High CPU Usage After Kernel Update – Firefox + Isolate+ Spike (Need Help)

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What’s Happening:

  • As soon as I open Firefox, both Firefox and Isolate+ spike in CPU usage, sometimes reaching 70%+.
  • The two processes seem to take turns topping the CPU chart, with Isolate+ being especially heavy when it appears.
  • I removed all Firefox extensions, limited it to just 1–2 tabs, and even tested with LibreWolf — same result.
  • This behavior started only after a recent system update, which automatically upgraded the kernel to 6.8.0-57-generic — I didn’t do this manually.
  • When running top, I also noticed Bluetooth using around 15% CPU, even though I had no devices connected and don’t recall ever turning it on. I’ve since disabled it.
  • None of this was happening before. Everything was smooth and quiet pre-update.

This setup was rock-solid before. Now I’m scratching my head — Firefox, Isolate+, and Bluetooth are all spiking without any changes I knowingly made. I didn’t install or enable anything unusual. Could this be a kernel regression? Maybe something new in how Firefox is sandboxed?

Has anyone run into similar issues lately? Any insight or troubleshooting steps would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

System Details:

  • OS Version: [Insert your OS version here]
  • Home Assistant Version: [Insert current version]
  • Kernel: 6.8.0-57-generic (after recent update)
  • Browser: Firefox (also tested with LibreWolf)
  • Other Processes: Isolate+ (intermittent but heavy), Firefox, Xorg
  • Bluetooth: Spiking even with no paired devices — now disabled
  • Connected Devices: Zigbee motion detectors, gate sensors, etc.
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Hi Tom, I didn’t know this was a known issue. Is it safe to say that this issue is entirely based on Firefox? I read up on the contents of the link you’d provided (thank you ) and I’ll give it a go. However, I still find it odd that the issue only began after the update.

Would switching over to Brave fix this issue as well?
I tried LibreWolf which is a lighter derivative of Firefox but it didn’t change much at all.

Thanks again.

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No idea really. That was just the first search result I found. Seemed relevant.

I use Brave. I do not see 100% CPU use.

Mind you, I just tested Firefox and it does not peg my CPU either.

1 Like
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OK thank you! I’m going to redo and go HA OS.