Question:

What is the best way to disable automatic tab discarding in web browsers?

I often open multiple tabs in web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, but I do not switch to them immediately. I notice that the tabs that are not in focus load much slower than the active tab, and sometimes they do not load at all until I click on them. This is very frustrating and inefficient for me.

I understand that this is a feature called “automatic tab discarding” that is supposed to save memory and battery by suspending tabs that are not in use. However, I prefer to have all my tabs load in the background without any delay or interruption. I have searched for a way to turn off this feature, but I could not find any option in the browser settings or the about:config page.

Is there any expert who can advise me on how to disable automatic tab discarding in web browsers? I would appreciate any help or guidance on this issue. Thank you.

Answer:

If you are like me, you probably have dozens of tabs open in your web browser at any given time. You may not need to access all of them right away, but you want them to be ready when you do. However, you may have noticed that some of the tabs that are not in focus seem to load very slowly, or not at all, when you switch to them. This can be annoying and time-consuming, especially if you are working on something important or browsing for information.

This is because of a feature called “automatic tab discarding” that is implemented in most modern web browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. This feature is designed to save memory and battery by suspending tabs that are not in use, and resuming them when you click on them. This can improve the overall performance of your computer and browser, but it can also interfere with your browsing experience and preferences.

Fortunately, there are ways to disable automatic tab discarding in web browsers, or at least customize it to suit your needs. In this article, I will show you how to do that in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, and explain the pros and cons of each method.

How to disable automatic tab discarding in Chrome

Chrome is one of the most popular web browsers, and it has a built-in feature called “Proactive Tab Freeze and Discard” that controls how tabs are discarded. By default, this feature is enabled, and it will discard tabs based on various factors, such as how long they have been inactive, how much memory they consume, and how many tabs are open.

To disable automatic tab discarding in Chrome, follow these steps:

1. Open Chrome and type `chrome://flags` in the address bar.

2. Scroll down to the section named “Proactive Tab Freeze and Discard” and select “Disabled” from the drop-down menu.

3. Click the “Relaunch Now” button to apply the changes.

Alternatively, you can use a Chrome extension called [Disable Automatic Tab Discarding] that will do the same thing for you. Just install the extension from the Chrome Web Store and it will automatically prevent tabs from being discarded.

How to disable automatic tab discarding in Firefox

Firefox is another popular web browser, and it has a similar feature called “Tab Unloading” that will unload tabs that are not in use to save memory. By default, this feature is enabled, and it will unload tabs after 15 minutes of inactivity, unless they have audio playing, a form filled, or a download in progress.

To disable automatic tab discarding in Firefox, follow these steps:

1. Open Firefox and type `about:config` in the address bar.

2. Click the “Accept the Risk and Continue” button to proceed.

3. Search for the preference named `browser.tabs.unloadOnLowMemory` and double-click on it to toggle its value to `false`.

4. Search for the preference named `browser.tabs.disableBackgroundZombification` and double-click on it to toggle its value to `true`.

Alternatively, you can use a Firefox add-on called [Auto Tab Discard] that will give you more control over how tabs are discarded. You can install the add-on from the Firefox Add-ons website and customize its settings to suit your preferences.

How to disable automatic tab discarding in Edge

Edge is the default web browser for Windows 10, and it is based on the same engine as Chrome. Therefore, it also has the same feature called “Proactive Tab Freeze and Discard” that will discard tabs that are not in use. By default, this feature is enabled, and it will discard tabs based on the same factors as Chrome.

To disable automatic tab discarding in Edge, follow these steps:

1. Open Edge and type `edge://flags` in the address bar.

2. Scroll down to the section named “Proactive Tab Freeze and Discard” and select “Disabled” from the drop-down menu.

3. Click the “Restart” button to apply the changes.

Alternatively, you can use the same Chrome extension called [Disable Automatic Tab Discarding] that will work on Edge as well. Just install the extension from the Edge Add-ons website and it will automatically prevent tabs from being discarded.

The benefits and drawbacks of disabling automatic tab discarding

Disabling automatic tab discarding in web browsers can have some benefits and drawbacks, depending on your browsing habits and preferences. Here are some of them:

• Benefits:
• You can access all your tabs instantly, without waiting for them to reload or resume.
• You can avoid losing any data or progress on your tabs, such as forms, downloads, or videos.
• You can have a more consistent and uninterrupted browsing experience, especially if you switch between tabs frequently.
• Drawbacks:
• You may consume more memory and battery on your computer, which can affect its performance and lifespan.
• You may experience more crashes or freezes on your browser, especially if you have many tabs open or low-end hardware.
• You may miss out on some features or updates on your tabs, such as notifications, messages, or live streams.

Conclusion

Automatic tab discarding is a feature that is implemented in most modern web browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. It is designed to save memory and battery by suspending tabs that are not in use, and resuming them when you click on them. However, this feature can also interfere with your browsing experience and preferences, especially if you want to have all your tabs load in the background without any delay or interruption.

In this article, I showed you how to disable automatic tab discarding in web browsers, or at least customize it to suit your needs. I also explained the pros and cons of each method, and the benefits and drawbacks of disabling automatic tab discarding in general.

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hope this article was helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading.