Several users experiencing high memory usage when watching video content (Youtube, IG livestreams, etc)

[Brave-Matt]

trafficstars

Description

A good handful of users have been reporting sites like Youtube using a disproportionate amount of memory in Brave after updating to v1.65.114. Some users claim a single tab using upwards of 1GB of memory. I have asked users to submit images of browser task manager/memory tooltip.

OP has tested the following:

• New profile: no change in behavior
• Graphics acceleration disabled: no change in behavior
• Tested Beta build: no change in behavior
• Fresh profile: no change in behavior
• Private browsing windows: no change in behavior
• Clearing browsing data: no change in behavior

Steps to reproduce

1. Visit youtube/other video streaming sites on macOS

Actual result

Memory usage is too high

Expected result

Memory usage should not. be high

Reproduces how often

Easily reproduced

Brave version (brave://version info)

v1.65.114 +

Channel information

• [X] release (stable)
• [X] beta
• [ ] nightly

Reproducibility

• [X] with Brave Shields disabled
• [ ] with Brave Rewards disabled
• [ ] in the latest version of Chrome

Miscellaneous information

Thread can be found here: https://community.brave.com/t/high-memory-usage-by-youtube-tab-4gb-leading-to-browser-becoming-really-slow/545260/28

[ryanbr]

Should list:

• Architecture
• MacOS version
• HW Accel= on

I can test on M1 & M2 Macbook air's, with an o/night stream for testing

[Brave-Matt]

@ryanbr at least on an M1 machine, using MacOS Sonoma Version 14.4.1 (23E224) Also, I'm now seeing this issue as well it appears. It looks like when I view a livestream, memory usage does shoot up to the 500-600 MB range. Further, after I've left the stream, if I start viewing additional Youtube content (not live), the tab continues to take up ~600 MB.

[adiosocelote]

I have the same issue. Though I have noticed that it is not only during video, but at random. When watching long (-er) videos, live streams to be exact, you will notice the memory allocation spikes as the video will freeze and refreshing won't be responsive. In my case, it also happens when I open the browser to quickly check something, but not always. Because I have my computer resources on my status bar, I can see that my memory goes from 3 gb used to 6 gb used, sometimes 10 gb used, and then it goes down, and CPU usage goes up, usually by 10%, but sometimes by more.

I have tried stable version, but I prefer the beta, and both have this issue. There was once the issue, few months ago, when launching Brave (beta branch) allocated a ton of memory, similar to this issue, where it went up from 3 gb memory usage to 10 gb, but then it went down and stayed normal, and that was reported and dealt with, so I assume there might be some correlation with that.

Some tiny (perhaps irrelevant) detail that it also happens on clean install (removed config directory, completely clean, wiped) and it can happen multiple times. For example, when I spent ~8 hours watching a live stream and talking to people in said live stream, it happened even 5 times a day, but sometimes it happened only once. It always is the same, live stream freezes (video), sometimes chat is not responding/lagging, memory goes up by roughly 500 to 1000 mb every 5 seconds (refresh rate of my status bar told me that), up until 6 to 10 gb are allocated, and then going back to the usual close-to-3 gb memory usage. In the case of not watching videos, it just allocates memory the same way, up to 6 to 10 gb, and the browser just, seemingly, waits till it's done and then performs the action I asked for, so opening a link etc.

I'm on Arch Linux, here are some of the details of my computer (just ask if you need more info): CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT Linux 6.6.40-1-lts Vulkan: 1.3.278 - radv [Mesa 24.1.3-arch1.1] OpenGL: 4.6 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 24.1.3-arch1.1

I do have hardware acceleration on. I have no idea if this happens with it off or not.

[Brave-Matt]

Another user seeing this issue on IG and Youtube: https://community.brave.com/t/after-youtube-instagram-using-insane-amount-of-memory-usage-just-after-opening-the-site/558771/2

[Maddyy-06]

Any updates??? Even after opening a stream after 15-20 days, the issue still remains the same!! 20 min into the stream and high memory usage causes lag and buffering.

