NetID Login - How to Fix a "Stale Request" Error

Problem

When you are attempting to log in to a UW Madison service or a link that requires NetID authentication, you may see this error for several reasons.

You may see the following error:

Solution

First, make sure you are attempting to use a valid link. If you are using a bookmark, try getting to the site another way as bookmarks can cause this error.

Next, if you are using Safari on a Mac, follow the instructions in NetID Login - "Stale Request" Error in Safari first to make sure your browser is not blocking all cookies, which can prevent NetID login from functioning properly.

Next, completely restart the browser so that all previous windows and tabs have been closed. In some cases, this alone can fix the issue. If this does not work, then the issue can usually be resolved by clearing your browser's cache and cookies. Click the browser you are using below to find instructions for clearing your browser's cache and cookies.

If it does not appear to be an issue with the browser, it could be a network issue. Please try using a a different network or cellular data. If none of these work, consider downloading WiscVPN: WiscVPN - Installing the Palo Alto GlobalProtect Client (Windows), WiscVPN - Installing the Palo Alto GlobalProtect Client (Mac)

Currently, certain versions of Firefox will give this error even after completing possible troubleshooting. Try using a different browser, such as Google Chrome, which can be downloaded here: http://www.google.com/chrome/

Desktop Web Browsers

Clearing the browser cache prevents you from using old/out-of-date versions of websites and protects your personal information. It also helps running some applications better on your computer by freeing up space.

Note: Make sure you set the Time Range to the "All Time" or "Everything" options when available to clear all data.

Table with browser name and links to Windows documents and macOS documents.

Browser	Windows Document Link	macOS Document Link
Google Chrome	Chrome (Win) - Clearing Cache and Cookies	Chrome (Mac) - Clearing Cache and Cookies
Firefox	Firefox 57+ (Win) - Clearing Cache and Cookies	Firefox 21+ (Mac) - Clearing Cache and Cookies
Safari	Safari (Win) - Clearing Cache and Cookies	Safari 10.0.1+ (Mac) - Clearing Cache and Cookies
Microsoft Edge	Edge (Win) - Clearing Cache and Cookies	None
Opera	Opera (Win) - Clearing Cache and Cookies	Opera 28.0 (Mac) - Clearing Cache and Cookies
New Microsoft Edge	New Edge (Win 10, 8, 7, MacOS) - Clearing Cache and Cookies	New Edge (Win 10, 8, 7, MacOS) - Clearing Cache and Cookies

Mobile Web Browsers

Table with mobile Operating System and corresponding documents on clearing cache and cookies.

Operating System	Document Link
Android	Android (Jellybean) - Clearing Cache and Cookies on Google Chrome
iOS	iOS - Clearing Cache and Cookies
webOS	HP webOS 2.x - Clearing Cache and Cookies
Windows Phone	Internet Explorer (Windows Phone) - Clearing Cache and Cookies

Legacy Versions

If you are still experiencing issues after completing those steps, contact the DoIT Help Desk. See: Get Help from DoIT

See Also:

• Web Browsers - How to Fix a "Bad Request" Error