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

This document describes what to do if you receive a 400 Bad Request error message upon loading the UW-Madison NetID Login page

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:

Stale Request 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
Google Chrome
Chrome (Win) - Clearing Cache and Cookies Chrome (Mac) - Clearing Cache and Cookies
Firefox
Firefox
Firefox 57+ (Win) - Clearing Cache and Cookies Firefox 21+ (Mac) - Clearing Cache and Cookies
Safari
Safari
Safari (Win) - Clearing Cache and Cookies Safari 10.0.1+ (Mac) - Clearing Cache and Cookies
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge
Edge (Win) - Clearing Cache and Cookies None
Opera
Opera
Opera (Win) - Clearing Cache and Cookies Opera 28.0 (Mac) - Clearing Cache and Cookies
New Microsoft Edge logo
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 Icon
Android
Android (Jellybean) - Clearing Cache and Cookies on Google Chrome
iOS Icon
iOS
iOS - Clearing Cache and Cookies
webOS Icon
webOS
HP webOS 2.x - Clearing Cache and Cookies
Windows Phone Icon
Windows Phone
Internet Explorer (Windows Phone) - Clearing Cache and Cookies

Legacy Versions

Windows

Table with browser name and links to Windows documents.
Browser Document Link
Internet Explorer 9, 10, & 11
Internet Explorer 9, 10, & 11
Internet Explorer 9, 10, and 11 (Win) - Clearing Cache and Cookies
Internet Explorer 6
Internet Explorer 6
Internet Explorer 6 (Win) - Clearing Cache and Cookies
Internet Explorer 7
Internet Explorer 7
Internet Explorer 7 (Win) - Clearing Cache and Cookies
Internet Explorer 8
Internet Explorer 8
Internet Explorer 8 (Win) - Clearing Cache and Cookies
Firefox 3.5
Firefox 3.5
Firefox 3.5 (Win) - Clearing Cache and Cookies

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



Keywordsproblem login log in error account browser stale request   Doc ID79133
OwnerHelp Desk KB TeamGroupDoIT Help Desk
Created2018-01-10 15:31:58Updated2020-05-28 13:34:49
SitesDoIT Help Desk
Feedback  8   2