Question for computer nerds

[Dave Bagwill]

I mean 'nerd' in the GOOD sense
I've been using Firefox for years and will continue to. BUT - I have only one tab open, and when I look at Task Manager I see this:

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I've checked online help and found a way to access adjustments in FF to limit the amount of open running FF instances to 2; obviously not working.

Any ideas on limiting the number of open FF items?
I'm probably not wording this well, but even though I know my way around a computer, I'm no geek/nerd etc.

[John Parchem]

What you are see are processes that firefox has open not tabs. Browsers compete in performance so they are willing to leave some processes "running" ready for work. If you have any extensions, firefox may put them in separate instances to sandbox them from the instance you are working in "Flash" for example. Also if you had a tab open and closed it, firefox may keep the process running in case you open a new tab (it is faster). Unless you have a problem, other than seeing the instances in task manager, you are trying to solve I would not worry about it. With a modern OS, the instances that are not doing anything are not really competing for resources; they just sit there as a ready context.

[Dave Bagwill]

Thanks John.
What prompted this was the experience of closing firefox for the night, and in the morning being unable to open it; looking at the task manager there still might be 7 or 8 processes open, and FF won't let me open a new process. In addition, I often have to reboot just to enable FF to open for me.
My best results come from closing FF, then disabling any/all of the still-running processes, then disconnecting from the wi-fi, before bed. Most of the time that will allow a nice clean open in the morning.

[John Parchem]

Again I do not use Firefox, I use Chrome or Edge. My guess is you have a bad extension or whatever they call it that is hanging the main process. You are correct that closing out all of the processed will let you start fresh.