[francoism90]

Would it be useful to show brave://gpu?

Just wondering if Video decode/encode is disabled.

[Maddyy-06]

Would it be useful to show brave://gpu?

Just wondering if Video decode/encode is disabled.

Not sure whether you asking me, just in case you are asking me... both are showing "Hardware accelerated"

[francoism90]

@Maddyy-06 Yeah, that's what I meant. :)

[egarak666]

I use chrome and this happens to me also while using youtube. I have really only noticed it in the last few weeks, but it seems to be getting worse. I don't watch live streams so I can't comment on that. The only way I've been able to get around it for youtube is by closing the browser entirely and starting over with a pasted link to get back to where I was. I've tried just starting a new tab and then closing the old one, but the new tab will have high memory too if I don't close the whole browser and all tabs first.

[lonewolf0708]

I've noticed when using Shift+ESC to view browser processes, Utility: Video Capture consumes memory even while videos on YouTube are paused, and even after all tabs are closed, taking at times over 2GB RAM until that process is ended.

Before closing YouTube tabs:

After closing YouTube tabs:

[khang489]

----- Brave's Task Manager -----

----- Windows's Task Manager -----

Brave version: [Version 1.73.91 Chromium: 131.0.6778.85 (Official Build) (64-bit)]

Since i got this update in last week, i've been SUFFERING from memory leak, and if i wait for a few mins, it froze out and threw me a WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR which make me angry.

I've tried the following steps:

• Turned off hardware accel, --> no dice
• Force Brave to using the integrated GPU (via graphics settings under Settings), --> still no dice
• Changed gpu ANGLE to every settings, --> but none of them are working:(
• DDUed both Intel UHD 630 and AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT's drivers, then reinstall. ....but it's still persist, as you can see, i literally CANNOT watch YouTube, no matter if it paused or playing

I'm on Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 22H2, here are some of the details of my computer (just ask if you need more info): CPU: Intel Core i5-10400 (SRH78) Cooler: Cooler Master T400I Red GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT (Asus Dual Radeon variant) Memory: Corsair 16GB DDR4-2666 (2x8GB) (CMW16GX4M2D3000C16) Motherboard: ASUS TUF GAMING B460M-PLUS OS: Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 22H2 (19045.3636) Primary SSD: WD Black SN770 1TB (cooled by Thermalright HR-09 M.2 Heatsink) Secondary SSD: WD Blue SN550 250GB

[khang489]

I would like to add up some infomations: Now it's only using CPU despite i have enabled the "Use graphics acceleration when available" settings back, it still won't use the IGPU for video decode, causing my pc to be really stutter

----- This is IGPU's usage -----

----- This is CPU's usage -----

(same version as my previous post.)

[griff3n]

Have the same issue.

The YouTube Tab is a playlist (one that YouTube makes for you). The memory usage starts normal but grows over time. (also the JavaScript memory is high)

Output brave://version/

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 RAM: 32,0GB Single-Channel DDR4 @ 1496MHz (16-18-18-38) Motherboard: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. ROG STRIX B350-F GAMING (AM4) GPU: 3071MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB (NVIDIA)

[Risc-A2]

possible solution i finded: just intall this extension: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/Youtube%20live%20chat%20memory%20fix/bnnibknllnjlmciinjneieifoidgnaji i will put a heavy test which is 10 hour video 2 hour live stream to test

[GKid94]

Same

[Shanjaq]

Noting this seems to happen most frequently on Live Streams with certain keywords in the title, I see it a lot with channels like Marfoogle, DarkJournalist, Ashton Forbes, Archaix, etc.. basically any "citizen journalist" activity seems suspiciously plagued by this. The tab will randomly decide to balloon up to 4 GigaBytes within a few minutes if I don't watch it carefully in the browser's task manager. I close the tab and reopen to ~500Mb which is normal, but give it another 10-15 minutes and my system starts grinding down and I realize it's that same stream tab hogging all available RAM again..

[Brave-Matt]

+1 from Community: https://community.brave.com/t/severe-memory-leak/602570/2