Why is Firefox randomly hitting 100% CPU?
So yes, another one of those...
Hi everyone,
Have a look at the screenshot. 100% CPU, with only one active tab. (Specifically, inviting friends to like a Facebook-page. Had to batch them by the 100 or so to avoid losing all my progress every few minutes). Somehow a few FF-processes floating around in the Task list, not sure what's that about. I used the Refresh option, didn't help.
My computer is not the fastest, but it can take relatively tough programs like video editing and audio recording, but struggles with Firefox all the time. This shouldn't be a problem. I've been loyal to Firefox for years and years, because I appreciate the open-source and the attention to privacy and community (and I much dislike Google in those respects). But I'm seriously considering finding an alternative. This is -always- a problem with FF, and I don't understand why.
Does anybody have any insights?
All the best, P
Chosen solution
Thanks for the replies.
In the meantime I went browsing around for alternatives and I came upon Opera. So far I like it for its customization, built-in Adblock and VPN, and it's running very smoothly.
I think I'm done with Firefox; I can try to solve this problem now but chances are good it'll just be back a month from now. Just seems to be inherent to FF. I mean, just go to Google and type "Why is firefox" and look at the search suggestions...
Thanks again for the input, but I'll try my luck with a different browser.
Cheers, P
Read this answer in context 👍 4All Replies (7)
Where? Mine doesn't go 100%. So either something is causing it happen or FF is corrupted install and needs to be uninstalled and reinstalled to fix the problem.
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?
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-slow-how-make-it-faster
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-uses-too-many-cpu-resources-how-fix
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-uses-too-much-memory-ram
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-hangs-or-not-responding
How fast is your computer?
If you are low on resources then best is to start as less other programs as possible.
Chosen Solution
Thanks for the replies.
In the meantime I went browsing around for alternatives and I came upon Opera. So far I like it for its customization, built-in Adblock and VPN, and it's running very smoothly.
I think I'm done with Firefox; I can try to solve this problem now but chances are good it'll just be back a month from now. Just seems to be inherent to FF. I mean, just go to Google and type "Why is firefox" and look at the search suggestions...
Thanks again for the input, but I'll try my luck with a different browser.
Cheers, P
@PhlipSteen, no one can tell you which browser to use but if one isn't willing to find out why then that is your choice. FF End user forum helps but it takes both side to work at the problem. This isn't just a give you and not get in return.
Hi WestEnd,
You are completely correct - it is my choice ;) And indeed, it does take work from both ends - work I've put in many, many times in the past years. Always it was a temporary solution, the problem always came back.
I figured I'd give it one more shot this time, so I posted here again. I went looking for an alternative in the meantime, and decided to try one out - which solved everything immediately. I figured I'd post it here on the forum straight away, so as to not waste more of anyone's time.
Do you see where I'm coming from?
Thanks again, P
GRRRRR!!!+!!! Here we ALL are, YEARS LATER and still complaining about FireFox using MASSIVE amounts of CPU resources. We ALL here have tried, I'm sure, 100's of thousands of different configurations to no avail. SO... what is left? IS IT PROBABLE Mozilla is secretly snooping in our PC's? I say this since I watch my Modems In & Out data count is constantly adding up and there are NO OTHER PROGRAMS RUNNING. BTW: This happens even after a HDD fresh reformat and, in all basics, only FF is installed & ran. . I've mentioned this to a PC game Mfg. and they found a way to use MINIMAL RESOURCES nearly 99% of the time. If they can do this to a PEER to PEER game, so can you. .