Mozilla Firefox is an open-source free web browser. It is common to have many processes open for a single window which enhances the web performance of the users.
But the fact is that some users face issues like slowness or hanging of their computer when they run Firefox. It may also crash its current tabs or any other programs that they want to run.
The reasons could be the configuration of the computer that won’t enable the browser to work with these processes. It is then necessary to disable Firefox multi process and reduce it to one.
According to the reports, disabling Firefox multiple processes can solve the problem. If you have noticed slowness or hanging of desktop/ laptop, you need to read this.
Before discussing the methods, you need to know how to check the multiple processes of Firefox in the Task Manager-
Checking Firefox in Task Manager
- Right Click on the Taskbar
- Select ‘Task Manager’
- Go to ‘Processes’ tab and Click on ‘>’ sign before Firefox
The Firefox multiple processes may vary from users to users. Here it is showing seven different processes for a single desktop app ‘Firefox (7).
- Go to ‘Details’ tab and scroll down
This will show you multiple firefox.exe processes running on the computer.
How to Stop Multiple Instances of Firefox in Task Manager?
To disable several processes created in the Task Manager, you can perform any of the two methods discussed below. Also, you can go with both of them with ease.
Method 1: Set Content Process Limit
It is a very simple process. You need to follow the below points-
Step-By-Step Procedure
- Open ‘Firefox’ browser
- Type ‘about:preferences’ in the address bar
- Press ‘Enter’
On the ‘General’ tab scroll down to ‘Performance’ option
- De-select ‘Use recommended performance settings’
- Set Content process limit value to ‘1’ from its default value
This is the ideal method when you want to choose how many background processes should be running in the background. You can also set the value as per your preferences such as 2 or 3.
Note:
You can select or de-select ‘Use hardware acceleration when available’ for the content process. It won’t consume too much memory.
Remember that setting the limit to 1 (one) could work for most users. But others may complain about Firefox two processes in the Task Manager.
If you have noticed it, you need to read the next method and follow the same.
Method 2: Change the Config Value to False
It is another simple method to change the settings of the browser.
Step-By-Step Procedure
- Open ‘Firefox’ browser
- Type ‘about:config’ on the address bar
- Hit ‘Enter’
It will ask you whether you want to log in or want to stay out.
- Click on ‘I accept the risk’
It will open about:config page on the screen and you need to look for ‘browser.tabs.remote.autostart’ in the list.
Suppose you are running Firefox browser 57 and below, you need to find ‘browser.tabs.remote.autostart.2’ in the list. And, the former context is for latest version along with 58+ versions of the browser.
- Double-click on it to set the Value to false
It’s done. You need to close the browser and reopen it to use it for surfing on the web.
Note:
You must know that changing the config value has solved multi-process problems in almost all cases. It has also solved the problem when users say Firefox won’t open but process is running in the Task Manager.
In case it doesn’t work on your computer, you need to uninstall the browser. Now, reboot the PC, reinstall the browser, follow method 2 and it’s done.
Again, Checking the Firefox in the Task Manager
After completing the methods of disabling Firefox multiple processes, you must check whether it is working or not-
- Right Click on the Taskbar
- Select ‘Task Manager’
- Go to ‘Processes’ tab
The number of processes with the name of the Firefox will not be shown now.
- Go to the ‘Details’ tab and scroll down
This will show you the one-single firefox.exe process running in the computer.
Video Walk through Of the Process
Conclusion
This is all about the methods of disabling multiple background processes of the Mozilla Firefox Internet browser. Once you follow the above-explained steps, you won’t get such problems.
In case you want to roll back to the default settings of Firefox multiple processes, you need to follow the same method and set the default value ‘4’ (may vary with browser versions) in case of Content process limit.
For Method 2, you need to double-click on the ‘browser.tabs.remote.autostart’ in the list and it will be done.
Hope this information has solved all your queries related to several processes that Firefox brings with its installation. In case you have any query, you should feel free to comment us.
