First, Type about:preferences#advanced<enter> in the address bar. Under Advanced, Select Update.

[v56+] Type about:preferences#general<enter> in the address bar. Select Update.

Select Never Check For Updates.

Also turn off Use a background service to install updates

Install Older Version Of Firefox {web link} Be sure to read everything here.

If you still want to downgrade, look under; I still want to downgrade. Click the Directory of other versions and languages link. Look for the directory of the version that you want. But, remember that old versions may have security issues.

You should also check out Firefox; Extended Support Release {web link} ESR Notes System Requirements

How much RAM does that PC have? 4 GB should be enough for 64-bit Firefox 57, so if you are having slowness problems the cause might be elsewhere.

And if you have only 2 GB of RAM, 64-bit Firefox isn't really for that PC.

Rather than switch to an older version of Firefox, try the 32-bit version of Firefox. https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/ 2nd column - Windows 32-bit - then scroll down to English (US)

Reasoning is:

1. Going back one major version to 56.0.2 you would be missing 4 security updates.
2. Switching to the ESR 52 version could present incompatibility issues due to a few major changes to Firefox user data files that happened between 52 and 57. Plus if you are using any extensions "going back" might cause issues, too.

Overall, Firefox 57 was a major, major change to Firefox - a once every 3 to 4 years "watershed" or "turning point" event where reverting to an older version could produce unexpected results.

So IMO, you would be better off spending a bit of time doing some basic troubleshooting, with our help, rather than just "cut and run" to the past.

First step would be to open Help > Troubleshooting Information and then use the Try Safe Mode feature using the Restart with Add-ons Disabled ... button and see what happens. Is there an improvement?

It is possibly the opposite and Firefox 57 should be faster than older version since there has been done a lot of work in that area. What matters more is how much free memory there is available and what other software is running that needs CPU time as well.

Did you check in the Windows Task Manager how much memory is used and how much CPU load?

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-slow-how-make-it-faster
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-uses-too-much-memory-ram

You can create a new profile to test if your current profile is causing the problem.

See "Creating a profile":

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues

If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

Boot the computer in Windows Safe mode with network support to see if that has effect in case security software is causing problems.

• http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/how-to-start-windows-in-safe-mode/
• http://www.7tutorials.com/4-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-10

Hi to every one who responded, cor-el, the-edmeister, FredMcD. It would seem best at this point, based on your recommendations, not to jump too soon to a older version. OK. I do have 4 GB of RAM and it says 3.6 GB usable. So, RAM should not be a issue? I will try some of the recommendations offered, like "What matters more is how much free memory there is available and what other software is running that needs CPU time as well." "You can create a new profile to test if your current profile is causing the problem." "So IMO, you would be better off spending a bit of time doing some basic troubleshooting, with our help, rather than just "cut and run" to the past." I have already tried Windows Safe Mode, and that made no difference in computer performance, cor-el. Give me a little time to do some work on the recommendations offered and I will get back to you. Thank you all.

Keep us posted.

Hi to all, the-edmeister, cor-el, Fred McD. I did look at my Firefox settings. They seem to be what Firefox recommends. I do not want to reset Firefox. I had a bad experience with that! I did check the box for "use hardware acceleration when available" and I will see if that makes any difference? In so far as "Did you check in the Windows Task Manager how much memory is used and how much CPU load?" I did open task manager and went to the performance tab. A lot of the info is Greek to me frankly. But, physical memory shows 45-48%. Memory is at 1.70 GB. CPU usage is a moving target, always changing. Processes, 44, what ever that is? Any input on the data here from anyone? I'm just wondering, and I don't want to make the situation worse than it may be before I go over board with making changes that maybe aren't going to help because my computer is what it is. In other words, my computer has only so much capability and it is not going to be improved by going beyond the normal settings and normal maintenance which I do. (defragging and disk clean up) and my security settings from Microsoft. This is why I show the task manager data, to see if what it is showing is normal for my system according to you much more computer savvy people than me. Oh by the way, the site that gives me the MOST trouble is weatherunderground.com. This site consistently takes FOREVER to load and takes FOREVER to navigate within it. I also keep getting the message "a web site is slowing down your browser" when I try and load that site. Do any of you contributors have the same problem with that specific site? It is my favorite site unfortunately. Any more suggestions or opinions would be appreciated. Thank you.

sciencemagic said

Oh by the way, the site that gives me the MOST trouble is weatherunderground.com. This site consistently takes FOREVER to load and takes FOREVER to navigate within it. I also keep getting the message "a web site is slowing down your browser" when I try and load that site. Do any of you contributors have the same problem with that specific site? It is my favorite site unfortunately.

