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Unable to sign into certain sites

  • 11 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by Arí

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I've run into a strange issue lately - certain sites are left unable to sign in. I've tried disabling add-ons, clearing cache, cookies, history, lowering my security settings, adding site exclusions, disabling VPN, refreshing firefox, uninstall/reinstall, uninstall/clear data/reinstall/refresh firefox, everything. Still, nothing.

One site in particular is Dropbox. I enter my creds, it asks for my authenticator, error. So I tried in another browser and it works fine. So it's definitely a firefox issue.

I did disable my authenticator temporarily, and was able to sign in on Firefox. However the moment I re-enabled it, I'm no longer able to sign in again.

I have a few other sites that won't sign in either. Some give errors, some accept my password then refresh to the non-signed in page.

I'm at a loss. I've tried everything I can think of. And confirmed all sites work in other browsers.

OS: Windows 10 OS Version: 1909 Firefox: 78.0

I've run into a strange issue lately - certain sites are left unable to sign in. I've tried disabling add-ons, clearing cache, cookies, history, lowering my security settings, adding site exclusions, disabling VPN, refreshing firefox, uninstall/reinstall, uninstall/clear data/reinstall/refresh firefox, everything. Still, nothing. One site in particular is Dropbox. I enter my creds, it asks for my authenticator, error. So I tried in another browser and it works fine. So it's definitely a firefox issue. I did disable my authenticator temporarily, and was able to sign in on Firefox. However the moment I re-enabled it, I'm no longer able to sign in again. I have a few other sites that won't sign in either. Some give errors, some accept my password then refresh to the non-signed in page. I'm at a loss. I've tried everything I can think of. And confirmed all sites work in other browsers. OS: Windows 10 OS Version: 1909 Firefox: 78.0

All Replies (11)

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Hi Arí, if you haven't already, could you test in Firefox's Safe Mode? In its Safe Mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, any userChrome.css/userContent.css files, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem.

If Firefox is not running: Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox. (On Mac, hold down the option/alt key instead of the Shift key.)

If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
  • (menu bar) Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

and OK the restart.

Both scenarios: A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).

Any improvement?

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jscher2000 said

Hi Arí, if you haven't already, could you test in Firefox's Safe Mode? In its Safe Mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, any userChrome.css/userContent.css files, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem. If Firefox is not running: Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox. (On Mac, hold down the option/alt key instead of the Shift key.) If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:
  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
  • (menu bar) Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
and OK the restart. Both scenarios: A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh). Any improvement?

I apologize, I meant to add that to the list of steps I have attempted already. Unfortunately it does not alleviate the issue.

Modified by Arí

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Is the authenticator used to receive codes for multi-factor authentication? Then you type the one-time pin into the login form?

Do you use any anti-keylogger software (I think there is such a feature in a Checkpoint/ZoneAlarm product, for example). Sometimes these scramble your typing in certain fields in Firefox.

I wonder whether this is a cookie issue. You can clear the existing cookies for the site in case something is stuck or corrupted. While viewing a page on the site, click the lock icon at the left end of the address bar. After a moment, a "Clear Cookies and Site Data" button should appear at the bottom. Go ahead and click that.

In the dialog that opens, you will see one or more matches to the current address so you can remove the site's cookies individually without affecting other sites.

Then try reloading the page and logging in again. Any improvement?

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jscher2000 said

Is the authenticator used to receive codes for multi-factor authentication? Then you type the one-time pin into the login form? Do you use any anti-keylogger software (I think there is such a feature in a Checkpoint/ZoneAlarm product, for example). Sometimes these scramble your typing in certain fields in Firefox. I wonder whether this is a cookie issue. You can clear the existing cookies for the site in case something is stuck or corrupted. While viewing a page on the site, click the lock icon at the left end of the address bar. After a moment, a "Clear Cookies and Site Data" button should appear at the bottom. Go ahead and click that. In the dialog that opens, you will see one or more matches to the current address so you can remove the site's cookies individually without affecting other sites. Then try reloading the page and logging in again. Any improvement?

Yes, my authenticator is linked to my Dropbox account for multifactor. I've tried codes from it and the security backup codes and neither work in Firefox. They do however still work in other browsers.

I have wiped all data from Firefox multiple times as well as a full wipe and reinstall including program data and appdata folder removal. I have also specifically wiped my cache and cookies multiple times including all historical data.

I'm not running anything special. This is a rather new Win10 VM with very little installed. I wanted this one to be as barebones as possible.

Another example of this issue is when I try to access the web interface for my self hosted Deluge. I access the site via HTTPS, enter the password, it accepts, reloads, then asks me for the PW again. If I enter an incorrect pw it will indicate the PW is bad. This also works on other browsers.

