Doing anything in the browser will cause it to freeze for one to several seconds, usually around 2 or 3 but sometimes as long as 5 or 6. It doesn’t matter if I am typing, selecting a different tab, or even just trying to move the program window around, it will just stop taking any input for a few seconds on average, then the inputs will catch up as if there was some buffer or command queue. There is no clear cause to this that I can discern. I have gone through all the fixes I could find here that were even remotely related to this issue instead of specifically for a program crash.
I have tried making a new profile, uninstalling and reinstalling the current stable version of brave, and now I am using the Beta branch with nothing changing. I made sure to disable any hardware or GPU rendering in both versions, and made sure to fully delete all the browsing data, cached images and anything else stored in the browser. I have disabled extensions and tested on private browser windows and still no difference.
I have yet to try the nightly build and was looking into downloading an older version from the GitHub, but I am not willing to burn what little patience I have left sifting through that hellscape of a website to try and find anything remotely helpful.
Current browser version in use:
Version 1.74.29 Chromium: 132.0.6834.46 (Official Build) beta (64-bit)
I hope to have included all relevant information, but given my frustration there is a possibility I left out some information that may be helpful for whoever is on the other end of the troubleshooting conversation.
Does it happen when you have only one window open? I have experienced the same thing, but it only happens when I have a separate window playing youtube or running a javascript process such as a countdown timer. If I open a new tab in that window, or minimise the window, the problem goes away.
It isn’t any form of network or internet based issue, the browser simply just freezes for moments at a time. I have yet to check the task manager built into the browser, but windows task manager shows no changes in regards to the task for the browser.
I mainly use just 1 window, and have also trimmed down the open tabs with no changes in frequency of the freezing issue occurring. There is no noticeable change in frequency of issues if videos are playing in any tabs or not. It also doesn’t seem to be an issue with RAM or any other resources needed for the browser. It has yet to crash on me or even get frozen then transition into not responding, it’s like it just pauses all functionality for a few seconds at a time.
@boredbeaver thanks for your detailed topic. Missing a bit on which version of Windows, but probably doesn’ tmatter.
What I am curious of is whether you have actually identified this to be just an issue with Brave? through all your troubleshooting steps, I’m not seeing you speak of whether you checked to see if this issue happens on Chrome. Or even perhaps other browsers, but Chrome is usually a good indicator to help figure out if it’s Chromium related.
Beyond that, might be nice to know if it even happens while you’re using other apps/programs on your device. I’m not sure if you run anything other than web browsers?
That can be problematic in itself.
Btw, did you try with graphics acceleration on/off?
Running Windows 11 Home 23H2. I will have to test more on MS Edge as I don’t have any other browsers installed aside from brave and the beta branch of it. I have used both branches with the acceleration on and off, I only turned off the feature since the issues started to happen and it was mentioned as a possible fix. I haven’t noticed any stutters in functionality on any of the other programs that I have open and in use, I will try to test some more while having the other programs closed.
Now that you mention it could be a bit broader of an issue I might just try some windows repair options starting at least invasive and leading to the ever annoying full reinstall. I have been running some system file maintenance and checking with SFC and DISM commands, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Windows tripped over itself and fell down the stairs during the updates.
I’d also be interested to know whether or not the issue occurs in other browsers (MS Edge is actually a good one to use to test) or if it’s just Brave.
“For me in an X2Go session, when this happens in Brave, xfce4-clipman locks up as well.”
“When I can access the clipman interface and clear its history, then the Brave problem goes away. However, if I kill the clipman process, the issue is still there.”
“Perhaps it has more to do with the “content” of the clipboard and not the clipboard applications themselves or shared clipboards.” Locking up for about 30 seconds when I try to enter a web url in the address bar - #32 by doobster
@289wk all of those links are to the same topic. Seems the TL:DR of it is that some mentioned Citrix Desktop as the issue. Is this all you were trying to get at or something else I’m missing?
Know OP is trying to check out some other things on their device to see if it’s Brave specific. Guess the Citrix thing might be a good idea of something to consider, if they use it.
The 7 links are references for the quoted comments. The comments indicate possible causes for the other OP (“Locking up” when using URL address field) of those links, yet also for the OP (above): “Brave freezes . . .”
The comments are not about Citrix per se, but about sharing data across a network. Particulars: a) shared clipboard data, and b) shared data via Citrix, and c) shared data via xfce4-clipman.
Clicking in a URL address field, can kick into gear: pre-fetching (access to data across a network), and: history and suggestions - some of which may be on the local computer, or on a remote computer, or on a “cloud drive.” In other words, more shared data.
So, a network problem, of a variety of types, may interrupt the flow of data to-and-fro an Internet browser, and make it seem frozen, non-responsive, stalled, or windmilling. Is a shared clipboard involved?
Tools: NetLimiter and Security Task Manager. Brave Browser Task Manager. Windows OS Task Manager. Performance and Resource monitoring. PING testing. Developer Tools window > Network tab.
I apologize for the radio silence the last few days, but it turned out to be an underlying issue with Windows 11. That was resolved after reinstalling the system files using the built in tools and after a few days of regular use there hasn’t been any further freezing in any program whatsoever, let alone Brave. I still can’t believe I didn’t notice any of the other minor software jitters that would’ve pointed towards it being OS based problem. I truly appreciate the resources, points of view, and assistance provided in regards to me being too impatient to look at things a little more meticulously.