Fix Firefox unresponsive script warnings
Ever since I upgraded to Firefox 1.5, I’ve been getting some unresponsive script warnings on sites that employ heavy Javascript like Gmail or Bloglines. Curious about it, I dug around and managed to find out how to fix the problem.
To fix it, you’ll need to access the hidden configuration page in Firefox. Just type about:config in the address bar and you’ll get a page full of hidden configurations which you can tweak till your heart’s delight.
In the ‘Filter’ box, type dom.max_script_run_time. This will narrow the options till only the dom.max_script_run_time option remains. Right-click it and choose Modify. A box pops up. Change the number to something bigger like 20. This is the maximum time a script can run before Firefox considers it ‘unresponsive’.
If you can’t find the string in the about:config page, create it by right-clicking anywhere and then choose New—> Integer and enter dom.max_script_run_time. When prompted for the value, use 20.
So far I’ve not had anymore unresponsive script warnings, so I guessed that fixed that problem! However some extensions may also cause similar problems. Hope this helps.
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This entry was posted on Saturday, January 7th, 2006 at 7:43 am and is filed under How To, Tech & Internet, Tips & Tricks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
January 10th, 2006 at 11:05 am
Thank yoou for the best fix I’ve found for this problem. Very well explained.
January 13th, 2006 at 1:57 pm
I’ve had the same problem, but even when sites don’t have any javaScript running. It usually occurs when the browser is left for a little while.
Might be a mac problem amd hopefully this fix will sort it
January 14th, 2006 at 6:02 am
mijlee, actually Firefox has a problem with how it handles memory. it slowly eats up more and more memory till it becomes unresponsive. i think that’s what you’re experiencing. the simplest way is to restart Firefox every once in a while. the session saver extension may come in handy here.
January 17th, 2006 at 4:55 pm
Thank you, this is a really useful tip. That ‘unresponsive’ warning is so disagreeable…
January 30th, 2006 at 1:48 pm
this made me feel smart!
very few things online make me feel smart. Thanks so much.
February 1st, 2006 at 10:35 am
Using Firefox, had Unresponsive Script popping up when on Yahoo site. Your suggestion seems to solve the problem. Many thanks. I just wonder why Firefox memory-use increases from say 26K to over 120K while having open several web sites. To release the RAM I use Free RAM XP Pro, a fee to download, and it does the job releasing memory before the system crushes.
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Thank you!!
September 8th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
This also works for K-Meleon too…not just Firefox.
March 12th, 2009 at 3:58 am
What i doing? Firefox have unrensposive script and not responding. Please halp me.
Script: http://mail.yimg.com/d/combo?/pim/r/dclient/cg1277_29/js/us/strings.js&/pim/r/dclient/cg1277_29/js/main/main.js&/bc/bc_2.0.4.js:489
March 29th, 2009 at 4:24 am
I get this warning when I first start Firefox. I click to start the browser, then after a few seconds I get ththe unresponsive script warnings. Anyone have a clue how to fix same?
March 29th, 2009 at 4:56 am
Well I corrected the problem. It apparently was the ‘Java Quick Start’ that wasn’t functioning. Disabled it and now I get no warning. Yippee!!! Installed by the Java program itself. FYI
September 8th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Many thanks. I looked at about 10 other sites before I found this solution. Should have known it would be in about:config but its years since I last messed around in there.
October 1st, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I use Sunbelt Personal Firewall and the problem was Ad Blocking – Popups. I disabled Popups under the Web ribbon and the scripts ran fine.
I was noticing the warnings using facebook and huffingtonpost.com