Why Firefox asked me to switch to 32-bit mode?

[hajime]

Hello. Safari hangs very often on my MBP. As a result, I use Firefox most of the time. Occasionally, when I clicked to watch videos, Firefox asked me to switch to 32-bit mode. Anybody knows what is this all about? Don't understand why we need to switch mode.

 

[psxguru]

What kind of videos? Flash based? Maybe your flash/video plugin is out of date?

 

[CHAOS STEP]

This is common on Firefox, as it seems that it cannot deal certain types of content when it runs as 64-bit, you are therefore prompted for Firefox to re-start in 32-bit mode and then it does work.

You can't, by default select 32-bit to be the standard mode for it.

Its a right pain when your browsing porn vids eh?

 

[Quad5Ny]

That's because most plugins are 32-bit, and will not run when Firefox is in 64-bit mode.

1. Quit Firefox
2. Find the Firefox App
3. Right click on it
4. Click "Get Info"
5. Check "Open in 32-bit mode"

 

[hajime]

What kind of videos? Flash based? Maybe your flash/video plugin is out of date?

Here is an example (sorry in Japanese only).

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/videonews/nnn?a=20111004-00000056-nnn-pol

You see a yellow banner on top asking for restarting using 32 bit mode.

I have the latest version of the flash/video plugin installed already.

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That's because most plugins are 32-bit, and will not run when Firefox is in 64-bit mode.

1. Quit Firefox
2. Find the Firefox App
3. Right click on it
4. Click "Get Info"
5. Check "Open in 32-bit mode"

Thanks. Actually, is there a noticeable difference between running Firefox in 64-bit mode vs. in 32-bit mode?

 

[IndyGopher]

Here is an example (sorry in Japanese only).

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/videonews/nnn?a=20111004-00000056-nnn-pol

You see a yellow banner on top asking for restarting using 32 bit mode.

I have the latest version of the flash/video plugin installed already.

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Thanks. Actually, is there a noticeable difference between running Firefox in 64-bit mode vs. in 32-bit mode?

I only see that on the Netflix site, because the videos are done with Microsoft Silverlight.

 

[psxguru]

I don't have Silverlight installed but if Microsoft haven't done a 64 bit plugin version then that's your reason.

 

[Quad5Ny]

Thanks. Actually, is there a noticeable difference between running Firefox in 64-bit mode vs. in 32-bit mode?

32-bit applications can't allocate >4GB of memory. Other than that, there should be no difference.

 

[hajime]

Thank you all of you.