Thunderbird 78.4.1 (32-bit) on Windows 10 is running slow when I type with seconds between each typed character being displayed
I've been running Thunderbird 78.4.1 (32-bit) on my Windows 10 PC x64 for around 5 years without any issues, however over the last year or so I've noticed that it is running very slow.
The problem manifests itself when I create a new email and then start to type in any part of the email.
As I type a few words, nothing is displayed and then suddenly it appears. It's as if every 5 - 10 seconds it freezes and then catches up. If I catch it at the correct moment the text is displayed as I type but then the delay begins.
I've tried to search for an answer but cannot find any. I've downloaded cccleaner and have Defender running in the background.
I can start it in safe mode with addons disabled which helps for a few mins but even with this situation, it seems to regress.
My PC runs 24 / 7 but every few days Thunderbird crashes.
Any help greatly appreciated.
All Replies (5)
Issues like this are normally not related to the application itself, but rather something more local:
- either a slow PC, or
- network connections (it's trying to load stuff in the background, and buffering your keyboard input while it does so)
It could also be because of a recent TB (ahem) upgrade (v78 was only released in July 2020, so I find it unlikely that you've been using that version for 5 years!). But the problem being related to a specific TB version is also unlikely as others would also be reporting it.
It may also be worth considering how many mail boxes you're using with TB and how big each of these mail boxes are on your hard-drive?
Another potent question that may help lead towards the cause: if you've been experiencing these problems for a year, why are you only reporting it now?
Finally: I know this is a horrible IT-support-type response, but have you tried a re-install (including the deletion of your local profiles in your user directory)?
Thanks Osian, to answer some of your points -
The PC seems to be running fast enough in other applications with no other issues. Firefox for example runs well and seems fast enough.
Keyboard buffering (wish I'd have realised this is what it was), only happens in Thurnderbird and not anywhere else.
I have 6 other mailboxes running which are rarely used and only check for mail if I do a 'Get Messages' request. I have no idea how big each of these mail boxes are on my HD as I don't know how to check this.
I'm only reporting this a year later as I found a work around was to write the email in Notepad and then paste it in. There's also a fear that I might mess up the account or lose emails if I fiddle around with it which is also why I'd be scared to do a reinstall as I'm not very computer literate.
My hope was to find the actual cause of the problem without having to do too much to the computer and risk messing it up.
A frequent cause is antivirus, for example https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1658598
Please Start *Windows'* safe mode with networking enabled - win10 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12376/windows-10-start-your-pc-in-safe-mode
Still In Windows safe mode, start thunderbird in safe mode - https://support.mozilla.org/kb/safe-mode-thunderbird
What are your results?
Running TB 78.6.1 (64 bit) under Windows 10 Home Version 10.0.19042 Build 19042
Two of us here -- with very different Windows 10 set ups -- are having the same problem composing emails. All other apps are running without problems.
However, the problem does disappear in Safe Mode.
Tom
tawitkin said
Running TB 78.6.1 (64 bit) under Windows 10 Home Version 10.0.19042 Build 19042 Two of us here -- with very different Windows 10 set ups -- are having the same problem composing emails. All other apps are running without problems. However, the problem does disappear in Safe Mode. Tom
Try disabling hardware acceleration in Options/General/Indexing. It is one feature of safe mode.