These two methods made my Firefox practically instantaneous!
It’s not working in firefox 77
I have tried each of the suggestions above and still have 4 or 5 processes running. I am using 68.9.0esr (32-bit)
browser.tabs.remote.autostart set to false
Content Process Limit set to 1
4-5 processes is the absolute minimum i can ever get. It prefers to have 10+ open. I am happy with 5. <3
I switched to Firefox 77.0.1 run under Windows 7 Professional 32bit. Still no joy in killing multile processes using the above two method together.
Impossible to get a response from Mozilla
I upgraded to Firefox 78.0.1 (32-bit) Windows 7 Professional and still no joy. What is wrong here?
Windows and firefox are so fucking gay. I’ve changed this to false and set limit to1 a million times yet here i am doing it again because computers are gay af. Thank you Jesus Hallelujah! Thank you for this tutorial <3
I have Firefox 97.0.1 – 64 bit and method 1 & 2 did not work for me,and I don’t have the option of changing process limit.
Firefox needs to address this problem, in my opinion thier the best, BUT the multi prosess is killing my comp. would like to see this fixed. i HATE using crome but its all i can use that dont chug up my machine. i dont have the best machine but it should not be so system heavy.
Ditto that Ashley. Makes me nuts. I’ve done both of these multiple times. I guess I’ll try uninstalling, rebooting, and reinstalling. I’m always in Task Manager deleting a few parents and children. Even if I close and open Firefox, almost immediately I have eight or so instances before I’ve even done anything! Just sh_t. – Kay
Excellent post but does not work for FF98. Please update!!!
If you change the value of dom.ipc.processCount, the value of dom.ipc.processCount.webLargeAllocation must be set to that same value as well.
Also, a new feature called “Fission” has been added in release 95 but was disabled by default.
Starting with release 97 it was set automatically to enabled however it may introduce additional problems.
To disable to go about:config and change
fission.autostart -> False
Now restart the browser!
And by the way, changing browser.tabs.remote.autostart was not needed on my setup!
FF100.0.0 does not have the option to change process limit. 13 open jams up and stops everything.
To restore the “Content process limit” option, you need to change both dom.ipc.processCount and dom.ipc.processCount.webLargeAllocation in about:config to the same value!
Once that’s done restart FF and it’s visible again!
Problem_Solver_Extraordinaire
Dude you know your shit. Extraordinary.
Thank you very much.
Without people like you, us FF users are at the mercy of the (seemingly) dick-head authors of FF who seem to go out of their way to fuck with FF users and continually change things (in the name of ‘progress” ?) and in actuality, simply fuck things up and make it had for loyal FF users.
If there was another Browser similar to what FF can do once i fix what is wrong due to what they change, i would be using it & bye-bye FF.
Cheers Mate
I had 13 processes running in task manger, a Libreoffice update wouldn’t run because it said there was too many instances of Firefox running, so I uninstalled Firefox, a search before uninstalling it showed 450mb of files mostly profiles, loaded twice everytime Firrefox was opened.
The laptop is now back to starting up in less than 20 seconds!
Brave browser in now my favorite.
how do you determine which Firefox process to disable?
Using method 1, I do not see “Content process limit” displayed … thus I cannot change its value to 1 :-(. Task manager is presently showing 25 iterations of Firefox. Just a few minutes ago it was showing 32 instances!
Often when opening FF and choosing a destination page to display, it will close down and a few moments later reopen itself.
Help, any ideas how I may fix this?
I am using Firefox 104.0.1 (64-bit)
>If you change the value of dom.ipc.processCount, the value of
>dom.ipc.processCount.webLargeAllocation must be set to that same value as well.
Now called webIsolated instead of webLargeAllocation
Fission.autostart that is mentioned in comments also helps when set to false (see ‘wiki.mozilla.org/Project_Fission’ on what Fission is)
Seems too many processes chokes older machines due to extensive context switching or something