Unresponsive Pages in Chrome and Microsoft Edge when Accessibility Mode is enabled.

Update (March 2022): Google has confirmed they have included the first set of accessibility performance regression fixes in version 99.04844.74. Web accessibility in Chromium-based browsers will still add some performance overhead. Google is working on longer-term changes via the bug linked below. We will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. 

As of the v89 release, utilizing Chromium-based browsers (the current most updated version of Chrome and MS Edge) Salesforce users may notice unresponsive clicks, page unresponsive errors, and other unexplained latency. This behavior is caused by the enablement of Accessibility Mode.

Accessibility Mode is prompted by applications, websites, or system-requested enablement. When Accessibility mode is triggered, the code continually updates and reviews all browser processes. This is an expensive, synchronous operation that consumes browser and machine resources, and can cause symptoms similar to a memory leak. 

Even if accessibility mode is not enabled by default, it can be triggered by a variety of factors external to Salesforce. 

We understand the impact this has on your users and business, and are collaborating with Chrome to resolve this issue. In the interim, we have the following workarounds. We will continue to update this article as more information becomes available. 

To follow up with Chrome directly regarding this impact, please see this bug

UPDATE (January 2022): 

Chrome is targeting an M99 launch for the auto-disable accessibility feature, which is expected to help minimize the impact of the issue here. You can try out the feature now by going to chrome://flags/#enable-auto-disable-accessibility and selecting Enabled from the dropdown. What it does is turn off accessibility when there isn't a tool/utility actively using it for 30 seconds. 

Chrome is asking for feedback on how this improves performance via the bug.

Chrome hopes to resolve this issue in the first half of 2022. Salesforce continues to recommend the installation and usage of an alternate browser (Non-Chromium). Please see the resolution steps below for instructions on transferring bookmarks and passwords for Safari and Firefox. 

Salesforce support utilizes multiple Browsers to remain agile, quickly troubleshoot, and minimize downtime. We are considering updates to our documentation to recommend the same as a best practice for all Salesforce users.