Twitter slow in Firefox

Version 3.0.4 and Ontario , Canada

I'm running v. 3.0.4 and I'm in Atlanta, GA. I don't notice the problem as much on my higher-power work computer, so I'm wondering if it's processor or memory-related with regards to Firefox. Home laptop=PIII, 512MB, work=P4, probably 1GB.

well, I'm running a P4 and 1gb on my home computer so I doubt that's it. Don't have the problem on my laptop though which has less and is running IE.

Can we get some input from Twitter on this? It's frustrating that we have to use an external client to get any decent speed.

I have this issue myself. I am using a Legacy G4 Mac Gigibit Model, running dual 450 G4's and OSX 10.3.9. I use Firefox 2 (because firefox 3 doesn't run on 10.3), and the latest update of Flash that works with OSX 10.3 and Firefox 2 (i forget which edition it is, but I know its not the latest version). I believe the issue has to do with the Flash components, because Flash is sloooowww on every page, not just with the Twitter Interface. All movies and such are extremely slow. I would use Safari to view Twitter, but that is even worse...

Do you get the same slowness when you use the mobile version of the site at http://m.twitter.com ?

Also, when you say it's slow, do you mean even loading the page is slow? Or is it only the typing of a new message (as nikon6 stated above) that is slow?

If it's just typing, is it also slow to type a new message when you're in the direct messages page at http://twitter.com/direct_messages ?

in response to mdy - the slowness does not appear on either the mobile version nor the direct_messages page. The slowness is only on the main (normal) twitter pages. And the slowness is only when typing, not when loading or viewing the pages.

I'm experiencing this same problem here on my Windows XP computer, but I don't recall experiencing it on my Mac OS X 10.4 computers, running the same version of Firefox. Perhaps that has something to do with it?

Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.0.5) Gecko/2008120122 Firefox/3.0.5

I have this problem too, but only on my office PC (Windows XP, Firefox 3.0.5). It works fine on my home laptop (Windoes Vista, Firefox 3.0.5). On the office PC, I can get Twitter to work properly if I disable Javascript. That's an inconvenience because most of my work programs require JS to be enabled. I don't know anything about JS, but I wonder if the real-time virus/spyware protection we use on our network computers here at work might be interfering. That's the only thing I can think of. All other settings are the same.

Ah, sorry. It's been a while since I read and re-read the entire thread.

OK, I think I found it. I used Adblock Plus to block the script http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/... on the page. The counter disappeared, of course, but no more slowdown. Perhaps it's a problem with that Google API?

2nihon, you rock! This is just a stopgap though, and should really be fixed... but at least Twitter is now usable for me again.

I wonder if it would be possible to make a Greasemonkey script to swap the Google API counter out with a working one? I tested textareas with counters on other sites and they seemed to be working just fine.

It would also be nice if an employee actually chimed in here, at least let us know they are aware of the issue.

I've got exactly the same problem on my work PC (a Dell XT tablet) but all is well on my home desktop (higher-powered machine, of course). Problem isn't there with Chrome or IE. I'll try the workaround here--thanks. I do hope Twitter employees (they do have some, yes?) will work on this issue and comment here!

I have this problem too. Disabling and uninstalling adblock plus did nothing to solve the painfully slow javascript counter.

I don't know where the problem lies, but at this point i'm inclined to blame twitter/google api since i've tried a lot of solutions.

I can't believe that no one from Twitter has entered the conversation yet. The help ticket I submitted 8 days ago is still waiting to be assigned to someone.

@2nihon, to your knowledge is there a way to block that set of API's *only* on Twiiter? They seemed to be used all *over* the place, and disabling them interferes with a ton of functionality out there, yet Twitter is the only place (might be the only place using that counter) that seems to be having a problem.

They updated the Jquery version, now you have to block /jquery/1.3.0/jquery.min.js:

http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/...

Just chiming in to this thread. I have the same issue with the slow typing on Twitter.com's main text entry field, but http://m.twitter.com and DMs work just fine.

I'm running Windows XP Pro SP3 with Firefox 3.0.5.

I hope Twitter addresses this issue soon.

Well I may have found either the same problem, or another issue. It seems that tonight, I started getting error messages from Firefox 2. It seem sthe errors are happening while Twitter is attempting to connect to Google Analytics. I tried some other pages I know that use the new Google Analytics code, and everything seems to work with those sites. I didn't do a source view of the page, but is it possible that Twitter is still using the old Google Analytics code? (See Images Below).

Again, using Mac G4 Gigabit Model, running OSX 10.3.9, using Firefox 2.0. Also, this error and slow typing only occurs on the standard pages, not the DM page or the mobile versions.





