New Firefox Update Improves Performance for Linux Wayland Users
It is extremely frustrating when your computer is too slow. Unfortunately, many Linux users had this issue when browsing with Firefox on devices that use the Wayland display server.
Troubleshooting methods like clearing cookies usually get your web browser running quickly again. But how can this Firefox bug be fixed? And what can you do to prevent browser lag in the future?
What Was the Issue With Firefox on Linux Wayland Devices?
Firefox is usually a responsive and easy-to-use browser. If you noticed that it suddenly seemed to run much slower on your Linux Wayland device, however, you’re not alone. In 2022, a user noticed that an invisible SMIL animation on Firefox was constantly refreshing at 60Hz onLinux devices that used the Wayland display server.
Why Was Firefox Causing Linux Wayland Devices to Lag?
Firefox was slow on Linux Wayland devices because of an unintended SMIL animation. The display server—in this case, Wayland—is responsible for communicating between different parts of your computer and the client application so that a GUI (Graphical User Interface) can be displayed.
In this case, Firefox unintentionally miscommunicated with the Wayland display server and caused it to display a 60Hz animation at all times. Despite the fact that no animation was actually visible on the page, the constant refreshing took up a significant amount of CPU resources and made Firefox run inefficiently.
Install New Firefox Update to Resolve Performance Issues
Recently, Firefox released a patch on March 16, 2023, that completely removes the animation bug that was causing lag (see below). You can resolve this issue on your own Firefox browser byupdating your browser to the latest version. Firefox automatically updates itself by default, but it can sometimes take a day or two for the update to take place.
If you want to upgrade your browser immediately, the best way to go about it is to enter a few simple commands. For example, if you are using an Ubuntu or Debian system, you can type the following commands to update and install all of your packages.
If you prefer to only install the newest version of Firefox, you can easily do that, too. After updating your packages, you can use a command to find the package name of the latest Firefox version and then run a command to install it.
It’s a good practice to keep all of your software updated to the latest versions. You can enjoy all the latest patches when you keep your software updated and may encounter significantly less frustrating bugs as a result.
Use Firefox for Reliable Browsing
Firefox is an incredible web browser. While this recent issue may have driven some Wayland users away from the browser, it’s safe to say that the new patches have helped restore the browser to its former glory. You can try Firefox for yourself by navigating to the Mozilla website and installing the browser on your device.
If Firefox feels slow compared to other web browsers, try these tips to boost its speed and restore its performance.
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