Firefox is a well-liked web browser famous for its fast speed and safety features. People use it on many devices like computers, phones, and tablets. But, some folks have run into a problem where it seems to use a lot of battery. This can be a big headache, especially if you need to use your device a lot without charging. People have seen this issue on different kinds of devices. In this piece, we’ll talk about why this might happen and share some steps to help fix it.
Also see: Brave vs. Chrome in CPU and Power Usage
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Common causes of Firefox battery drain
Let’s first look at some usual reasons why Firefox might be eating up your battery:
- Extensions and add-ons can sometimes cause trouble. They might keep running in the background and use up your battery.
- Firefox checks for updates by itself to keep things up-to-date. This is good for security but might use more battery, especially if there are many updates or they’re big.
- Hardware acceleration makes Firefox run smoother, but it might also make your device use more battery.
- Watching lots of videos or visiting websites with lots of pictures and animations can also use up a lot of battery.
- Using an old version of Firefox might make it run less smoothly, which can also drain your battery.
Linked issue: Twitch and YouTube Causing High CPU Usage on Firefox or Chrome
How to reduce battery usage of Firefox
Knowing what might be causing the problem, here are some ways to make Firefox use less battery:
1. Disabling Firefox automatic background updates
Firefox usually updates itself in the background. This is handy but can use up battery. Here’s how you can change this setting:
- Windows/Mac:
- Click on the three lines and go to “Settings”.
- Find “General” on the left side.
- Look for the “Firefox Updates” section.
- Pick “Check for updates, but let you choose to install them”.
- Make sure “Use a background service to install updates” is not checked.
- Click on the three lines and go to “Settings”.
- Android/iOS: Automatic updates on phones and tablets usually don’t cause battery problems. These updates are done by the system and are similar to how other apps update. They shouldn’t noticeably affect your battery.
Handy guide: How to Restart Firefox Browser Without Losing Tabs
2. Manage extensions and add-ons
Add-ons and extensions can slow down Firefox. Here’s what you can do:
- Windows/Mac: Click the three lines > Click “Add-ons” > Click “Extensions”. Turn off or get rid of any that you don’t really need.
- Android/iOS: Tap the three dots > Tap “Add-ons”. Turn off or delete any that are using a lot of battery.
3. Disable hardware acceleration
You can turn hardware acceleration on or off in Firefox. Here’s how:
- Windows/Mac: Click the three lines > Click “Settings” > Find “General” on the left > Scroll to “Performance” and uncheck “Use recommended performance settings”. Then, uncheck “Use hardware acceleration when available”.
- Android/iOS: On mobile devices, hardware acceleration is usually on by default and managed by the system. It’s not usually the main reason your battery’s running out, as Firefox uses it just like any other app.
Useful tip: How to Reopen Closed Window or Tab in Mozilla Firefox
4. Limit active tabs, especially heavy content websites
Having many tabs open can use more resources, especially if those tabs are full of videos or animations. Here’s how to keep tabs in check:
- Keep an eye on how many tabs you have open and close ones you’re not using.
- There are add-ons that can help you manage tabs better, like pausing them or organizing them into groups.
- Try to stay away from websites with a lot of videos or moving pictures if you’re not really looking at them.
- Avoid leaving tabs open that keep refreshing themselves. This can really eat into your battery. Think about refreshing pages yourself when you need to.
Related resource: How to Bookmark All Tabs in Firefox, Chrome or Edge
5. Limit media autoplay
Stopping videos and audio from playing by themselves can save battery. Here’s how you can do that:
- Windows/Mac: Type “about:config” in the address bar > look for “media.autoplay.default” > change its value to “1” to stop autoplay.
- Android/iOS: The “about:config” page isn’t available on Firefox for Android and iOS. But, you can still pause or stop videos and audio on websites to save battery on your mobile.
6. Update Firefox to the latest version
It’s important to keep Firefox updated for the best performance and security. Here’s how to update:
- Windows/Mac: Click the three lines at the top right to open the menu, then go to “Help” > Click “About Firefox”. Firefox will check for updates and download and install them if they’re available.
- Android/iOS: Go to your app store (Google Play Store or Apple App Store), search for Firefox, and tap “Update” if there’s a new version.
Related concern: Firefox or Chrome keeps opening new tabs on its own, virus?
Solutions from Reddit users regarding Firefox battery drain issue
A thread on Reddit mentioned that Firefox might use a lot of battery on computers. People shared ideas and what they noticed. Many said that turning off the feature to install updates in the background helped save battery. But, this means you might need to update Firefox yourself later. Keeping an eye on what runs in the background is always a good idea. Tips from the Reddit community can be really helpful for fixing software issues.
To conclude
Firefox is famous for being fast and safe, and it works on lots of devices. It’s great because you can add extensions and add-ons, even on your phone. This lets you make your browsing just how you like it. But sometimes, these features can make Firefox use a lot of battery. This happens on laptops and phones alike. Often, this is because of extensions running when they don’t need to, or because of how Firefox checks for updates.
By tweaking some settings, like the ones we talked about, you can make Firefox use less battery. This way, you can have a better time browsing on all your devices.