Where are Twitter Developers on this issue? Why does Twitter push us to get satisfaction for troubles if they are not going to actively monitor or respond to these issues?

I have also noticed this error connecting to the following url in twitter (while loading the main page). The error occurs when the section showing what your latest post was (under the text field/send button).

I have the same issue - slow typing with firefox 3.06, windows xp.

IE works fine.

One thing I do is just copy and paste my message when using ff (write it in notepad or word then copy and paste)

I have just tried out twitter with Camino. The slowness issue is there too. I am getting very agitated that Twitter is being so quiet with this issue. I have tried it with both the flash active, and the flash blocked.

Is it just me, or has this problem been fixed now? Whenever I go to http://twitter.com/home and scroll up and down, it no longer feels sluggish like it did before. Certainly feels better than it used to.

i agree it is much faster now!

I'd just like to jump in again and clarify something. The pages at Twitter.com do not load slowly. Rather, it's the TYPING that is slow.

When I start to type a new tweet into the "What are you doing" box, the letters appear ULTRA SUPER DUPER SLOWLY.

- Windows XP Pro, SP3

• Firefox 3.0.6 -- SLOW TYPING


• Google Chrome -- normal


• IE7 -- SLOW TYPING


• Opera 9.6 -- normal


• Safari 4 -- normal


I hope this helps the Twitter folks troubleshoot the problem.

Thanks guys!

I have just tried Twitter with Firefox 3.0.7 with Ubuntu (Linux). The problem is not there using this combination. I wonder what is different. I have not blocked any scripts or anything... just normal install of Firefox 3 with Ubuntu, and it works perfectly fine. Strange....

Just upgraded to Firefox 3.0.7 in Windows XP Pro 2002 SP3. Problem didn't go away. Alt-tabbing to notepad makes the typing buffer dump quickly. Alt-tabbing to calculator doesn't have the same effect.

I have the same slow-typing problem with Twitter, and also sometimes with Facebook. As you say, the pages load fine, but just the text input is very slow. I'm using Firefox 3.0.7 with an older XP machine. I use AvG Free.
How exactly does one disable the 'Counter' as someone suggested?

This problem is really quite maddening. I found this page while researching the issue. I've also worked around it by doing a cut and paste -- otherwise, it's like trying to work with a 100-baud modem -- really unbearable. It also seems to happen on Facebook.

I have the same problem with Firefox on Windows XP. But Safari goes well. No problems. Maybe solution

The problem -- slow typing -- is back. and I'm running Firefox 3.0.8. Ugh.

I can't believe this shit still isn't fixed. Switching back to Safari.

Glad I'm not the only one with this. Yes, it's in Firefox 3.0.8. Yes, it's only the typing in the text window that's the issue. It's like logging in to the mainframe at the command line with a 286 back in 1989.

And it seems to be only a Windows problem; my Macbook, also using the latest Firefox, and the same IP connection, has no problem.

Other than still running XP, my Windows PC is otherwise thoroughly up-to-date and fast, with 3GB of RAM and an Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor.

I would like to change browser but Firefox with its add-ons is the best. I tried Safari and Opera always missed some functions. But the speed of FF is very bad. I have the feeling new version slower speed.

I'm using Firefox less and less because of this problem. How many others like me?

I was having the same problem, and installed ABP. I can now type at a normal rate and all the letters appear in the text box, but my Follow button no longer works! I'm using Firefox 3.0.8 on a Mac OSX. Help?!?

I have the same problem. I am using Mac OSX 10.2.8 (old, I know) and Firefox 2.0, as it's the latest version I can get with my OS. I basically go nuts waiting for my text to appear in Twitter updates. I can leave the room, come back, and all the text STILL won't be there. I tried to participate in journchat using tweetchat and it was also an issue. I tried going back and forth, pasting my replies from Word, but that was not worth it.

I have the same problem on facebook, but only when sending a private message to someone. It doesn't happen when updating my status or writing on others' walls.

Anyone figure out any solution yet?

I am usign Firefox 3.0.8. and Facebook works fast and without any problems. Problem is always only Twitter.

You are writing about some scripts, but why in Safari and Opera everything goes well ?

Same prob here.. although it's a tad faster than a couple days ago when it was painfully slow adding text. Now, it still lags behind a bit. Vista 64. AMD X4. 4GB ram. FF 3.0.8.
My plugins include ADP, Siteadvisor, Foxmarks, Forecastfox, ...and some others. :)

Hello Twitter!? Twitter is for quickly jotting down something. Yet if typing has a long lag or is slow, it makes us not want to use Twitter. Real phenomenon! I don't used it as much as I would because the slow typing issue is a big deterrent.

