Add-ons provide many useful features and functions, but they can also cause Firefox to become slower. Some add-ons can even slow Firefox to a crawl and make it difficult to use for regular web browsing.
If you think add-ons might be the reason Firefox is lethargic, check the list below for some of the biggest bottlenecks.
Mozilla has released a list of 50 add-ons which have the most impact on how long it takes Firefox to start up:
FoxLingo
Firebug
AniWeather
FlashGot
FoxClocks
FoxyTunes
Video DownloadHelper
FastestFox
Xmarks Sync
SimilarWeb
CoolPreviews
Adblock Plus
RSS Ticker
StumbleUpon
iMacros for Firefox
Yoono
Personas Plus
Flagfox
All-in-One Sidebar
NoScript
DownThemAll!
Feedly
Greasemonkey
SkipScreen
Download YouTube Videos +
Download Statusbar
Web Developer
ColorZilla
Web of Trust
ReloadEvery
AutoPager
Fire.fm
Google Shortcuts
Flash Video Downloader (Youtube Downloader)
VideoSurf Videos at a Glance
Integrated Gmail
ReminderFox
ScrapBook
Ant Video Downloader and Player
WebMail Notifier
FireGestures
Stylish
Read It Later
Facebook Toolbar
Torbutton
FoxyProxy Standard
ImTranslator
Download Manager Tweak
BetterPrivacy
Firefox Sync
More info - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/performance/
Are you using any of above mentioned add-on? Do they really slow down your browser?
This article was posted by VG in following section: Mozilla Firefox.
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sheppi
I'm using Xmarks Sync, AdBlock Plus, Firegestures, Download Statusbar from this "blacklist", but I'm sure, if there is any degrading of starting up, I don't care, because addons are thing, that makes Firefox the best browser for me :) And still, I don't think it's so much important, if Firefox is starting up for 2 or 3 seconds, important is usability
Nelvin
Wow! Didn't think Stumbleupon, FastestFox, and Greasemonkey could slow down Firefox. But it's not that obvious on mine. I have 15 addons and Firefox starts 5 or 6 secs after click.
sheppi
I've just tested, how different is the starting up time with these addons enabled and disabled.
Enabled: 2.68 seconds
Disabled: 1.70 seconds
(these times are only approximate, cause I used "stopwatch" function on my phone :)
So, as you can see, there is some difference, Firefox with these addons enabled is almost about 1 second slower on starting up than Firefox with addons disabled.
Question is, if it's so much, that you will decide to remove your favorites addons :) For me I'm saying "Hell no!" :)
odio
i very like FoxyTunes and i was happy when it back to work on Firefox 4. But now i see it makes 44% more slow i get back the FoxAmp (i used during the Betas, cause the Foxytunes wasn't work). FoxAmp do the basic on music comand but only on winanmp (the only i use on FoxyTunes too)... for peoplo who uses Winamp try FoxAmp, its very soft.
Me
Firefox Sync?! And now, in FF4 it's built-in...
SRV
I use Adblock Plus,WOT,FastestFox and CoolPreviews from the above list.And even if they might slow down Firefox, I prefer having them installed.Add-ons are the reason the world embraced Firefox.Or else I'd rather have Chrome as my default browser (though come to think of it I use Adblock Plus,WOT and FastestChrome in it)!
Jay Itreon
I use Firebug mostly. Why it has been listed in the slow performing add-on. Is there any replacement of Firebug?
SCBright
Is the same advice stated by MS in IE9: add-ons are not good for you.
One of the most attractives features in FF are the add-ons, now we have to exterminate it?
I don't believe so.
wildgoosespeeder
The only add-ons I have enabled and everything else is disabled when using Firefox are Adblock Plus, AVG Safe Search, PDF-XChange Viewer, and Shockwave Flash and still Firefox is slow on startup. IE8 (after some tweaking) is faster for me and I end up using that 99% of the time.
Jaydon
Yes, Torbutton slows down Firefox, but sometimes it's the only way to get around a proxy.