I don't know if it's the radar maps or maybe some advertising, but users also are reporting that other Weather Channel sites like weather.com have started running poorly in Firefox.

(I use NoScript and I'm blocking 75% of the servers used by the site, so while I do get a little fan noise on some pages, the load time seems fine. This is a pretty extreme measure and most people would not enjoy using NoScript because it requires so much training on what sites to trust.)

sciencemagic said

Oh by the way, the site that gives me the MOST trouble is weatherunderground.com. This site consistently takes FOREVER to load and takes FOREVER to navigate within it. I also keep getting the message "a web site is slowing down your browser" when I try and load that site. Do any of you contributors have the same problem with that specific site? It is my favorite site unfortunately. Any more suggestions or opinions would be appreciated. Thank you.

Windows7 32-bit and only 4 GB of RAM, too.

With Firefox 57.0.3 and the default unmodified Profile (no extensions) weatherunderground.com does seem to load a bit slow, but not unusually slow for all the 'crap' it loads. But when I open a 2nd tab at that website, that drastically changes - real slowdown and 4 additional processes open. Part of that is the advertisements that load from all but the main page of that site.

If you aren't using an ad blocker (uBlock Origin is what I use) 57.0.3 does work better for me. uBlock Origin blocks 9 out of 16 domains that want to load unnecessary (IMO) 'crap' advertisements. And NoScript seems to help even with "scripts globally allowed" which basically nullifies about 90% of what NoScipt does. I just manually block specific domains like google-analytics As Jefferson mentioned, NoScript requires too much attention until you get it "trained". I just use it for cross-site scripting protection (XSS) and ABE protection now-a-days. And use NoScript to block plugins from automatically running.

Hi the-edmeister, and jscher 2000, thank you for the reply. Interestingly, I already have uBlock Origin installed. I did try without it, (weathreunderground suggestion) and it made no difference. I installed, No Script. But, frankly a little confused about the statement made by jscher 2000 concerning that add-on "This is a pretty extreme measure and most people would not enjoy using NoScript because it requires so much training on what sites to trust." Not sure what that meant frankly. But, it seems you both might be advocating it's use? Are you?

I have some questions about managing Firefox. I changed the setting to use hardware acceleration in the FF performance link. But, what should I select for content process limit? There are options there? It currently is set @4

Also, in the FF history link within FF options, what selections do you recommend? There are various selections (boxes) that are offered? Which boxes should I check?

In the cached web content link, there is a option, override automatic cache management. Should I check that box or not? It currently isn't. It says my cache is currently using 341 MB and the limit is set at 350 MB

Finally, in the settings link in FF options, if I click the settings box I see a box that lists "site data". And, many web sites appear to have stored data on my computer. Not sure all what is going on there or what is implied, but should I try and delete some of those sites that I don't use and don't know how they have data on my computer in the first place?

Hopefully, you can be patient and helpful and point me in the right direction within the FF options link and the various categories that are found within it?

NoScript: By default, every single server on the internet is untrusted. You will find most sites do not load or do not work until you use the NoScript button to trust them, and their related servers, and in some cases more related servers. But since I visit potentially untrustworthy sites, it's a must for me.

> what should I select for content process limit?

I suggest leaving it on 4.

> in the FF history link within FF options, what selections do you recommend?

What are your feelings about privacy and tracking vs. convenience? If you select Use custom settings, you can change the time that cookies are stored between:

Keep until: they expire -- more convenient for staying logged in

Keep until: I close Firefox -- less tracking from session to session

Otherwise, keep the default settings.

> In the cached web content link, there is a option, override automatic cache management. Should I check that box or not?

If you don't think you need to change it, don't change it.

