Firefox Memory Use Continues to Grow
Memory usage grows monotonically at some unknown point
MacBook Pro, OS 10.11.6, 8G RAM, FF 59.0.2, 64 bit.
I am having a specific problem that I think may explain a lot of the memory complaints people are having. In this case it's not that FF starts out using too much memory, it's that at some point it makes a big grab for more (hours to days later). It does this all of a sudden going from around 1G to 2.5G and then increasing. Processor usage goes from 10% to 90% at the same time. Eventually the program becomes unusable and the machine as well. I note a similar case here:
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1197254
In that case it was a specific website that triggered the rise. In my case, it would happen at random times. In the mac's process browser I noted that most of the CPU was being taken by one of the FF Web Content threads. I searched for that thread in about:memory. It was holding 300MB for youtube.com. On a whim I closed that tab and the problem went away. FF memory went back to 1G and CPU went back to normal.
Is it possible that something about youtube.com and the website mentioned by #1197254 is tickling a cache bug in FF? Overzealous pre-fecthing of video under certain conditions? I note that "about:memory/minimize memory usage" would quiet things down for a while, but only removing the tab fixed the problem.
The behavior still happened in safe mode. This is not specific to Macs, people on Windows are seeing it too.
Any thoughts?
MacBook Pro, OS 10.11.6, 8G RAM, FF 59.0.2, 64 bit. I am having a specific problem that I think may explain a lot of the memory complaints people are having. In this case it's not that FF starts out using too much memory, it's that at some point it makes a big grab for more (hours to days later). It does this all of a sudden going from around 1G to 2.5G and then increasing. Processor usage goes from 10% to 90% at the same time. Eventually the program becomes unusable and the machine as well. I note a similar case here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1197254 In that case it was a specific website that triggered the rise. In my case, it would happen at random times. In the mac's process browser I noted that most of the CPU was being taken by one of the FF Web Content threads. I searched for that thread in about:memory. It was holding 300MB for youtube.com. On a whim I closed that tab and the problem went away. FF memory went back to 1G and CPU went back to normal. Is it possible that something about youtube.com and the website mentioned by #1197254 is tickling a cache bug in FF? Overzealous pre-fecthing of video under certain conditions? I note that "about:memory/minimize memory usage" would quiet things down for a while, but only removing the tab fixed the problem. The behavior still happened in safe mode. This is not specific to Macs, people on Windows are seeing it too. Any thoughts?
Chosen solution
Hi, welcome. Glad it has toned down for you to a manageable roar. As Youtube I have been reading is in crises itself with issues as you have stated, too much ram, windows wrong size, content not working properly. Has been going on quietly for about a month now, but they are working on it.
The new min amount of ram is 16gig. Below has a bad title but it does explain modern browsing : https://www.howtogeek.com/334594/stop-complaining-that-your-browser-uses-lots-of-ram-its-a-good-thing/
fyi: You can always go to Help --> Submit Feedback and it will be reviewed by a panel of experts.
and fyi : you can always move to the Extended Support Release 52.7.4 but will be up to version 60esr by July. Ask and can guide the way for you. It is what Tor, Waterfox and several other browsers are based on.
Happy Surfing ..
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All Replies (12)
Hi, did you follow the directions I gave in that post regarding the check mark in the box to prevent Accessibility Services as well as change the processor numbers ?
Looks like at 1 time you had a wack of add-ons. fyi : each add-on takes about 20megs each give or take.
Is possible have an issue with cache but is most likely that the read/write to the disk is aprox 20gigs a day and more when have a lot of tabs continually refreshing every 20secs or what ever it is.
You might want to change the numbers as this suggests, I did. https://www.servethehome.com/firefox-is-eating-your-ssd-here-is-how-to-fix-it/
There is nothing like a refresh to clear the junk out also. In your case you would want a new Profile or edit most of it.