Try narrowing the width of the window so you can no longer see thumbnails of people you are following. This worked for me. Firefox on the Mac can be slow in repainting, and the repaint routine is called every time you type a character. There is also a Twitter bug in that occasionally thumbnail images are huge, not 24 x24 as they should be.

Thanks @mkapor for the first truly viable workaround. I narrowed my Firefox window (to hide away the thumbnails of the people I'm following) ... and BAM! ... the typing is now quick and responsive again.

I'm still disappointed that Twitter has not FIXED this yet. Everything I've seen so far is just a workaround, but not really a true solution.

I'm not even sure it's a Twitter problem. I mean, I'm not sure if it's a problem caused by Twitter, or if it's caused by something Twitter uses.

I have the slow typing/slow scrolling problem at home (winxp sp3, ff3.0.8), and it's just interminable. There's another site or two that have similar OMG SLOOOOOW problems as well (most notable human-age.com, age 3) and they use extensive flash and javascript. Stuff is just slooooow.

Yet, at work on my laptop (Vista Ultimate SP1, ff3.0.8), no problems whatsoever on any of these sites.

It was suggested by someone that it could be a poor video driver causing the problem, but I dunno. Updating drivers at home (for my nvidia card) never fixes the problem so (shrug).

It's funny because when I have Twitter up and the page is still loading, before the counter and my latest update below the typing box appear, I can type perfectly fine.

I tried removing all userpics with AdBlock and it was still slow typing. :-(

I'm having this same problem (PowerBook G4, OS 10.4, Firefox 3.0.9), and both the work-arounds suggested above (adblock and narrowing the window) work. The thing that puzzles me is that I was not having this problem on this same computer just a few days ago. I sent a complaint directly to Twitter, to, and if enough people pester them they may be more responsive.

I just have the problem of it loading very slowly. I have a similar problem with Linkedin. I'm using XP Pro SP2. I have FF3 and use NoScript. I only use an HP 6735s I think it's a problem with Twitter as there are certain parts of the download that seem to take some time and FF tries to load the page without all the data sometimes resulting in some very odd displays. I tweeted about this thread. Wouldn't that be the way to get it noticed?

I've created a quick fix to unslow typing for those who can't find a way around this slowness problem.

It looks like the 'input' event that is fired for every keystroke is slow because of the time it takes to render the change in the character counter (i.e. that number that changes as you type).

Firefox javascript is the problem, i think! you can't use twitter without javascript; it counts down characters. I have just a few followers with pics but i follow a lot more that constantly update. typing is very slow. BUT... when i created a new account in twitter, no slow typing, very quick with constant countdown. BUT... when I opened these same accounts in Opera they were just as fast in both accounts ONLY the type counter freezes up by depressing one key. It is possible that Firefox's seriously flawed memory problem is to blame. I have low ram and open dozens of tabs in Firefox and it starts to slow with each and every new tab. Opera has similar limitations but can easily handle twice the open tabs as Firefox. BTW, IE responds exactly like Opera in both twitter accounts.

This problem has been completely fixed for me by upgrading to Firefox 3.5b99. Give it a shot!

My temporary fix is to scroll the page to just past the counter (i.e., hiding the counter). There's still a slight slowdown, but it's tolerable until a fix comes out.

As Tim Lindenschmidt says above, Firefox 3.5 seems to have solved this issue.

I'm running FF 3.5 RC2 and the problem has gone. You can type at normal speed in the update box.

I'm running Firefox 3.0.10 on Ubuntu 9.04, P4 1.80GHz, 768MB RAM, typing is slow (just like Ping.FM). They both count down the number of characters typed, though, so that is more than likely the problem. The Twitter page also lags while scrolling, although I don't know if that is a problem with twitter itself or my computer. FF 3.5RC fixes the typing problem and slightly speeds up the scrolling, although I am fairly sure that is because of its fabled speed increases.

Hi, Hellow - As a couple people suggested above, try upgrading to Firefox 3.5. I just upgraded from the same version you are using - 3.0.10 - and it completely solved the slow text problem in both Twitter and Facebook. The upgrade is available on the Mozilla website: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/

Jessica has the solution. I switched to Firefox 3.5 on Ubuntu and have joy once more.

I had this problem in FF 3.0.x (didn't matter what the last number was) on XP. As stated above, upgrading to Firefox 3.5 solves this issue!

Upgrade here: http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/upgrad...

Twitter should definitely make a FAQ about this.

Yes, FF 3.5 may be the solution however I had it and downgraded because I hated it. Some of the features they changed around I didn't like. And one of my favorite add-ons wasn't compatible.