> Finally, in the settings link in FF options, if I click the settings box I see a box that lists "site data". And, many web sites appear to have stored data on my computer. Not sure all what is going on there or what is implied, but should I try and delete some of those sites that I don't use and don't know how they have data on my computer in the first place?

Some of these sites have set cookies, other may have used additional storage methods. Unfortunately, there isn't much information here to know exactly what they've stored. You can remove sites you don't trust if you like. Usually whatever they've stored isn't critical.

jscher 2000, thank you for your reply. thank you for some recommendations. But, in the history link there are some options or boxes that I don't know if checking them would help my computers performance or not.

They are: 1- Always use private browsing box, 2- remember my browsing and download load history box, 3- remember search and form history box, 4- accept cookies from web sites box, 5- accept third party cookies, options offered: always, never, from visited, and 6- clear history when FF closes box. Will checking or unchecking any of those boxes help my computer performance in your opinion, jscher?

You made the comment regarding the override automatic cache management box "Should I check that box or not? "If you don't think you need to change it, don't change it. I don't know what override automatic cache management is, and whether I need it or not?

In the site data category, and all those sites that have stored info, I didn't see a way to delete the ones I don't use or need. How can I do that? And, more importantly, is removing any of them, going to improve my computers performance?

I do appreciate your help and again patience. I, being a computer novice, I'm just try to maximize my computers performance.

sciencemagic said

They are: 1- Always use private browsing box, 2- remember my browsing and download load history box, 3- remember search and form history box, 4- accept cookies from web sites box, 5- accept third party cookies, options offered: always, never, from visited, and 6- clear history when FF closes box. Will checking or unchecking any of those boxes help my computer performance in your opinion, jscher?

I'm not sure what you mean by "performance." Do you mean the speed of pages loading as you browse?

Suggestions:

1- Always use private browsing box -- invokes automatic private browsing, which means Firefox never remembers any history. I like having history, and control of individual aspects of history, so I would never check this box.

2- remember my browsing and download load history box -- keep this checked if you prefer to be able to refer to history or carry over your tabs from session to session

3- remember search and form history box -- if you like Firefox to remember history in form fields and the search boc, keep checked, otherwise clear it

4- accept cookies from web sites box -- keep checked for maximum compatibility

5- accept third party cookies, options offered: always, never, from visited -- keep Always for maximum compatibility

6- clear history when FF closes box -- do not check this unless you want o remove some history or cached filed between sessions, and if you do, click Settings and making your selections sparingly -- there is no undo

You made the comment regarding the override automatic cache management box "Should I check that box or not? "If you don't think you need to change it, don't change it. I don't know what override automatic cache management is, and whether I need it or not?

Don't waste your time.

In the site data category, and all those sites that have stored info, I didn't see a way to delete the ones I don't use or need. How can I do that? And, more importantly, is removing any of them, going to improve my computers performance?

There should be a button below the list to remove data for the selected site. This would make nearly no difference for performance because it takes up nearly no space and the site will immediately save more data on your next visit.

Most default settings are chosen for maximum performance and for not breaking websites. If you make changes then this may alter unless you remember the consequences.

You can set network.cookie.thirdparty.sessionOnly to true on the about:config page to make third-party cookies behave as session cookies that expire when Firefox is closed. That way you do not collect that many unnecessary third-party cookies.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/about:config

Let the cookies expire when Firefox is closed to make them session cookies instead of using "Clear history when Firefox closes" to clear the cookies.

• Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security -> "Use custom settings for history" -> Cookies: Keep until: "I close Firefox"

You can create an "Allow" exception to keep specific cookies.

Note that private browsing mode doesn't use the disk cache, so performance is always lesser.