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/export-firefox-bookmarks-to-backup-or-transfer
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles
Separate Security Issue : please update your Flash 27.0 r0 Flash Player Version: 29.0.0.140 Current Version https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions/ Step 1: Select Operating System Step 2: Select A Version (Firefox, . . . .) Note: Other software is offered in the download. <Windows Only>
Hi, did you follow the directions I gave in that post regarding the check mark in the box to prevent Accessibility Services as well as change the processor numbers ? Looks like at 1 time you had a wack of add-ons. fyi : each add-on takes about 20megs each give or take. Is possible have an issue with cache but is most likely that the read/write to the disk is aprox 20gigs a day and more when have a lot of tabs continually refreshing every 20secs or what ever it is. You might want to change the numbers as this suggests, I did. https://www.servethehome.com/firefox-is-eating-your-ssd-here-is-how-to-fix-it/ There is nothing like a refresh to clear the junk out also. In your case you would want a new Profile or edit most of it. *https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/export-firefox-bookmarks-to-backup-or-transfer *https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles Separate Security Issue : please update your Flash 27.0 r0 Flash Player Version: 29.0.0.140 Current Version https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions/ Step 1: Select Operating System Step 2: Select A Version (Firefox, . . . .) Note: Other software is offered in the download. <Windows Only>
Just to be safe could you give self a scan please : https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/
Just to be safe could you give self a scan please : https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/
You can also look as cor-el pointed out in that post about:memory
Now can not remember think was the 1st one when I scrolled through I found ghost memory when 56.0.4 was released. You can shuffle through the info : https://www.google.com/search?q=firefox+ghost+memory&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b
You can also look as cor-el pointed out in that post about:memory Now can not remember think was the 1st one when I scrolled through I found ghost memory when 56.0.4 was released. You can shuffle through the info : https://www.google.com/search?q=firefox+ghost+memory&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b
paulpinecone said Pkshadow said
Hi, did you follow the directions I gave in that post regarding the check mark in the box to prevent Accessibility Services as well as change the processor numbers ? Looks like at 1 time you had a wack of add-ons. fyi : each add-on takes about 20megs each give or take.
about:support reports Accessibility/Activated = false
I have not previously limited the processors, I will do so now. But I fail to see what this has to do with the bug. It is a sudden growth of the main FF process at some point and corresponding CPU take over.
7 extensions is too many? Do the disabled ones count? At any rate I have been able to reproduce this in safe mode.
Is possible have an issue with cache but is most likely that the read/write to the disk is aprox 20gigs a day and more when have a lot of tabs continually refreshing every 20secs or what ever it is. You might want to change the numbers as this suggests, I did. https://www.servethehome.com/firefox-is-eating-your-ssd-here-is-how-to-fix-it/
I will try that.
There is nothing like a refresh to clear the junk out also. In your case you would want a new Profile or edit most of it.
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/export-firefox-bookmarks-to-backup-or-transfer
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles
Won't refresh wipe my things like my password store and tabs? It would be tough to regenerate that stuff.
Just to be safe could you give self a scan please : https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/
I currently have Sophos running. Is that not sufficient?
You can also look as cor-el pointed out in that post about:memory Now can not remember think was the 1st one when I scrolled through I found ghost memory when 56.0.4 was released. You can shuffle through the info : https://www.google.com/search?q=firefox+ghost+memory&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b
Again, I don't understand how this is relevant to an intermittent bug. The issue isn't that FF bloats over time, it s that at random times, when I am not doing anything heavy to it, it bulks up suddenly and hogs the CPU. I can tell when it's starting because the fan goes into overdrive.
Thanks for the attention!
