Firefox Preloader for Windows

Used Firefox Preloader for Windows?

The Download Now link will prompt a local download of the Firefox extension. To install the extension directly, open the file using your Firefox browser.

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffNovember 22, 2024

It hasn't been updated since February 2005, but Firefox Preloader continues to help users who want faster boot times while maintaining a heavy load of tabs and extensions. Weighing in with an installer at 840Kb and using about 30MB of RAM, the program dramatically improved start-up times on Firefox when loaded with tabs and extensions.

How dramatic were the improvements? Without using the Preloader, it took 32.1 seconds for Firefox to open, and 2 minutes, 34.2 seconds to finish loading all the tabs. With the Preloader running, Firefox opened in 7.8 seconds, with another 1 minute, 36.7 seconds to complete all the tabs. Firefox Preloader is not otherwise laden with options. You can set it to run when you turn on your computer, and it installs a convenient system tray icon for accessing it on the fly. From there, you can unload the preloader which clears out the program from the list of active tasks, and you can reload it, which dumps it from the active cache and then reloads it.

The Preloader doesn't play well with certain browser functions, notably when Firefox restarts after installing an extension or theme. It almost certainly adds at least a small amount of time to the computer's boot cycle, since it's one more thing that needs to load before Windows is ready to go. But for users who want to have their cake of extensions and tabs and eat it, too, Firefox Preloader remains a reasonable way to gain back more than a few precious seconds.

Firefox Preloader for Windows

Used Firefox Preloader for Windows?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: January 15, 2009

Latest update: November 22, 2024

Version: 1.0.366

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 2000
Windows ME
Windows 98 SE
Windows XP
Windows 98

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 33,937

Downloads Last Week: 1

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Last Updated

User Reviews

2.8/5

54 User Votes

It helps a little
davepenNovember 4, 2011
Pros
I have two machines,one quick and one slow, on the quick machine I cannot see much difference, but on the slow machine it has speeded up startup enough to stop me swearing! It has not made either machine lightning fast but startup has improved!
Cons
None that has surfaced yet.
Summary
Any help to make Firefox faster has to be a good thing, will improve slower machines but the improvement to quick machines will be marginal.
Must have for me, Firefox starts so much faster!
EuroshoppareMay 23, 2011
Pros
* Firefox start up time is almost instant, much faster then before * Takes almost no space * Uses only 536kb memory while Firefox is active
Cons
* Does use some Ram * Must be turned off to be able to update Firefox
Summary
Well, if you're like me and fed up with the long start up time of Firefox this is a must, very small and simple to use, but does make wonders happen. :)
The best way to spend 30 mb of memory!!!
joe94ificationJanuary 3, 2011
Pros
It has ALWAYS worked and loaded Firefox at least 4 times faster than normal. I am a hardcore Firefox user and found Preloader to go perfect with the set up I have now for Firefox.
Cons
Absolutely no cons what-so-ever.....
Summary
If you are a hardcore Firefox user or even the average Firefox user then this is a must have for you!!
Reminds me of a Browser Hi-Jacker
chunkylover39July 23, 2010
Pros
Loads Firefox very fast.
Cons
After using once, the program started Firefox by itself and sent me to a software website that sent my W.O.T. to RED. Slowed my computer down to a crawl, asking for scripts to be run with no explanation.
Summary
I'll just wait for Firefox to figure this out.
I love it!!
Zeta-ReticuliJune 14, 2010
Pros
firefox snaps up a hell of alot quicker, i really really recomend it for any firefox user, this thing is the peanut butter to my jelly sandwhich
Cons
my windows starts up later by 1 second or so but that doesnt matter to me, the preloader is worth it
Summary
Spectacular
warlover2May 12, 2010
Pros
It does exactly what it claims to do:Firefox now launches,regardless of number of addons/extensions, just as fast as Chrome/Dragon, which is very quick.
Cons
Slower bootup times. When you start your computer, it might take a couple more seconds for everything to load.
Summary
This is a must for all Firefox users. The slightly longer wait at Windows startup is worth the much less launch time for Firefox. I have about 30 extensions and it still launches much quicker. Pair this with Firetune for faster browsing speed as well. If you are scared of Chrome and other browsers like it because of the well-known Google spyware in them but want a fast loading browser, get Avant, Opera, or Firefox WITH Preloader. You will not regret it!
Works Great if you hate Firefox's slow boot time
ruppert92April 12, 2010
Pros
Make's Firefox boot so much faster!
Cons
May take up too much ram for you, but i've heard only a max of 2mb and in today's standards thats nothing.
Summary
Unless you have an ancient computer, and/or only have limited ram this may not be for you, although i cannot say from experience, as is works great on my computer with 1.25GB ram and a 3ghz processor. I love it and i think untill mozilla makes firefox a faster booter, this will be great for you. It kept me from switching to google chrome
Works As Advertised But A Caveat
OldManYoungNovember 25, 2009
Pros
Firefox loads instantly on warm start up, and i mean instantly.
Cons
Doesn't not load latest minefield trunk builds, minimizes Firefox to system RAM
Summary
Firefox Preloader works as advertised: it loads Firefox instantly on warm start ups, and when i say instantly i mean IE-instantly. On cold boot, the start up is remarkably reduced. It took me a good 30-40 frustrating seconds without the prelauncher but now with the Preloader i have Firefox up and ready within 5 seconds. The disadvantage of this software is that: 1) It will need to run in the background taking up about 2MB maximum. 2) It does not 'load parts of the software' on the system memory rather stores whole of the software on the memory. On cold boot, the software loads Firefox which takes about 20MB of RAM but once you open the browser, it will save the whole software taking up about the same amount of RAM that Firefox took while it was running the next you close it. For example, if a running Firefox (no pun intended) took 170MB, the Preloader will save the browser on all of the 170MB of RAM when you close it instead of the bare essentials. This is a clear disadvantage for systems with low RAM and processing power. But if you have more than 2GB of RAM and a decent processor (usually most recent laptop and desktops) then this software should not create any slow downs. If it does, like for say while gaming, you can just unload it from the memory. I have a Core 2 @3.20GHz, 4GB RAM running on Win 7 and i have not encountered any problems and i am incredibly happy with the software. I am going to use it. I highly recommend this for people with 2GB+ RAM who has their Firefox loaded up with user customization and tons of extensions. It's a boon.
I didn't use this
cherikeeNovember 1, 2009
Pros
...................
Cons
........................
Summary
What are you people talking about 30-60 second load times? I don't think I have ever seen firefox load slower than 4-5 seconds. I am confused......................
Redundand Resource Hog
zobvaOctober 26, 2009
Pros
Firefox starts nearly instantly with FF Preloader just as advertised, after tgthe first startup which takes the usual 45 seconds to a full minute
Cons
What they don't tell you is that Preloader caused Firefox to load also and run constantly in the background, using up to 100 megabytes of RAM!
Summary
The exact same result can be realized by starting Firefox, then minimizing it to the taskbar instead of closing it rather than having yet another program running (Preloader) using system resources. If you check the system processes with the FF Preloaderrunning, you'll see that it has Firefox is running anyway.

Developer’s Description

By Matthew Holder

Load parts of Mozilla Firefox into your PC memory.

Firefox Preloader is a utility that is designed to load parts of Mozilla Firefox into memory before it is used to improve the its startup time.