Firefox is one of the most privacy-focused, customisable browsers available — but over time, it can start to feel sluggish. Whether you’re running it on Windows 10 or the latest Windows 11, performance slowdowns are frustrating but almost always fixable.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through 10 proven methods to speed up Firefox in 2025 — no technical expertise required. Most of these fixes take under five minutes.

Why Is Firefox Running Slow?

Firefox can slow down for several reasons. The most common culprits include:

• Too many browser extensions and add-ons consuming memory
• A bloated cache, cookies, and browsing history
• An outdated version of Firefox missing performance patches
• Hardware acceleration being disabled
• Telemetry and data collection running in the background
• Too many tabs open simultaneously

The good news: all of these are fixable. Let’s go through the 10 best methods to make Firefox faster right now.

10 Ways to Speed Up Firefox Browser and Boost Performance

Method 1: Update Firefox to the Latest Version

Running an outdated version of Firefox is one of the most overlooked causes of slow performance. Mozilla regularly releases updates that include bug fixes, security patches, and speed improvements.

How to update Firefox:

1. Click the Menu button (three lines, top right) and hover over Help.
2. Select About Firefox from the dropdown.
3. Firefox will automatically check for and download any available updates.
4. Click Restart to Update Firefox once the download completes.

Keeping Firefox up to date ensures you benefit from the latest performance optimisations and security improvements.

Method 2: Enable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration offloads graphical tasks from your CPU to your GPU, resulting in smoother, faster browsing — especially on media-rich pages.

How to enable hardware acceleration:

1. Type about:preferences in the address bar and press Enter.
2. Scroll down to the Performance section under the General tab.
3. Uncheck “Use recommended performance settings”.
4. Check “Use hardware acceleration when available”.
5. Restart Firefox and check whether browsing feels faster.

Tip: If your PC has more than 8GB of RAM, you can also increase the Content Process Limit for improved multi-tab performance.

Method 3: Clear Cache, Cookies, and Browsing History

Over time, your browser accumulates a large amount of cached data. While some of this speeds up page loads, excessive cache build-up can actually slow things down.

How to clear cache and cookies:

1. Click the Menu button and select Settings.
2. Go to Privacy & Security and scroll to Cookies and Site Data.
3. Click Clear Data, tick both options, and confirm.
4. Scroll to the History section and click Clear History.
5. Select the time range and items to delete, then click Clear Now.

Make this a regular habit — clearing your browser data every few weeks keeps Firefox running at its best.

Method 4: Disable Unused Add-ons and Extensions

Every extension you install consumes memory and processing power. Third-party add-ons in particular can significantly drag down browser performance, especially if they’re running background processes.

How to manage extensions:

1. Click the Menu button and select Add-ons and Themes.
2. Go to the Extensions tab.
3. Disable or remove any extensions you no longer use — especially those from unknown developers.

A good rule: if you haven’t used an extension in the past month, disable it. You can always re-enable it later.

Method 5: Manage Your Open Tabs

Each open tab consumes a portion of your system’s RAM. If you regularly have dozens of tabs open, Firefox will struggle — particularly on machines with limited memory.

Solutions:

• Close tabs you’re not actively using.
• Install an extension like Auto Tab Discard to automatically suspend inactive tabs, freeing up memory without losing your place.
• Use Firefox’s built-in Bookmarks or Pocket to save pages for later reading instead of keeping them open.

Method 6: Minimise Memory Usage via About:Memory

Firefox has a built-in memory management page that lets you force the browser to free up unused RAM instantly.

How to minimise memory usage:

1. Type about:memory in the address bar and press Enter.
2. Under the Free Memory section, click Minimise Memory Usage.

This won’t permanently fix a slow browser, but it’s a quick way to reclaim RAM if Firefox has been running for a long time.

Method 7: Turn Off Accessibility Services

Accessibility services in Firefox can sometimes cause noticeable slowdowns, particularly on Windows. If you don’t rely on screen readers or similar assistive tools, disabling this setting can improve performance.

How to disable accessibility services:

1. Open the Menu and go to Settings.
2. Navigate to Privacy & Security and scroll to the Permissions section.
3. Tick “Prevent accessibility services from accessing your browser”.
4. Restart Firefox to apply the change.

Method 8: Disable Firefox Telemetry and Data Collection

Firefox collects anonymous usage data by default to help Mozilla improve the browser. While this is well-intentioned, it runs background processes that consume system resources. Disabling it can give you a small but noticeable speed boost.

