Why is my browser so sluggish? When you scroll through Netflix and wait for it to load, or chop your way down Instagram, the question you’ve undoubtedly yelled a million times goes unanswered.
But what causes a browser to become sluggish? There are a few standard reasons, ranging from outdated software to too many open tabs or extensions, as well as malware.
Fortunately, the majority of these problems can be readily addressed. Let us take a look at some of the major offenders for sluggish surfing and how to fix them.
Reasons why your browser may be sluggish
The first step in resolving your sluggish browser is to figure out what causes the problem. There are numerous reasons for laggier internet browsers, and the majority of sluggish web browsers are probably suffering from one or more of these problems. In addition, more than one problem probably is to blame, reducing your surfing speed even further.
If you keep asking yourself why is my Internet browser so slow, one or more of the following reasons may be to blame:
Malware
When malware infects your device, it might cause stuttering and slow down your browser. The worst part is that you may not even realize you’ve been infected.
Temporary files
Temporary internet files can clog up your browser’s cache, taking up unnecessary space and slowing down your surfing.
Cookies
Cookies, which are small files stored by your browser, can slow down your browser and interfere with its functionality. Using a VPN will stop these cookies from storing and taking up too much room. You should get Surfshark to sort this dilemma.
A lot of open tabs
When you have numerous tabs or at the very least a large number of tabs open in your browser, it can slow down the speed of your surfing experience by utilizing all of your device’s memory.
Pending updates
Browsers usually need to be updated regularly to work correctly, so failing to upgrade the program version might slow down the surfing experience.
A lot of extensions
There are hundreds of helpful browser add-ons available for modern versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome. However, having many of them running simultaneously can severely slow down surfing.
Internet problems
A slow surfing experience is often the result of a poor internet connection.
Is it my browser or the internet that’s taking so long to load?
Let’s see if the problem isn’t caused by your internet connection before we mess with it. For a variety of reasons, your Internet connection may be slow:
- Wi-Fi network problems
- ISP throttling
- Faulty router
- Weak physical connection
Here are some of the most common methods for detecting and repairing a sluggish connection:
- To determine if there’s a problem with your connection, run an online internet speed test. If the speed is normal, there’s probably nothing wrong with your connection.
- Reset your modem and/or router by turning it off and back on again, then waiting a few minutes.
- Adjust the router so that it’s in the same room as your device.
- Change the Wi-Fi band on your computer to see if that solves the problem. Some devices function better with particular frequencies, so this will entail modifying your router’s settings.
- If you are having trouble with Netflix due to a provider outage or issues with your connection, contact them for assistance.
If none of these methods works, the problem may be with your browser. Let’s see how we can make it go faster.