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Why can't I access gmail using Firefox?

  • 13 replies
  • 186 have this problem
  • 15 views
  • Last reply by Mirania

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As of yesterday, I can't access gmail using Firefox. I can access all other websites (including other Google services), but not gmail. I just get the message:

"The page isn't redirecting properly. Firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the request for this address in a way that will never complete. This problem can sometimes be caused by disabling or refusing to accept cookies."

I have tried reinstalling Firefox, emptying/deleting cache and cookies, disabling add-ons - basically every fix that I can find on the web, but no good! I can access gmail with no problems using Chrome and IE.

Any ideas?

As of yesterday, I can't access gmail using Firefox. I can access all other websites (including other Google services), but not gmail. I just get the message: "The page isn't redirecting properly. Firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the request for this address in a way that will never complete. This problem can sometimes be caused by disabling or refusing to accept cookies." I have tried reinstalling Firefox, emptying/deleting cache and cookies, disabling add-ons - basically every fix that I can find on the web, but no good! I can access gmail with no problems using Chrome and IE. Any ideas?

All Replies (13)

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When you disabled add-ons, was that using Firefox Safe Mode, or manually disabling them?

What is your approach to cookies? If your default is "ask me every time" try creating a new "Allow" rule for google.com (without www).

orange Firefox button or classic Tools menu > Options > Privacy > "Exceptions" button

Not sure whether that will help with Gmail, but it seems to help on some domains.

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Thanks for your prompt reply! Regarding add-ons, I've tried both manually disabling them and using Firefox Safe Mode, but neither made a difference.

Regarding cookies, I allow them all so that shouldn't be a problem, although I have also created a new "Allow" rule for google.com as you suggested.

Still not able to access gmail!

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When you cleared the cache, did you clear it completely or use a date range? You could try this method to be sure:

orange Firefox button or Tools menu > Options > Advanced

On the Network mini-tab > Cached Web Content : "Clear Now"


You also could test in a new Firefox profile. In addition to bypassing current add-ons and custom settings, it should have completely fresh settings databases and a fresh cache folder.

Exit Firefox completely, then from the start menu search box:

firefox.exe -p

This will call up the Profile Manager where you can create a new profile (accept the defaults and give it a name like Fx15 test) to see whether Gmail will run in that factory default condition. Your installed plugins will still be available, but not extensions.

Any difference?

Exit Firefox and restart the profile manager to start up in your regular profile again.

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Cache definitely completely cleared.

I then set up a new profile, following your instructions, and...I can now access Gmail again!!!!

If I go back to the original profile, I still get the same problems, so what does this mean? I'm guessing that it must be one of my extensions that is somehow conflicting with Firefox and Gmail. For the record, the only extensions I have running are DownloadHelper 4.9.10, Adblock Plus 2.1.2 and Adblock Plus Pop-up Addon 0.4, all of which I've had in Firefox for ages.

I've tried enabling/disabling them again in different combinations, as I did before, but this has no effect.

Thanks very much for your help thus far though!

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STOP PRESS...

I've just checked my Firefox Plugins too, and I updated Shockwave For Director and Shockwave Flash. Gmail is now working in my original profile! I don't know if these updates were coincidental, but all now appears to be back to normal again.

All very bizarre, but problem appears to be solved; I'll post again if there are any further developments!

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I am having this same problem. I have cleared my cache and cookies and updated Shockwave Flash (I don't have/use the director's version mentioned above) to no avail. I'm able to access Gmail on a new profile, but I really don't want to go through the hassle of moving all of my bookmarks, settings, and preferences to another profile if I don't have to, especially since the problem may just wind up happening again.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

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Hello, I have no cache/cookies at all under my network tab. I have no idea how to do what others are saying they are doing to use their gmail.

Help me, please..

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Hi momoftwingirls, are you running Windows or Mac?

When you have a problem with one particular site, a good "first thing to try" is clearing your Firefox cache and deleting your saved cookies for the site.

(1) Bypass Firefox's Cache

Use Ctrl+Shift+r (or Cmd+Shift+r) to reload the page fresh from the server.