• clearing "Site Preferences" clears exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, and software installation and exception for password and other website specific data
• clearing "Cookies" will remove all selected cookies including cookies with an "Allow" exception you may want to keep

jscher, thank you for your reply. I took your advice and marked the area's as you mentioned. I also will not bother with override automatic cache management and site data as you also mentioned. Not worth it evidently. Thank you for your detailed help and patience, jscher.

coe-el, thank you also for your reply. I took your advice and did your suggestion,"Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security -> "Use custom settings for history" -> Cookies: Keep until: "I close Firefox" and used that option in that category. Your comment "Note that private browsing mode doesn't use the disk cache, so performance is always lesser." I took as checking that box would deteriorate my computers performance, so I will not enable it. Also took your advice on "You can set network.cookie.thirdparty.sessionOnly to true on the about:config page to make third-party cookies behave as session cookies that expire when Firefox is closed. That way you do not collect that many unnecessary third-party cookies. I enabled true in that specific category from what it originally said, which was false. I don't know where you accessed "site preferences" and "cookies" in your comment "clearing "Site Preferences" clears exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, and software installation and exception for password and other website specific data" "clearing "Cookies" will remove all selected cookies including cookies with an "Allow" exception you may want to keep". Is there a category or link where that is found? I really don't how to access site preferences and cookies, cor-el. Can you explain? Thank you, cor-el for your help and patience also.

go to the Firefox 3 Bar Menu --> Options --> Privacy & Security panel and under Permissions check (put a tick in the box) the setting to Prevent Accessibility Services from accessing your browser.

Monitor in Task Manager. Should stay below 2 gigs. If excessive then do below and monitor and change if need to...Test and go up again , go back down, it will eventually get a zone you and it can live with.

Go to the 3 Bar Menu then Options --> General --> Performance and untick everything. change the recommended size lower then see how it runs. Note: 1 = No Multiprocessor = slow again. Try 2 Restart Firefox after making these changes please.

Note : Hardware Acceleration is for Video Card, Monitor to see if remain off or to turn back on.

Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

You can find Site Preferences in two locations. One is the "Clear Recent History" dialog as present in the History menu (Ctrl+Shift+Delete). The other place where it appears is in the "Clear history when Firefox closes" settings as found in "Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security" (Use custom settings for history).

Pkshadow, thank you for your reply. I did follow you suggestion and checked the box: Prevent Accessibility Services from accessing your browser. In relation to unchecking all the boxes in the performance link. I have the Hardware Acceleration box checked. You are advocating I uncheck it. Will clearing the box effect my video viewing, Pkshadow? I will assume a video card has a influence on my video viewing? Please explain. Could you also please explain further your comment "Monitor in Task Manager. Should stay below 2 gigs. If excessive then do below and monitor and change if need to...Test and go up again , go back down, it will eventually get a zone you and it can live with." Is what you are advocating is to insert a lower number in the content process limit box? I currently have a 4 in it. I would appreciate further advice. Thank you, Pkshadow.

cor-el, thank you for your reply also. It would seem clearing any site preferences might not be the thing to do, especially when you advocate to not check the clear history when FF closes box? It just seems at this point, from what I can understand, and I may be wrong, I really don't want to remove certain data from FF? So, I'll leave the site preferences and cookies alone. Should I? Or did I misunderstand your comment, cor-el? Again, thank you for your help and patience.

In relation to unchecking all the boxes in the performance link. I have the Hardware Acceleration box checked. You are advocating I uncheck it. Will clearing the box effect my video viewing, Pkshadow? I will assume a video card has a influence on my video viewing? Please explain.

In order to display things on your screen (videos, but also just normal webpages), Firefox can either use only your CPU (with hardware acceleration turned off) or a combination of your CPU and your video card (with hardware acceleration turned on). Normally, enabling hardware acceleration makes Firefox faster, but occasionally (depending on which video card and CPU you have), hardware acceleration can actually be slower.

The same thing applies to the content process limit - a higher number like 4 is usually faster, but on some computers it can be slower.

I would suggest you try changing both of these settings, and see what happens. If if makes Firefox faster, great! If it doesn't, you can pretty easily change them back to what they were before.

Hi user1929, thank you for your reply. Seems like a lot of ambiguity. I understand your comments though. "Usually hardware acceleration is faster, but also can be slower". And, "usually content process limit is faster with a higher number, but can also be slower." As you state, try both and see what happens. I have noticed since I have made some changes, I now have to log into various web sites, where as before I didn't. Without experimenting on the FF options page, what box do I need to check or uncheck to resume my computer obtaining log in info to my favorite sites? Can you help? Thank you.

I doubt those settings would have any effect on whether websites ask you to log in or not... which website specifically are you having a problem with?