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firefox won't load certain websites https problem

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  • Last reply by cor-el

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Firefox will not load https://www.washingtonpost.com/ unless I clear my cookies. EVERY TIME!! EVERY TIME!! not just once. ALWAYS. I get a "secure connection failed" error. It comes up on other sites too, but this one is consistent. I am tired of clearing my cookies to read the paper each day or even a second time after the first time I load the page.

Firefox will not load https://www.washingtonpost.com/ unless I clear my cookies. EVERY TIME!! EVERY TIME!! not just once. ALWAYS. I get a "secure connection failed" error. It comes up on other sites too, but this one is consistent. I am tired of clearing my cookies to read the paper each day or even a second time after the first time I load the page.

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This issue can be caused by corrupted cookies or blocked cookies.

  • check the permissions for the domain in the currently selected tab in "Tools -> Page Info -> Permissions"

You can try these steps in case of issues with webpages:

You can reload webpage(s) and bypass the cache to refresh possibly outdated or corrupted files.

  • hold down the Shift key and left-click the Reload button
  • press "Ctrl + F5" or press "Ctrl + Shift + R" (Windows,Linux)
  • press "Command + Shift + R" (Mac)

Clear the Cache and remove the Cookies for websites that cause problems via the "3-bar" Firefox menu button (Settings).

"Remove the Cookies" for websites that cause problems:

  • Settings -> Privacy & Security
    Cookies and Site Data: "Manage Data"

"Clear the Cache":

  • Settings -> Privacy & Security
    Cookies and Site Data -> Clear Data -> [X] Cached Web Content -> Clear

Start Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration or if userChrome.css/userContent.css is causing the problem.

  • switch to the Default System theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Themes
  • do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Troubleshoot Mode start window

If clearing cookies doesn't help, it is possible that the cookies.sqlite file in the Firefox profile folder that stores the cookies got corrupted.

  • rename/remove cookies.sqlite (cookies.sqlite.old) and when present delete cookies.sqlite-shm and cookies.sqlite-wal in the Firefox profile folder with Firefox closed in case cookies.sqlite got corrupted.

You can use the button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page (Root directory).