How long do the pages load in the browser? Do not rush to sin on the slow Internet, because in 90% of cases the problem is on the side of the user. If you are also faced with this, it is worth spending 1 hour of your time to find out what is the reason and increase the speed of loading sites. Let's get started.
Reason # 1: the cache is full
Surely, everyone was faced with when the newly installed browser “flies”, but after a few weeks it starts to glitch and freeze, everything is slowly loading and working is practically impossible. Why it happens?
When you use the Internet, all information about the sites you visited and your actions are stored. Over time, data takes up more space and slows down the browser.
Decision
Clearing all temporary files - cache, archive of visited sites and downloads, as well as cookies. History can be opened through the control panel or using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + H (History). Click "Clear History", select the options you need and confirm the action.
Reason # 2: extensions and toolbars
Another option why the pages load for a long time is a large number of additional applications and toolbars built into the browser. In practice, almost no one uses them, that is, these add-ons simply take up space and consume traffic.
Decision
Go to the extensions menu and delete everything except the most necessary. First of all, you need to get rid of everything that ends with -toolbar, -bar, etc. We recommend that you leave AdBlock - an ad blocker.
The same situation with plugins. To see them, type about: plugins or "browser name: plugins" in the address bar (for example, opera: plugins). What should be left?
- Native Client
- Adobe Flash Player
- Google Update
- Java
- Shockwave Flash;
- QuickTime and VLC Web Plugin, if you watch the video on different sites;
- Adobe Acrobat and Chrome PDF Viewer, if you often view PDF documents in a browser.
Everything else is deleted or disabled, after which it is necessary to restart the program.
Please note: in some browsers (in particular, "Opera" sins this) in the list the same plug-in can occur several times. In this case, you need to leave only the latest version.
Reason # 3: out of system disk space
It is imperative that C always has at least 10% free space, and ideally a few gigabytes. If it is full, the computer inevitably begins to "hang". Often, the browser loads slowly for this reason, the system simply does not have enough space to process all temporary files and operations.
Decision
If the hard disk is divided into sectors, transfer part of the information from disk C to another, for example D. Photos, music, videos and various documents can take up a lot of space, so you should start with them.
If there are no free disks, uninstall programs and files that you don’t use. Alternatively, some documents can be transferred to the cloud storage (for example, Google Drive or Yandex.Disk) or sent to a USB flash drive.
Reason # 4: antivirus scans pages for a long time
Modern programs scan the sites you visit in live mode. That is, first, the antivirus analyzes the page that you want to open, and only if everything is in order, gives permission to continue downloading and displaying information.
Decision
If the pages in the browser are loaded for a long time, it’s worth trying temporarily disabling protection. Sometimes it helps. In this case, you will most likely have to set a lower level of protection in the settings or choose a different antivirus.
Reason # 5: background apps
Most users do not even pay attention to what programs and services are running in the background. However, it is they who can sort out a significant part of the traffic. One of the most powerful “vampires” is everyone’s favorite torrent clients (as soon as you download the file, it starts to be distributed from your computer, which can seriously reduce the speed of the Internet).
Decision
Go to "Task Manager"> "Startup" and look at the list of applications that automatically start when you turn on the PC. It is advisable to disable everything except system programs that are responsible for the operation of speakers, touchpad, etc.
Reason # 6: high hard disk load
A fairly common reason for the browser to slow down. The fact is that the information is written to the hard drive unevenly, that is, the beginning of some file may be located at the edge of the disk, the other part is somewhere in the middle, and the end is not far from the beginning. This is called fragmentation. Why is it dangerous? Instead of sliding quietly, the head constantly “jumps” from side to side. In addition, your disk makes several times more revolutions, slowing down the entire system.
Decision
Defragment (force ordering the physical location of information on the hard drive). To do this, go to "Start"> "Accessories"> "System Tools"> "Disk Defragmenter." Run the program and wait until the rewriting of information. As a result, not only the browser, but the computer as a whole will start working faster.
Reason # 7: browser settings
Some modern browsers have built-in options that, on the one hand, make the network more comfortable, and on the other, lead to the fact that you have pages loaded in the browser for a long time. A striking example is the prediction of network actions in Google Chrome.
Decision
Open your browser settings and disable these features. For example, the prediction of actions is in the "Advanced Settings" on the "Privacy" tab. If the problem persists, it is recommended that you re-enable all functions.
Reason # 8: viruses
If the Internet loads for a long time, common viruses can also be the cause - malicious programs that somehow got onto your computer.
Decision
Scan your system for virus and spyware. It is best to use several programs - regular antivirus (Kaspersky Anti- Virus, AVAST, AVG, McAffee, etc.), as well as special scanner applications. The most popular are Dr.Web, Malwarebytes, HitmanPro and SpyHunter.
Tip: it’s best to check in safe mode Windows (with support for network drivers). To do this, when you boot the computer, immediately press the F8 key and select the appropriate item. After the scan is completed and the infected files are deleted, you must restart the PC again to return to normal mode.
Reason # 8: obsolete equipment
What if the browser is still loading slowly? If no attempts to “stir up” it are successful, most likely you just have a weak computer. Every year, sites use increasingly sophisticated technologies, which obsolete equipment can cope with with difficulty.
Decision
Of course, ideally, it is worth at least partially updating the equipment, for example, buying more powerful RAM. However, such an opportunity is not always available. In this case, you can try installing an older version of the browser, as a rule, they consume less resources (for example, Opera 10 "eats" 1.5 times more RAM than Opera 9). True, you have to come to terms with the fact that some sites are displayed incorrectly.
Useful programs
In the end, we’ll talk about several applications that will help you understand why pages in the browser take a long time to load and solve the problem.
- Speedtest.net. An online service for analyzing the speed of your Internet connection - you just need to click the "Start Scan" button. If the connection speed is low and does not correspond to your contract with the provider, you need to deal with the company that provides access.
- CCleaner. The most popular program for cleaning garbage on a PC. The application automatically solves problems in the system, deletes temporary files and memory dumps and fixes registry errors. Here you can select programs for startup.
- Active Speed. A special program designed to speed up the browser. Allows you to quickly clear your history and cache, find out the speed of the Internet and optimize your Internet connection. In the settings there are many useful features and "chips." For example, there are additional opportunities for improving the operation of online applications (useful if the game is loading for a long time).
For stable and fast browser operation, it is extremely important to regularly clean the program and PC. It is recommended that you clear history and cache, as well as defragmentation to automatic mode (the optimal frequency is 1 time per week).