How to disable data collection:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
2. Scroll to the Firefox Data Collection and Use section.
3. Uncheck all options in this section.
4. Restart Firefox.

Method 9: Tweak Advanced Configuration Settings (about:config)

Firefox’s advanced configuration page gives you access to dozens of hidden performance settings. These tweaks disable unnecessary background processes, animations, and telemetry pings that contribute to sluggishness.

Important: Be careful on this page — only change the specific settings listed below.

How to access about:config:

1. Type about:config in the address bar and press Enter.
2. Click “Accept the Risk and Continue”.
3. Use the search bar at the top to find each setting below, then double-click to toggle or edit its value.

Recommended changes for better Firefox performance:

• Set browser.download.animateNotifications → false
• Set security.dialog_enable_delay → 0
• Set network.prefetch-next → false
• Set browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.feeds.telemetry → false
• Set browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.telemetry → false
• Set browser.ping-centre.telemetry → false
• Set toolkit.telemetry.archive.enabled → false
• Set toolkit.telemetry.bhrPing.enabled → false
• Set toolkit.telemetry.enabled → false
• Set toolkit.telemetry.firstShutdownPing.enabled → false
• Set toolkit.telemetry.newProfilePing.enabled → false
• Set toolkit.telemetry.reportingpolicy.firstRun → false
• Set toolkit.telemetry.shutdownPingSender.enabled → false
• Set toolkit.telemetry.unified → false
• Set toolkit.telemetry.updatePing.enabled → false

After making these changes, restart Firefox. Most users notice a meaningful improvement in responsiveness.

Method 10: Refresh Firefox to Factory Defaults

If none of the above methods have resolved the slowdown, refreshing Firefox will restore it to its default settings without requiring a full reinstall. This removes any customisations or corrupted preferences that may be causing problems.

Important: Refreshing Firefox will remove your extensions and some customisations, but it will keep your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history.

How to refresh Firefox:

1. Type about:support in the address bar and press Enter.
2. Find the “Give Firefox a tune up” section and click Refresh Firefox.
3. Confirm by clicking Refresh Firefox again in the pop-up window.
4. Firefox will restart and return to its default state.

After refreshing, we recommend returning to Method 9 and re-applying the advanced config tweaks for maximum performance.

Bonus Tip: Make Sure Your Windows Is Running Optimally Too

Browser performance doesn’t exist in isolation — it’s directly affected by how well your underlying operating system is running. If you’re still using an older version of Windows, upgrading can have a significant impact on overall system responsiveness, including how fast your browser loads and processes pages.

• Windows 10 licences — A stable, well-supported platform for everyday browsing and productivity
• Windows 11 licences — Microsoft’s latest OS with improved memory management, DirectStorage, and faster boot times

If you want the full experience from your hardware, pairing Firefox with a genuine Windows 11 Pro licence ensures your system runs efficiently from the ground up. You can also explore our full range of Windows licences at Wincdkey for competitive pricing and instant delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Firefox so slow on Windows 11?

Firefox can run slowly on Windows 11 due to hardware acceleration being disabled, too many extensions installed, or a build-up of cached data. Follow Methods 2, 3, and 4 above to address the most common causes.

Does clearing cache speed up Firefox?

Yes. Clearing your cache, cookies, and browsing history removes bloated stored data that can slow down page loading and rendering — particularly on older machines or those with limited RAM.

Should I use about:config to speed up Firefox?

Yes, but with care. The settings outlined in Method 9 are widely used and safe for most users. Avoid changing any other settings on the about:config page unless you know exactly what they do.

Will refreshing Firefox delete my bookmarks?

No. Refreshing Firefox preserves your bookmarks, saved passwords, and browsing history. It removes extensions, themes, and customised preferences, but these can be reinstalled afterwards.

Does Windows 11 make browsing faster?

Windows 11 includes several under-the-hood improvements — including better memory management and faster storage access — that can contribute to a smoother browsing experience. You can grab a Windows 11 Pro licence at Wincdkey for instant digital delivery.

Final Thoughts

A slow Firefox browser is almost always fixable. Start with the quick wins — updating Firefox, clearing your cache, and disabling unused extensions — then work through the more advanced options like hardware acceleration and about:config tweaks if needed.

If your sluggish browsing experience is actually rooted in an ageing operating system, it may be time to consider an upgrade. Browse our full range of genuine Windows 11 licences and Windows 10 licences at Wincdkey — all delivered instantly by email with full installation and activation support.

Have questions? Visit our Help & Support Centre or check the FAQs page for quick answers.