05-30-2023, 12:42 PM
I have an update about the Firefox memory leak. Version 112.0.1 introduced a memory leak bug that only happens under certain conditions: You have an animated theme active and the browser is minimized. I never use anything but the standard theme so this didn't seem to apply to me.
Upon further investigation is was suggested that I may have a corrupt profile. Creating a new profile seems to have corrected the leak I am having. Here is how to create a new profile in Firefox:
- First, back up your bookmarks: Bookmarks -> Manage Bookmarks -> Import and Backup -> Backup
- If you have many extension loaded take a screen shot of them so you have a list to reference when reinstalling them into the new profile.
- Create a new shortcut on your desktop with the following string in the location of the item box:
- "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -ProfileManager
- Call the new shortcut "FireFox Profile Manager
- Use the new shortcut to start the profile manager
- Click on Create Profile (a new profile named Default User will be created. Use as-is or rename it if you like)
- Click on Default User in the list (or what you renamed it to) and then click on Start Firefox
Firefox will now start as if it were just freshly installed. You'll need to go through the settings and change them to your preferences and add the extensions you use again (refer to your screen shot to remember which ones).
To load your bookmarks back in:
- Bookmarks -> Manage Bookmarks -> Import and Backup -> Restore -> Choose file...
- Browse to the file you previously saved your bookmarks to
Creating a new profile has also greatly reduced the memory footprint Firefox uses on my system when first started.
If you decide you want to use your old profile again simply start the Firefox Profile Manager using the shortcut you created and choose your old profile from the list.
Upon further investigation is was suggested that I may have a corrupt profile. Creating a new profile seems to have corrected the leak I am having. Here is how to create a new profile in Firefox:
- First, back up your bookmarks: Bookmarks -> Manage Bookmarks -> Import and Backup -> Backup
- If you have many extension loaded take a screen shot of them so you have a list to reference when reinstalling them into the new profile.
- Create a new shortcut on your desktop with the following string in the location of the item box:
- "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -ProfileManager
- Call the new shortcut "FireFox Profile Manager
- Use the new shortcut to start the profile manager
- Click on Create Profile (a new profile named Default User will be created. Use as-is or rename it if you like)
- Click on Default User in the list (or what you renamed it to) and then click on Start Firefox
Firefox will now start as if it were just freshly installed. You'll need to go through the settings and change them to your preferences and add the extensions you use again (refer to your screen shot to remember which ones).
To load your bookmarks back in:
- Bookmarks -> Manage Bookmarks -> Import and Backup -> Restore -> Choose file...
- Browse to the file you previously saved your bookmarks to
Creating a new profile has also greatly reduced the memory footprint Firefox uses on my system when first started.
If you decide you want to use your old profile again simply start the Firefox Profile Manager using the shortcut you created and choose your old profile from the list.