Bolt performance

Memory Leak - Component Doesn't Clean Up Resources

Your app gradually uses more memory the longer it runs. DevTools shows increasing memory usage even after navigating away from components.

The app slows down over time or crashes after extended use.

Error Messages You Might See

Can't perform a React state update on an unmounted component Memory usage increasing: 50MB -> 200MB -> 500MB Warning: memory leak detected Component still registered after unmount
Can't perform a React state update on an unmounted componentMemory usage increasing: 50MB -> 200MB -> 500MBWarning: memory leak detectedComponent still registered after unmount

Common Causes

  1. useEffect without cleanup function for event listeners, intervals, subscriptions
  2. Setting state on unmounted component
  3. Global state not being cleared when component unmounts
  4. WebSocket or fetch requests not aborted on cleanup
  5. Timer/interval not cleared in cleanup

How to Fix It

Always return cleanup from useEffect: useEffect(() => { const timer = setInterval(...); return () => clearInterval(timer); }, [])

Abort fetch requests: const controller = new AbortController(); fetch(url, { signal: controller.signal }); return () => controller.abort()

Remove event listeners: addEventListener then removeEventListener in cleanup

Check for 'Can't perform a React state update on an unmounted component' warnings

Real developers can help you.

AUXLE AUXLE I am a Full Stack Developer experienced in building Websites, Web apps and Cross Platform Mobile Apps for Startups and Companies. Bastien Labelle Bastien Labelle Full stack dev w/ 20+ years of experience PawelPloszaj PawelPloszaj I'm fronted developer with 10+ years of experience with big projects. I have small backend background too prajwalfullstack prajwalfullstack Hi Im a full stack developer, a vibe coded MVP to Market ready product, I'm here to help Nam Tran Nam Tran 10 years as fullstack developer Sage Fulcher Sage Fulcher Hey I'm Sage! Im a Boston area software engineer who grew up in South Florida. Ive worked at a ton of cool places like a telehealth kidney care startup that took part in a billion dollar merger (Cricket health/Interwell health), a boutique design agency where I got to work on a ton of exciting startups including a photography education app, a collegiate Esports league and more (Philosophie), a data analytics as a service startup in Cambridge (MA) as well as at Phillips and MIT Lincoln Lab where I designed and developed novel network security visualizations and analytics. I've been writing code and furiously devoted to using computers to make people’s lives easier for about 17 years. My degree is in making computers make pretty lights and sounds. Outside of work I love hip hop, the Celtics, professional wrestling, magic the gathering, photography, drumming, and guitars (both making and playing them) Rudra Bhikadiya Rudra Bhikadiya I build and fix web apps across Next.js, Node.js, and DBs. Comfortable jumping into messy code, broken APIs, and mysterious bugs. If your project works in theory but not in reality, I help close that gap. Jen Jacobsen Jen Jacobsen I’m a Full-Stack Developer with over 10 years of experience building modern web and mobile applications. I enjoy working across the full product lifecycle — turning ideas into real, well-built products that are intuitive for users and scalable for businesses. I particularly enjoy building mobile apps, modern web platforms, and solving complex technical problems in a way that keeps systems clean, reliable, and easy to maintain. BurnHavoc BurnHavoc Been around fixing other peoples code for 20 years. Stanislav Prigodich Stanislav Prigodich 15+ years building iOS and web apps at startups and enterprise companies. I want to use that experience to help builders ship real products - when something breaks, I'm here to fix it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When does cleanup function run?

Before component unmounts and before effect runs again (if dependencies change)

Do all useEffects need cleanup?

No, only those that start resources: listeners, intervals, subscriptions, fetches, timers

How do I detect memory leaks?

DevTools Memory tab: take heap snapshot, navigate, take another. Growing objects = leak

Related Bolt Issues

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