Slow browsers can be torturous. Searching Google and flipping between tabs should never take more than an instant, which is why sluggish browsers are so frustrating. To give your blood pressure a break, we’ve put together this list of factors that could be affecting your browser speed.
How to Improve Browser Speed
The Obvious
If your browser is operating slowly, first consider the obvious things that may be affecting it.
First, make sure you don’t have more than nine tabs open at once. In addition to slowing down your browser, you psychologically can’t process that much information at once. You may think you’re multitasking, but all of those tabs just become a distraction and an impediment to your browser’s performance.
Then, make sure your browser is updated. If auto-updates aren’t enabled, it’s easy to forget that you’re using a slow, outdated version.
Finally, run a virus scan to make sure your browser isn’t running slowly due to a cybersecurity complication. Undetected malware can slow down not only your browser, but also put your personal information in serious jeopardy.
Rid Yourself of Unused Extensions
Browser extensions are some of the biggest hindrances of speed. Removing any extensions you don’t use regularly will most likely bring about immediate results. How-To Geek has a guide that makes it simple to manage your extensions.
Power-Down the Plugins
Since most plugins run automatically, it’s easy to forget they even exist. Certain plugins (especially Flash) serve virtually no purpose. They just slow down your browser and even act as gateways for malware. Set your plugins to click-to-play and they’ll only run when necessary.
Rewrite History
Your browser records a ton of information about the things you’ve viewed online. After a while, all of that data builds up and reduces browser speed.
Periodically clearing your history, cache and cookies should speed up your browser. Keep in mind that the first time you go back to a website after clearing your cache, it may take a little bit longer than usual to load.
Increase Cache Memory
In addition to clearing your cache from time to time, you can also augment its size for better performance. When increasing your browser’s cache size, you choose how much memory to allocate. It’s recommended that you dedicate at least one megabyte for a noticeable increase in browser speed.
Get the DNS in Order
Domain name system (DNS) servers are used to transport data across the Internet. If you optimize your DNS properly, you can ensure that the data your computer sends and receives takes the fastest, most efficient route.
Restore Default Settings
When installing a new program on your computer, it’s possible that you unknowingly give it permission to change your browser’s settings. You may see a slight but noticeable improvement in speed after restoring the default settings on your browser.
You should be able to browse considerably faster after taking the above steps. If you can’t, consider changing to a new web browsing client entirely. We detailed the best features of some of the most secure browsers here!
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