Firefox hangs: Difference between revisions

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Extensions are a common cause of problems.  Check the list of [[problematic extensions]] to see if it is a known issue.  Step 5 of the [[Standard diagnostic (Firefox) | standard diagnostic]] will tell if an extension is causing Firefox to hang.
Extensions are a common cause of problems.  Check the list of [[problematic extensions]] to see if it is a known issue.  Step 5 of the [[Standard diagnostic (Firefox) | standard diagnostic]] will tell if an extension is causing Firefox to hang.


===Adobe Type Manager===
===Adobe Type Manager/Font issues===
Adobe Type Manager can also cause Firefox to hang. Mostly if you have a lot of fonts installed. Uninstall Adobe Type Manager '''and''' all the fonts except the standard fonts of Windows.
Having installed a huge number of fonts can also cause this problem. Using Adobe Type Manager can lead to a huge number of installed fonts. Uninstall all fonts - except the standard fonts - and Adobe Type Manager in this case.


===Other solutions===
===Other solutions===

Revision as of 20:20, 11 June 2006

Hanging (freezing, not responding) is when a program is running but stops responding to user input. A hang/freeze is different from a crash, which ends the program. Here are some solutions for hangs that cannot be solved with the standard diagnostic.

Hang loading first Firefox window

Hyperthreading

Hyperthreading is a feature on some high-end processors. In some cases, motherboard chipsets supporting hyperthreading can cause Firefox to hang at startup. If you’re experiencing hangs, you may want to check your motherboard manufacturer’s website for updates to the BIOS.

Alternatively, you can disable Hyperthreading support for Firefox in Windows 2000 and XP. Right click the Firefox shortcut → Properties → Compatibility → Check "Run this program in compatibility mode" → Select "Windows 98/Windows ME" → OK.

User Agent Switcher

Reinstallation or updating User Agent Switcher extension can cause hangs. Start Firefox in safe mode, uninstall the User Agent Switcher extension, and restart Firefox. You may now install the extension again without it hanging.

Hang opening new Firefox window

The SwitchProxy Tool extension has a bug that causes Firefox to hang for a few seconds upon opening a new window. The solution is to disable SwitchProxy's auto-update feature.

Hang downloading files

Tools -> Options -> Privacy -> Download History -> Clear Download History Now. Then, select either "Upon successful download" or "When Firefox exits" from the "Remove files from the Download Manager" drop-down list. If attempting to clear the download history also causes a hang, exit Firefox and delete the file "downloads.rdf" from the profile folder. [1]

Hang loading non-existant sites

If you're using an auto-config proxy (PAC), Firefox will hang when you attempt to load sites that don't exist. The amount of time it hangs will depend on how many look-ups the PAC does. The only solution is to have the PAC rewritten. See Bug 235853 - PAC: isResolvable() causes the UI to hang during resolution for more details.

Hang loading sites with Java, Flash, or PDF files

If Firefox freezes attempting to load a site with Java or Flash, or an Adobe PDF file, it's likely a problem with the associated plugin. If Firefox hangs after waking the computer from sleep mode, it may be a known problem with the Flash plugin.

Hang after prolonged or extensive use

For some users, Firefox consumes excessive amounts of memory and may slow down or hang in situations that include being open for long periods of time, after downloading or saving images or other files, or after extensive use with multiple tabs open. See this article on reducing Firefox memory usage. Additional suggestions here.

Other causes of hanging

Microsoft Anti-Spyware

Having MS Anti-Spyware running in the background has been known to affect Firefox. If you're experiencing hangs running both of these programs at once, turn off MS Anti-Spyware.

McAfee Anti-virus

McAfee Anti-virus software can stop Firefox from operating correctly. To fix the problem, open the Virusscan Console -> Access protection -> Prevent downloads from the World Wide web -> add "firefox.exe".

Extensions

Extensions are a common cause of problems. Check the list of problematic extensions to see if it is a known issue. Step 5 of the standard diagnostic will tell if an extension is causing Firefox to hang.

Adobe Type Manager/Font issues

Having installed a huge number of fonts can also cause this problem. Using Adobe Type Manager can lead to a huge number of installed fonts. Uninstall all fonts - except the standard fonts - and Adobe Type Manager in this case.

Other solutions

  • Perform the standard diagnostic to resolve hanging problems not specifically mentioned in this article.
  • Some older versions of video card drivers can cause hangs. Make sure your drivers are up to date.
  • If none of the solutions on this page fix your problem, you may want to file a bug. This is a list of unsolved bugs in Firefox that cause hangs. Look through the list, and if your situation doesn't match any of the situations listed, file a new bug.