''paulpinecone [[#question-1216306|said]]'' ''Pkshadow [[#answer-1107995|said]]'' <blockquote> Hi, did you follow the directions I gave in that post regarding the check mark in the box to prevent Accessibility Services as well as change the processor numbers ? Looks like at 1 time you had a wack of add-ons. fyi : each add-on takes about 20megs each give or take. </blockquote> about:support reports Accessibility/Activated = false I have not previously limited the processors, I will do so now. But I fail to see what this has to do with the bug. It is a sudden growth of the main FF process at some point and corresponding CPU take over. 7 extensions is too many? Do the disabled ones count? At any rate I have been able to reproduce this in safe mode. <blockquote> Is possible have an issue with cache but is most likely that the read/write to the disk is aprox 20gigs a day and more when have a lot of tabs continually refreshing every 20secs or what ever it is. You might want to change the numbers as this suggests, I did. https://www.servethehome.com/firefox-is-eating-your-ssd-here-is-how-to-fix-it/ </blockquote> I will try that. <blockquote> There is nothing like a refresh to clear the junk out also. In your case you would want a new Profile or edit most of it. *https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/export-firefox-bookmarks-to-backup-or-transfer *https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles </blockquote> Won't refresh wipe my things like my password store and tabs? It would be tough to regenerate that stuff. <blockquote> Just to be safe could you give self a scan please : https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/ </blockquote> I currently have Sophos running. Is that not sufficient? <blockquote> You can also look as cor-el pointed out in that post about:memory Now can not remember think was the 1st one when I scrolled through I found ghost memory when 56.0.4 was released. You can shuffle through the info : https://www.google.com/search?q=firefox+ghost+memory&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b </blockquote> Again, I don't understand how this is relevant to an intermittent bug. The issue isn't that FF bloats over time, it s that at random times, when I am not doing anything heavy to it, it bulks up suddenly and hogs the CPU. I can tell when it's starting because the fan goes into overdrive. Thanks for the attention!
HI, I was just checking as to what you had tried regarding the post you referenced and that Accessibility was indeed turned off. Processors no harm in playing with them to find the sweet spot for best performance anyways.
7 Extensions - as I have no idea how much ram you have was just pointing out that 20megs each was to be taken into account.
Check and report on : you will try that re ssd URL .
Yes a refresh would wipe all things including the data for the 20 add-ons that are not active at this time. But you are backing up the bookmarks and the Profile which you can open and then copy these for the passwords you need signons.sqlite and key3.db files and insert into the new Profile. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recovering-important-data-from-an-old-profile
Sopho's is a anti-virus program and not a dedicated malware scanner so yes please run https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/
There is no harm in checking about:memory to see what is being used as per ghost memory, but this would be redundant with a refresh.
If can wait till late July Firefox 60 would be out I think and may present a good time to do a reinstall but is up to you as the closest thing to fixing you is that or a refresh I would think.
HI, I was just checking as to what you had tried regarding the post you referenced and that Accessibility was indeed turned off. Processors no harm in playing with them to find the sweet spot for best performance anyways. 7 Extensions - as I have no idea how much ram you have was just pointing out that 20megs each was to be taken into account. Check and report on : you will try that re ssd URL . Yes a refresh would wipe all things including the data for the 20 add-ons that are not active at this time. But you are backing up the bookmarks and the Profile which you can open and then copy these for the passwords you need signons.sqlite and key3.db files and insert into the new Profile. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recovering-important-data-from-an-old-profile Sopho's is a anti-virus program and not a dedicated malware scanner so yes please run https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/ There is no harm in checking about:memory to see what is being used as per ghost memory, but this would be redundant with a refresh. If can wait till late July Firefox 60 would be out I think and may present a good time to do a reinstall but is up to you as the closest thing to fixing you is that or a refresh I would think.
Pkshadow said
Processors no harm in playing with them to find the sweet spot for best performance anyways. Check and report on : you will try that re ssd URL . Sopho's is a anti-virus program and not a dedicated malware scanner so yes please run https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/
Scan with malwarebtyes comes up clean.
I set processes to one and followed the instructions on the ssd URL concerning restore file frequency. Between those two, I haven't seen any problem in several days, so it looks like I'm happy.
I have only two processors and it might be a good change to the FF code to not spawn more processes than the CPU actually has.
Thanks so much for the attention!
''Pkshadow [[#answer-1108184|said]]'' <blockquote> Processors no harm in playing with them to find the sweet spot for best performance anyways. Check and report on : you will try that re ssd URL . Sopho's is a anti-virus program and not a dedicated malware scanner so yes please run https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/ </blockquote> Scan with malwarebtyes comes up clean. I set processes to one and followed the instructions on the ssd URL concerning restore file frequency. Between those two, I haven't seen any problem in several days, so it looks like I'm happy. I have only two processors and it might be a good change to the FF code to not spawn more processes than the CPU actually has. Thanks so much for the attention!
Chosen Solution
Hi, welcome. Glad it has toned down for you to a manageable roar. As Youtube I have been reading is in crises itself with issues as you have stated, too much ram, windows wrong size, content not working properly. Has been going on quietly for about a month now, but they are working on it.
