Library Media Services (Archived): Troubleshooting Browser Settings

Browser settings can sometimes cause access problems. Enabling certain options can improve or restore functionality. Below are the steps to Enable Cookies, Disable Pop-up blockers and Enable Javascript for the more popular browsers.

Enable Cookies

Many resources require the use of cookies. To enable cookies:

• Google Chrome
  • Click the settings icon
  • Select Settings from the menu
  • Select Privacy and Security from the menu on the left
  • Scroll down to Content
  • Select Cookies and site data, select the radio button for Allow all cookies
• Microsoft Edge
  • Click the Settings and more... icon  
  • Click Settings.
  • Click Site permissions
  • Scroll down to Cookies and site data.
  • Allow sites to save and read cookies data (recommended) should be toggled on (blue)
• Mozilla Firefox 
  1. Click the settings icon
  2. Select Preferences from the menu
  3. Select Privacy & Security
  4. The beneath Enhanced Tracking Protection, the default setting should be Standard
     • Additionally, Under Cookies and site data, you can Check: Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed to clear cookies whenever you closed the browser.
• Internet Explorer
  1. Click the Settings icon
  2. Select Internet options from the menu
  3. Select the Privacy tab
  4. Under Settings, click Advanced button
  5. Under First-party Cookies and Third-party Cookies, click the radio button for Accept.
  6. Check: Always allow session cookies
• Safari
  1. Select Preferences in Safari menu
  2. Select Privacy tab
  3. Uncheck: Block all cookies

Most browsers allow you to delete all or some cookies, and to manage permissions.

Disable Pop-up Blockers

Some e-resources require the use of pop-ups for content delivery. Be sure the pop-up blocker allows pop-ups generally, or from a specific vendor.

• Google Chrome 
  1. Click the settings icon
  2. Select Settings from the menu
  3. Select Privacy and Security from the menu on the left
  4. Scroll down to Content
  5. Select Pop-ups and redirects, Blocked (recommended) should be toggled off (gray)
• Microsoft Edge 
  1. Click the Settings and more... icon  
  2. Click Settings.
  3. Click Privacy & security.
  4. Scroll down to Security.
  5. Click the Block pop-ups switch to toggle it between Off and On. Note: Set this option to Off to disable the pop-up blocker or On to enable it.
• Mozilla Firefox 
  1. Click the settings icon
  2. Select Preferences from the menu
  3. Select Privacy & Security
  4. Scroll down to Permissions
  5. Uncheck: Block pop-up windows
• Internet Explorer
  1. Click the Settings icon
  2. Select Internet options from the menu
  3. Select the Privacy tab
  4. Uncheck: Turn on Pop-up Blocker
• Safari
  • Select Preferences in Safari menu
  • Select the Websites tab
  • Scroll to the bottom of the left hand menu and select Pop-up Windows
  • In the window to the right is a list of currently open websites, Click the menu selector to the right of the website and choose Allow for that website, or below the window, Click the menu selector for When visiting other websites to choose Allow

Enable JavaScript

This is a scripting language commonly used to make web pages interactive. Most browsers enable JavaScript by default.

• Google Chrome
  1. Click the settings icon
  2. Select Settings from the menu
  3. Select Privacy and Security from the menu on the left
  4. Scroll down to Content
  5. Select Javascript, Allowed (recommended) should be toggled on (blue)
• Mozilla Firefox - Enabled by default
• Internet Explorer 9+
  1. Click the Settings icon
  2. Select Internet options from the menu
  3. Select the Security tab
  4. Select the Custom Level... button
  5. Scroll down to Scripting
  6. Under Active Scripting, select the radio button for Enabled
• Safari
  1. Select Preferences in Safari menu
  2. Select Security tab
  3. Check: Enable JavaScript

Most web browsers allow you to install extensions, also called add-ons, that add features or functionality to your browser, and enhance or modify the way websites are displayed. There are no reported cases of extensions cause access issues with databases, it is possible one could.

Google Chrome

1. Click the settings icon
2. Select More tools.
3. Select Extensions from the side menu.
4. In the Extensions tab that opens, there are a series of cards in the middle.
5. To disable an extension, locate its card and click the blue toggle switch so it changes to gray. You can enable it by clicking the toggle again.

Firefox

1. Click the settings icon
2. Select Add-ons.
3. Click Extensions.
4. Under Manage Your Extensions, there is a list of installed extensions.
5. Locate the extension you want to disable. Then, on the right side, click the blue toggle switch  so it changes to gray. You can enable it by clicking the toggle again.

Edge

1. Click the Settings and more... icon  
2. Select Extensions.
3. Under Installed extensions, there is a list of installed extensions.
4. Locate the extension you want to disable. Then, on the right side, click the blue toggle switch so it changes to white. You can enable it by clicking the toggle again.

Internet Explorer

1. Click the Settings icon
2. Select Manage add-ons.
3. Click Toolbars and extensions on the left side.
4. In the center of the window, find the add-on you want to disable.
5. Click the add-on to select it, then click the Disable button at the bottom-right of the window.

Safari

1. Select Preferences from the Safari menu.
2. Click the Extensions tab.
3. On the left, uncheck any boxes next to the extensions you want to disable.

Clearing the search history, cookies, and cache stored in your web browser can resolve some problems and often allow browsers to work more efficiently.

NOTE: If you prefer not to clear cookies, try your browser in Incognito/Private mode, as this may also solve some problems.

It is important that before you clear your browser cache, you must close the tab where the database was trying to open. For best results, you should close all tabs except for the one with the link to the database you wish to open. Data is not cleared from open tabs.

• Google Chrome
  • Click the settings icon
  • Select More Tools
  • Select Clear Browsing Data ...
  • Set Time range to All Time
  • Select Cookies and other site data, Cached images and files
  • Click Clear data.
• Microsoft Edge
  • Click the Settings and More... icon
  • Select Settings
  • Select Privacy, search and services
  • Scroll down to Clear browsing data
  • Click the Choose what to clear button
  • Set Time range to All Time
  • Select Cookies and other site data, Cached images and files
  • Click Clear now button
• Mozilla Firefox
  • Click the Library icon
  • Select History
  • Select Clear recent history
  • Set Time range to clear to Everything
  • Select Cookies, Active Logins, Cache, and Offline Website Data
  • Click OK
• Internet Explorer
  • Click the settings icon
  • Select Internet Options
  • Select General tab
  • Click Delete... button
  • Select, at least, Temporary files and website files, Cookies and website data.
  • Click Delete button
• Safari - there are two ways to clear your cache in Safari
  • Version 1 - easier
    • Select Clear History... in the Safari menu
    • Select all history, click Clear History button
  • Version 2
    • Select Preferences in the Safari menu
    • Click the Privacy tab
    • Click the Manage Website Data button
    • Find and select the website with the data you want to clear and click Remove or to clear all data, click Remove All