I appreciate your assistance getting to the bottom of this!

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I'm not aware of any special issues with Dropbox in Firefox, so this definitely is not normal.

Arí said

Another example of this issue is when I try to access the web interface for my self hosted Deluge. I access the site via HTTPS, enter the password, it accepts, reloads, then asks me for the PW again. If I enter an incorrect pw it will indicate the PW is bad.

Do you restrict cookies or local storage in any way?

(As a side note, Firefox 78.0.1 is in the works to address a problem with search engines. That probably won't affect this issue.)

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jscher2000 said

I'm not aware of any special issues with Dropbox in Firefox, so this definitely is not normal.

Arí said

Another example of this issue is when I try to access the web interface for my self hosted Deluge. I access the site via HTTPS, enter the password, it accepts, reloads, then asks me for the PW again. If I enter an incorrect pw it will indicate the PW is bad.

Do you restrict cookies or local storage in any way?

(As a side note, Firefox 78.0.1 is in the works to address a problem with search engines. That probably won't affect this issue.)

My usual setting is 'strict' and I turn off trackers. I have adjusted both of these settings to allow all cookies and trackers. Still no change.

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Can you login using a recovery code that you save when you setup MFA ?

If an MFA code isn't working then this can indicate a time difference between Firefox and the app you are using.
You aren't using a proxy or VPN in Firefox ?

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cor-el said

Can you login using a recovery code that you save when you setup MFA ? If an MFA code isn't working then this can indicate a time difference between Firefox and the app you are using.
You aren't using a proxy or VPN in Firefox ?

My authenticator works in other browsers. As well as the recovery/backup codes. But not in Firefox.

I usually connect to everything via VPN. But I disabled it during troubleshooting. Sadly it made no difference.

However it's not just the authenticator as other sites without multifactor are also seeing similar problems.

My self hosted deluge instance only takes a simple password, but will not sign in. It accepts it, as it will notify if the PW is incorrect. But when it reloads, I'm still not signed in.

I'm wondering if this may be a file permissions issue. Like maybe it can't save the cookies properly or something. Idk just thinking out loud.

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If clearing cookies didn't help then 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 -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.


You can remove all data stored in Firefox for a specific domain via "Forget About This Site" in the right-click context menu of an history entry ("History -> Show All History" or "View -> Sidebar -> History").

Using "Forget About This Site" will remove all data stored in Firefox for this domain like history and cookies and passwords and exceptions and cache, so be cautious. If you have a password or other data for that domain that you do not want to lose then make sure to backup this data or make a note.

You can't recover from this 'forget' unless you have a backup of involved files.

If you revisit a 'forgotten' website then data for that website will be saved once again.


You can create a new profile as a quick test to see if your current profile is causing the problem.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.

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cor-el said

If clearing cookies didn't help then 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 -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.

You can remove all data stored in Firefox for a specific domain via "Forget About This Site" in the right-click context menu of an history entry ("History -> Show All History" or "View -> Sidebar -> History").

Using "Forget About This Site" will remove all data stored in Firefox for this domain like history and cookies and passwords and exceptions and cache, so be cautious. If you have a password or other data for that domain that you do not want to lose then make sure to backup this data or make a note.

You can't recover from this 'forget' unless you have a backup of involved files.

If you revisit a 'forgotten' website then data for that website will be saved once again.


You can create a new profile as a quick test to see if your current profile is causing the problem.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.

I have used forget site, I have wiped all Firefox data and rebuilt, I have built new profiles. None of this has fixed the issue.

Not to be rude, but please read my previous replies. Every solution suggested thus far I have previously stated I tried and that it did not work.

I have even uninstalled, wiped all data related to Firefox including profiles, appdata, and program data. Reinstalled, and prior to any setup or importing of data, tested the sites in question with the issue still remaining.

I have tried disabling add-ons, safe mode, clearing cache, cookies, history, lowering my security settings, building new profiles, adding site exclusions, forgetting the site, disabling VPN, refreshing firefox, uninstall/reinstall, uninstall/clear data/reinstall/refresh firefox, everything. I've tried doing everything at once but still Firefox will not allow the sign in.

To be clear, I work in IT and troubleshoot these kind issues for a living. I would not be here if I had not attempted everything in the help guides and everything I could possibly think of. Suggesting a fix from the wiki will not help in this situation, as I have already tried it.

Like I said before, I don't mean to sound rude, I appreciate any assistance I can get. I just want anyone attempting to help to understand that I have already done these steps multiple times.

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I have isolated the issue to Windows. Firefox on Ubuntu signs into both sites fine.