The new min amount of ram is 16gig. Below has a bad title but it does explain modern browsing : https://www.howtogeek.com/334594/stop-complaining-that-your-browser-uses-lots-of-ram-its-a-good-thing/
fyi: You can always go to Help --> Submit Feedback and it will be reviewed by a panel of experts.
and fyi : you can always move to the Extended Support Release 52.7.4 but will be up to version 60esr by July. Ask and can guide the way for you. It is what Tor, Waterfox and several other browsers are based on.
Happy Surfing ..
Hi, welcome. Glad it has toned down for you to a manageable roar. As Youtube I have been reading is in crises itself with issues as you have stated, too much ram, windows wrong size, content not working properly. Has been going on quietly for about a month now, but they are working on it. The new min amount of ram is 16gig. Below has a bad title but it does explain modern browsing : https://www.howtogeek.com/334594/stop-complaining-that-your-browser-uses-lots-of-ram-its-a-good-thing/ fyi: You can always go to Help --> Submit Feedback and it will be reviewed by a panel of experts. and fyi : you can always move to the Extended Support Release 52.7.4 but will be up to version 60esr by July. Ask and can guide the way for you. It is what Tor, Waterfox and several other browsers are based on. Happy Surfing ..
Pkshadow said
Hi, welcome. Glad it has toned down for you to a manageable roar. As Youtube I have been reading is in crises itself with issues as you have stated, too much ram, windows wrong size, content not working properly. Has been going on quietly for about a month now, but they are working on it. The new min amount of ram is 16gig. Below has a bad title but it does explain modern browsing : https://www.howtogeek.com/334594/stop-complaining-that-your-browser-uses-lots-of-ram-its-a-good-thing/
youtube isn't a problem now that I am using one process. 8 GB is sufficient.
I understand that browsers use as much memory as they can, but FF doesn't seem to be as willing to part with it when you fire up something else.
''Pkshadow [[#answer-1109274|said]]'' <blockquote> Hi, welcome. Glad it has toned down for you to a manageable roar. As Youtube I have been reading is in crises itself with issues as you have stated, too much ram, windows wrong size, content not working properly. Has been going on quietly for about a month now, but they are working on it. The new min amount of ram is 16gig. Below has a bad title but it does explain modern browsing : https://www.howtogeek.com/334594/stop-complaining-that-your-browser-uses-lots-of-ram-its-a-good-thing/ </blockquote> youtube isn't a problem now that I am using one process. 8 GB is sufficient. I understand that browsers use as much memory as they can, but FF doesn't seem to be as willing to part with it when you fire up something else.
Uh-oh, it's happening again. This time because I only have one companion process it's not eating my machine, but the Firefox CP Web Content is using 95% of one CPU. This is after several days of quiet behavior. And I wasn't doing anything significant when it happened. Memory is fine.
So how to I track down which tab(s) are sucking so much CPU?
Thanks!
Uh-oh, it's happening again. This time because I only have one companion process it's not eating my machine, but the Firefox CP Web Content is using 95% of one CPU. This is after several days of quiet behavior. And I wasn't doing anything significant when it happened. Memory is fine. So how to I track down which tab(s) are sucking so much CPU? Thanks!
paulpinecone said
So how to I track down which tab(s) are sucking so much CPU?
about:performance
''paulpinecone [[#answer-1110380|said]]'' <blockquote> So how to I track down which tab(s) are sucking so much CPU? </blockquote> about:performance
I know about about:performance. It reports that no tab is taking more than 1% CPU. So where is the CPU going?
I know about about:performance. It reports that no tab is taking more than 1% CPU. So where is the CPU going?
New information:
I created a new profile and started using that. When I had four tabs for a while, the Web Content process suddenly jumped t 80%. After 10 minutes that went away. But it's still spiking around 50% and I'm not doing anything.
Thanks!
New information: I created a new profile and started using that. When I had four tabs for a while, the Web Content process suddenly jumped t 80%. After 10 minutes that went away. But it's still spiking around 50% and I'm not doing anything. Thanks!
Source: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1216306
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