By default Firefox is setup to allow no more than two active downloads at a time. Okay this in fine and actually good for folks on dial-up but what about us broadband users? Well, you could install some third-party download manager software or may be an extension. But wait, there is a much easier way! This simple tweak is from CyberNet News and can be done in a matter of seconds and works on Firefox 1.5.0.X, 2.0b2 and the 2.0b2 nightly builds. Again, this is NOT recommended for dial-up users:
- In a new tab type ‘about:config’ in the address bar and press enter OR if you have the about:config extension, simply click your about:config icon
- In the filter field enter (without quotes) ‘network.http.max-persistent-connections-per-server‘
- Double click on the entry
- In the pop-up box enter the number of downloads you want to allow at one time (10 is a good number)
- Click ‘OK’ and you are done
That is all you need to do! Some users (including myself) have discovered that this setting has already been changed (changed items in about:config will appear in bold) from the default 2. There are some extensions that may have changed this setting. Your results of course will vary depending on your connection speed and you may want to use a number around may 6 or 8 if you are running a slower broadband connection.
| UPDATE: about:config extension link FIXED. |
Updated: 09/15/06
