If you’re ever faced with a problem with your browser that doesn’t seem to be related to anything you’ve done before, it’s worth checking out the Back button. It’s usually the first thing to go when something goes wrong in your computer.
If you’re having trouble using the Back button in Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Apple Safari, here are some solutions:
- Try pressing Ctrl+F5 to reload the page.
- Try pressing Esc to exit the current tab and go back to the previous one.
- Try pressing Alt+Tab to switch between tabs. ..
Switch Tabs or Windows
If you’re trying to open a link in the same tab, but the Back button is grayed out, that means the link opened in a new tab or window. ..
In this case, you cannot use the Back button. The only way to go back to the previous page is to switch tabs or windows.
If you use an extension that forces your browser to open links in new tabs or windows, you may want to disable it so that you can continue reading the article in its original form.
Multiple Redirects
Some links redirect through one or more web addresses before loading. When that happens, selecting the Back button may cause it to reload the same page multiple times.
To overcome the issue of redirected addresses, you can use the Back button to navigate to the page you want to get to. This also works on mobile browsers. Just long-tap the Back button to bring up the tab’s history.
Another way to deal with the issue is to quickly click the Back button. This will prevent any previous redirects from kicking in.
Disable Conflicting Browser Addons
Extensions can prevent the Back button on your browser from working correctly. For example, add-ons such as content blockers and user script managers often cause that. Deactivating them should help.
Disable all browser extensions to get started.
If the Back button begins to work correctly after deactivating all extensions, but then starts to malfunction, try re-enabling them one by one until you figure out what’s causing the problem.
Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
- Clear your browser’s cache by pressing the button on the top left of your screen.
- If you’re using a desktop browser, open the menu and select “Clear Cache.”
Google Chrome
To clear your browsing data on Chrome, open the menu and go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. Next, check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, set Time range to All time, and select Clear data. ..
Mozilla Firefox
To clear your cookies and site data in Firefox, open the menu and go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data. Next, check the boxes next to Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content and select Clear. ..
If you are having trouble clearing your browser’s cache, refer to our master guide for specific instructions for different browsers. ..
Update Your Web Browser
If you’re having trouble using your browser, it may be because of outdated software. If that’s the case, make sure to update your software to the latest versions. That way, you should be able to avoid any issues that might occur.
Chrome and Firefox both have an “auto-update” feature that will check for updates and install them if they are available. You can also initiate a manual check for updates by following these steps: In Chrome, open the “Tools” menu and select “Options.” In the “Advanced” tab, under the “Web Content” heading, click on the “Update Manager” button. In Firefox, open the “Tools” menu and select “Options.” Under the “Advanced” heading, click on the “Update Options” button. On the left side of the window that opens, under the heading “Updates,” click on the button that says “Check for updates automatically.” In both cases, you’ll be prompted to allow your browser to check for updates every day or once a week. ..
Google Chrome
If you don’t see any updates, open the Chrome menu and select Help > About Google Chrome. Then, wait until Chrome searches for the latest updates. If it does detect any updates, it should start installing them automatically.
Mozilla Firefox
Firefox updates your browser automatically and can be restarted by following these steps: Open the Firefox menu and select Help > About Firefox. Then, wait until Firefox searches for and installs the latest updates. Follow that by restarting your browser.
On mobile, you can install the latest browser updates by heading over to the Play Store (Android) or the App Store (iOS).
Check for Malware and Browser Hijackers
Default browser functionality can be hijacked by malicious software and add-ons. Aside from abnormal behavior such as slowdowns, crashes, or the inability to access certain websites, you may also notice that your Back button is malfunctioning. ..
scan your device for malware
If you use Chrome in Windows, you can also use its built-in malware removal tool to remove malicious extensions and browser hijackers. To run it, open the Chrome menu and select Settings > Advanced > Reset and clean up > Clean up computer > Find.
Reset Your Web Browser
If you still cannot fix the Back button on your desktop web browser, you may want to reset it.
- Reset Chrome and Firefox To reset Chrome and Firefox, open a browser window and click on the three lines in the top left corner of the window. Type “reset” and hit enter. If you use a different browser, look up its support pages online for specific instructions.
Google Chrome
Reset Chrome settings to their original defaults.
Mozilla Firefox
Type about:support into a new Firefox tab and press Enter. Then, select Refresh Firefox and press Enter again.
If you’re having trouble using the Back button on your mobile device, there are a few things you can do to try and fix the issue. However, if you’re using a stock mobile browser such as Chrome (Android) or Safari (iOS), there’s not really anything you can do to fix it. ..
