Firefox uses hardware acceleration to hand graphics-heavy work, like video playback, animations, and page rendering, to your computer's graphics card. It usually makes browsing smoother, but with some graphics drivers it causes problems such as flickering, black or white boxes, blurry text, video stutter, or crashes. Turning it off is a quick way to test whether it is the culprit. This guide shows how to turn it off and on, how to confirm the change, and better long-term fixes.
Quick Answer
Open Firefox Settings (type about:preferences in the address bar). On the General panel, scroll to Performance, uncheck Use recommended performance settings, then uncheck Use hardware acceleration when available. Restart Firefox.
When to Turn Off Hardware Acceleration
- Pages flicker, show black, white, or colored boxes, or display glitches.
- Videos stutter, show a green screen, or will not play.
- Text looks blurry or oddly rendered.
- Firefox freezes or crashes, especially with graphics-heavy sites.
If none of these apply, leave hardware acceleration on for the best performance.
Step-by-Step
- Click the menu button ☰ and choose Settings.
- Stay on the General panel and scroll down to Performance.
- Uncheck Use recommended performance settings. More options appear.
- Uncheck Use hardware acceleration when available.
- Close and reopen Firefox so the change takes effect.
To turn it back on, check the box again, or recheck Use recommended performance settings, and restart.
Confirm the Setting
Type about:support in the address bar and look at the Graphics section. The Compositing line shows how Firefox is rendering; when hardware acceleration is off, it typically shows a software renderer (such as WebRender (Software)).
Better Long-Term Fixes
- Update your graphics driver from your PC maker or your GPU maker's website. Driver bugs are the most common cause.
- Update Firefox via ☰ > Help > About Firefox.
- Test in Troubleshoot Mode (Help > Troubleshoot Mode) to rule out extensions.
- Refresh Firefox from about:support if problems persist.
After updating drivers, try turning hardware acceleration back on, since it improves performance and battery life.
Firefox on Mac and Linux
The same setting is in Settings > General > Performance on Mac and Linux. Availability and defaults may vary by system and graphics hardware.
Troubleshooting
I do not see the hardware acceleration checkbox
Uncheck Use recommended performance settings first; the option is hidden until you do.
The problem continues with acceleration off
The cause is likely an extension, a site-specific issue, or your profile. Try Troubleshoot Mode or Refresh Firefox.
Firefox is slower now
That is expected on graphics-heavy pages. Update your graphics driver and turn acceleration back on when possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to turn off hardware acceleration?
Yes. It only changes how Firefox renders content and can be turned back on anytime.
Does it affect video quality?
Quality stays the same, but high-resolution video may use more CPU and play less smoothly.
How do I do this in other browsers?
In Chrome and Edge, go to Settings > System and turn off Use graphics acceleration when available.
Summary
- Open Settings > General > Performance.
- Uncheck Use recommended performance settings.
- Uncheck Use hardware acceleration when available and restart.
- Update graphics drivers and turn it back on when the issue is fixed.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.