You also can clear Firefox's cache completely using:

(WIN) orange Firefox button or Tools menu > Options > Advanced
(MAC) Firefox menu > Preferences > Advanced

On the Network mini-tab > Cached Web Content : "Clear Now"

(2) Remove the site's cookies (save any pending work first) using the following dialog.

While viewing a page on the site:

  • right-click and choose View Page Info > Security > "View Cookies" or
  • Tools menu > Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"

Then try reloading the page (and log in again). Does that help?

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I am having the same issue. I have a Mac not a PC. I do not have any add ons installed yet (just downloaded firefox) and have tried all the above stuff without success.

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I have the same problem. I have cleared my browsing history, temporary files and all the other stuff, but Firefox cannot find Gmail at all, let alone my own email account. I even tried using Firefox Search to find Google Search. Then with Google Search I searched for Gmail. Sure enough, it came up with a hundred million entries, but clicking on the top one of the pile (i.e. the main Gmail dot com address), gave me the same Firefox error message as Gideon, the original poster:

"The page isn't redirecting properly. Firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the request for this address in a way that will never complete. This problem can sometimes be caused by disabling or refusing to accept cookies."

This is the message I get, no matter what I do to try to find Gmail. I know nothing about computers, so please do not ask me technical questions. I don't know the difference between an extension, a plu-in or an app, and wouldn't recognise one if it bit me. I do not even know the difference between a menu bar, a tool bar, an option bar, or any of the other bars. I don't even have a so-called orange Firefox Button on my screen, which is supposed to be the key to mysteries of the universe. At least Internet Explorer allowed me to use email, which is practically all I use the internet for, so I am puzzled that Firefox seems to have so many fans. Do the enthusiasts simply not use email? Or maybe no-one else uses Gmail, apart from the few plaintive voices on this forum. Is it possibly the case that Firefox and Gmail are simply not meant to work together. Do I have to move to a different email address in order to use Firefox?

Like 'Momoftwingirls', I cannot grasp the meaning of the earlier exchanges on this page. Does anyone out there please have a SIMPLE solution? I could not repay you but I would be eternally grateful. Thank you.

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This is what worked for me (from a suggestion above)...

You also could test in a new Firefox profile. In addition to bypassing current add-ons and custom settings, it should have completely fresh settings databases and a fresh cache folder.

Exit Firefox completely, then from the start menu search box:

firefox.exe -p (just copy the "firefox.exe -p" then go to start then past it into the blank "Search" box." If you're using Windows 8 there's someway to find that, but since I use "StartisBack" (wonderful!) I don't do that much.

This will call up the Profile Manager where you can create a new profile (accept the defaults and give it a name like Fx15 test) to see whether Gmail will run in that factory default condition. Your installed plugins will still be available, but not extensions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I tried this and it worked for me. I thought that there was a possibility that once I could access Gmail by the new profile (which you can call anything you wish) that the old profile would work. Alas, it didn't. So I'm using the new profile. I lost all of my bookmarks, but I'm managing. There's probably a way to boot into the old profile and save everything so I can reload it into the new profile, but I haven't researched it. Any suggestions?

Oh, I had to go to task manager (Control, Alt, Delete and then select Task Manager) to completely close down Firefox. There was still some part of it running. When the Task Manager program comes up just look for anything that says, "Firefox," right click on it and select "end process" or something similar.

Hope this helps,

Michael

Modified by Pastorb

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Hi Pastorb, yes, you can fairly easily copy your bookmarks from an older profile folder to a newer one. One of the options for restoring a backup of your bookmarks allows you to roam around your hard drive and restore from a different profile.

However, the easiest way to migrate many of your settings to a new profile is to use Firefox's Reset feature. This requires you go back to the profile manager and start up in your original profile. Then you can use the Reset button. This article has more information on that:

Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings

After a reset, your original profile folder will be dropped on your desktop with a name similar to Old Firefox Settings. I suggest keeping that around for a while in case you need to recover any other data from it.

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Thanks! I just cleared all of my recent history and I am now able to visit ALL the google websites! I was going nuts having to use internet explorer! SO simple!