How to Make Firefox Faster on Ubuntu

Surf the Web faster with Firefox in Ubuntu.

According to the Ubuntu website, Internet browsers like Mozilla Firefox typically run faster in Ubuntu than in Windows operating systems like Vista or Windows 7. Fortunately, newer versions of Firefox are already optimized for best performance compared to versions previously used in Ubuntu. That being said, it is possible to tweak Firefox so that it loads faster on Ubuntu, renders pages quicker and minimizes the amount of system RAM or memory it reserves while in use.

Instructions

1. Click on the Ubuntu "Main Menu," hover over "Internet" and then click on "Firefox Web Browser" to open the program.

2. Type "about:config" (without quotes) in the Firefox address bar and then click "Enter." This command opens a configuration page that allows the user to change advanced system settings in Firefox.

3. Speed up page loading/rendering time in Firefox. Right-click anywhere in the "about:config" window, click on "New" and then select "Integer." Name the integer "nglayout.initialpaint.delay" (without quotes). Enter a value of "0" and then click "OK." This tweak decreases the amount of time Firefox waits to render a page from 250 milliseconds to zero.

4. Force Firefox to release reserved system RAM when the browser is minimized. Right-click anywhere in the "about:config" window, click on "New" and then select "Boolean." Name the entry "config.trim_on_minimize" (without quotes). Change the value to "True" and then click "OK." This setting forces Firefox to only reserve about 10 MB of system memory while minimized.

5. Cause Firefox to run automatically when Ubuntu starts. Click on the Ubuntu "Main Menu," hover over "System" and then "Preferences," and then click on "Startup Applications." Click the "Add" button, enter "firefox" (without quotes) as both the Name and Command values, and then click "Add."

6. Close Firefox and restart Ubuntu to enable the changes. Remember, Internet connection speed, available system memory, processor (CPU) speed, operating system version, hard drive capacity and Internet browsing habits all affect the way any browser performs.

Tips & Warnings

• Altering advanced configuration settings in Firefox can cause Ubuntu to hang or crash if the tweaks are performed incorrectly. Write down the original configuration settings so you can revert to them if the changes you make cause problems.

References

• Ubuntu Documentation: Web Browsing With Firefox
• CNET TV: Quick Tips to Speed Up Firefox

Resources

• Mozilla: Firefox Support