Web browsers are an essential part of our daily lives. From checking email and social media to streaming movies, we rely on these tools quite heavily. So when your web browser starts to act slow and sluggish, you notice it.Â
But what is causing your web browser to run slowly? There are actually a few reasons that could be to blame. As you will soon learn, it doesn’t take much to slow down your web browser. Fortunately, you can help restore its speed by following some helpful tips.
Complexity
Modern websites are much more complex than they used to be. On average, you’ll find a host of advanced graphics, interactive components, notifications, and pop-ups. Not only that but there are more processes running in the background, too.
Things like tracking, advertising, and analytical data further help to cause web browsers to run slower. All of these factors require more system resources than ever, so it’s not just your web browser that might be at fault.
Older computers often struggle to keep up with everything newer websites throw at them, making it hard to have a good experience with your web browser.
Open Tabs
With so many things see and do online, it’s easy to keep several tabs open at once. But when you do this, it results in your system needing to tap into more resources. As such, you may notice your web browser taking a hit in the performance department.
Specifically, more RAM is needed to ensure that each tab displays and acts optimally. You can always check to see exactly how much memory is being used at any given time. Windows users simply need to navigate to the Task Manager to check on their web browser’s usage, while macOS users need to open Activity Monitor.
The good news is that most web browsers aren’t affected by high RAM usage. It’s only a problem if your browser runs out of available RAM. When this happens, it will rely on your computer’s hard drive to keep things running. This experience is often not very smooth and rather slow.
Extensions
Just like your computer’s operating system, overloading your web browser with add-ons and extensions can cause it to run slow. It’s therefore a good idea to routinely check your web browser extensions to see what you’re actually using.
Anything that’s only serving to take up space should likely be cut loose to ensure optimal performance. The more extensions you have active, the more system resources are needed.
Granted, there are some web extensions that are designed to improve your browser performance. But if there are other extensions loading down your web browser, they can affect the function of the extension you need to keep your browser running smoothly.
Go through and see what extensions you really need and get rid of anything you don’t. Do this regularly to make sure you haven’t accumulated new ones you don’t really need.
Outdated System
If your computer is older and lacking essential RAM, there’s a good chance that many websites simply won’t function as well as they should. As a result, your web browser will suffer, and so will your user experience.
Websites are becoming increasingly complex. So whether you have a factory or custom-built computer, you need one that can keep up with the demands of modern internet usage. As such, you may need to upgrade your computer or buy a new one to resolve the sluggish online experience you’re encountering.Â
There are even some newer laptops that are grossly underpowered, such as Chromebooks and the like. If your system is overloaded with files and apps, you could be seeing noticeable slowdown and performance issues as a result.
How to Improve Your Web Browsing Experience
Fortunately, there are things you can do to improve your online experience. Understandably, not everyone is in a position to invest in a new computer. If you’re finding that streaming video is to taxing on your system, consider downloading YouTube videos directly to your computer.
Perhaps the most effective action you can take is to clear your system’s cache files. While cache files are designed to make your web experience faster and smoother, too many of them can lead to slow browsing. Â
If you’re using a Mac and your cache has become too full, it’s important that you clean it up to help improve performance. Over time, cache files can become outdated, slowing down your web browser.
The same is true for Windows users. Always check your web browser cache to see whether it needs to be cleaned. In doing so, you may be able to significantly improve your web browsing experience.
