage on Firefox?

This article gives you simple steps to optimize your PC memory usage

Most of the time, Firefox doesn't use abnormal amount of system memory, however it does sometimes due to other sources, like number of plug-ins, themes and extensions. It is also highly recommended that you have the latest version of Firefox as the memory usage is minimized. If you want to download the latest copy of Firefox, click here.

Follow these steps to check what is causing the abnormal memory usage:

1. Check your Extensions and Themes: 

If you have a number of Extensions and Themes installed on your Firefox, try to minimize them, remove those which are not in use or you don'g really need.  You can check it by opening Firefox in safe mode.  Here's how you do it:
  1. Close your Firefox browser.
  2. From the desktop, click Start > Run.
  3. Key in, firefox -safe-mode.
  4. You'll see a new window called "Firefox Safe Mode".
    • Just select the options displayed and if you click "Make Changes and Restart", Firefox applies changes and restarts in normal mode.
    • If you choose to select "Continue in Safe Mode" no settings will be applied.
    • If you choose to "Exit" the browser will just exit without saving any settings.

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2. Check the Plug-ins:

Firefox Plug-ins consume memory when in use.  It is always important to check and update your plug-ins to the latest version. It is also good to uninstall all those plug-ins that are not in use.



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3. Clear Download History:

Keeping the Download History can cause extensive usage of memory and this can slow down or freeze Firefox. 

  1. Delete the "downloads.rdf" file to clear the download history.
  2. You need to make a little change to the browser setting.  Here's what you do:
  3. Open Firefox browser.
  4. From the menu bar, click Tools -> Options.
  5. Click Privacy.  Un-check the "Remember What I've downloaded" check box.

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4. Restart Firefox Periodically:

There might be a constant increase in the memory usage if you are using Firefox for a long period of time or handling multiple sessions.
  1. Consider restarting your browser periodically so that it can maintain a constant memory usage.  
  2. Download and Install Session Manager Extension, which would save the current text data, history and cookies.  It allows you to maintain the opened web pages when Firefox is closed.


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5. Assign Memory Cache on Firefox:

Firefox doesn't use memory cache and uses system memory by default, it is good to assign a fixed memory cache to reduce the usage of memory. Here's how you do it:
  1. Open the Firefox browser.
  2. Key in about:config in the address bar.
  3. Key in browser.cache.memory.enable in the Filter field.
  4. Ensure the value of the above item is set it true, if not, double-click on it to set it to true.
  5. Right-click in the browser and select New -> Integer from the pop-up.
  6. Key in, browser.cache.memory.capacity, click OK.
  7. You need to enter a value here and that value depends upon the RAM your computer has.
  8. if you have:
    1. 256MB RAM - Enter "4096".
    2. 512MB RAM - Enter "8192".
  9. Note: If you have 128MB or less RAM then you need to upgrade your RAM.  It is not very expensive.
Important: If you want to restore to default settings then change browser.cache.memory.capacity value to -1 (minus 1).


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 6. Release Memory when Firefox is minimized

  1. Open the Firefox browser.
  2. Key about:config in the address bar.


  3. Right-click in the browser and select New -> Boolean from the pop-up.


  4. In the popup box enter config.trim_on_minimize. Click OK.


  5. Select True and then click OK.


  6. Restart Firefox.
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Comments
  • Posted by: headphonestatic_2951 at 17 Apr 20:54 permalink
    what if i have 992 mb of ram.. what would the value be for tip #5
    • Posted by: m.green84_7078 at 21 Apr 12:22 permalink
      any idea what the mac equilivant would be for tip 6? can only imagine it would be release memory when hidden but i have no ideas
    • Posted by: dwj314_531 at 21 Apr 17:12 permalink
      Here's an interesting stat:

      Memory cache device

      Number of entries: 362
      Maximum storage size: 8192 KiB
      Storage in use: 11322 KiB
      Inactive storage: 0 KiB

      How is the "storage in use" larger than the "Maximum storage size"?
      • Posted by: RickyF at 22 Apr 03:31 permalink
        Item 6. Release Memory when Firefox is minimized does not seem to have the desired effect in Windows Vista.
        • Posted by: labfxdx_5294 at 26 Apr 12:58 permalink
          Hi i believe storage in use is effective sum of physical and virtual memory.
          • Posted by: bob at 25 Jun 00:04 permalink
            helpful
            • Posted by: joenhre_2643 at 05 May 13:03 permalink
              tried all of these suggestions and none of them help much at all for me.I'm using windows Vista Ultimate 64bit with only one extension used and that is the DOM inspection.Firefox constantly uses over 1GB of RAM and I've seen it go upto 1.8GB.
              • Posted by: geeky at 07 Jul 04:48 permalink
                You could also use the RAMBack plugin. It kinda helps.

                http://thegeekyspot.com/2008/07/07/how-to-get-your-ramback-from-firefox-3/
                • Posted by: Bill Starr at 05 Mar 13:38 permalink
                  I implemented Items 5 and 6 today in Firefox v3.0.6 on Windows XP Pro SP2, with one gigabyte of RAM, and the improvement is great. Task Manager says that my peak mem usage in this Firefox session was 277 megabytes. After minimizing a couple of times, it has grown back to 138 M. When I minimize Firefox, memory usage drops immediately to 9 megabytes and then starts to rise again.

                  Bill Starr
                  Columbus, Indiana
                  Thu, 5 Mar 2009, 4:32 pm EST
                  • Posted by: Aileen06 at 26 Jun 18:08 permalink
                    I am using Firefox 3.5 every time I close out of Firefox these settings are lost and I have to put them back in. Any idea why?
                    • Posted by: john.frazer_4941 at 17 Nov 21:36 permalink
                      Using FF 3.5.5 on a 192MB Laptop running Win32 XP-SP3 the recommended configuration at Zolved has improved the memory use on my Laptop.
                      When minimized the FF memory reduces to 9MB and then increases slightly.
                      Very cool for multitasking on a Laptop without extendible physical memory.

                       

                       

                      Type:ArticleContent
                      Updated at:07 Aug 03:56
                      Updated by:techillusion
                      Tags: firefox
                      Keywords:reducing memory usage on firefox, firefox memory usage, using memory for firefox, optimize PC memory usage, memory usage, cache on firefox, firefox Plug-ins,
                      Brand: Topic > How To
                      Article Source > Authored in Zolved
                      Brand > Mozilla > Firefox