Frequent Browser Errors and How to Resolve Them

2. Unwanted URL Suggestions

When you type a website address in your browser’s address bar, you’ll usually get URL suggestions based on your browsing history. These URL suggestions can help you access websites you visit frequently faster, but they can also be a problem if you don’t want them to appear. For example, if you’ve ever visited an inappropriate, sensitive, or confidential website, and you don’t want others using your browser to know about it. How do I remove these unwanted suggested URLs? Here are some ways you can try:

Delete your browsing history.

Your browsing history is a record of the websites you’ve visited and is usually the primary source of URL suggestions. You can clear your browsing history in the same way by clearing your cache and cookies, as described above. You can choose the time range and type of data you want to delete, including your browsing history. However, keep in mind that deleting your browsing history will also delete other data that you might find useful, like passwords, forms, etc.

Remove individual URL suggestions.

If you just want to delete certain suggested URLs, without deleting your browsing history entirely, you can do so by:

• In Chrome, hover your cursor over the suggested URL you want to delete, then press the Shift + Delete keys on your keyboard. If you’re using a Mac, press the Shift + Fn + Delete keys.
• In Firefox, hover your cursor over the suggested URL you want to delete, then press the Delete key on your keyboard. If you’re using a Mac, press the Fn + Delete keys.
• In Edge, hover over the suggested URL you want to remove, then click the X icon to the right of the suggested URL.
• In Safari, hover over the suggested URL you want to remove, then press the Delete key on your keyboard. If you’re using a Mac, press the Fn + Delete keys.

Use incognito or private mode.

If you don’t want your browser to save your browsing history at all, you can use incognito or private mode. This mode will prevent your browser from storing any data related to the websites you visit, including cache, cookies, history, and URL suggestions. You can turn on incognito or private mode by:

• In Chrome, open the menu and select New Incognito Window. You can also press the Ctrl + Shift + N keys on your keyboard. If you’re using a Mac, press the Command + Shift + N keys.
• In Firefox, open the menu and select New Private Window. You can also press the Ctrl + Shift + P keys on your keyboard. If you’re using a Mac, press the Command + Shift + P keys.
• In Edge, open the menu and select New Incognito Window. You can also press the Ctrl + Shift + N keys on your keyboard. If you’re using a Mac, press the Command + Shift + N keys.
• In Safari, open the Safari menu and select New Private Window. You can also press the Command + Shift + N keys on your keyboard.

3. Common HTTP Errors

HTTP is a protocol used by browsers and servers to communicate and exchange data. When you access a website, your browser will send an HTTP request to the server, and the server will give an HTTP response containing the status and content of the website. However, sometimes there is an error that occurs in this process, which is shown by a number code starting with 4 or 5. Here are some examples of common HTTP errors and how to resolve them:

400 Bad Request.

This error shows that the HTTP request sent by your browser is invalid or incomprehensible to the server. Several factors can cause this, such as:

• Incorrect or incomplete URL. You should check if you typed in the website address correctly and completely, including protocol (HTTP or https), domain, and sub-domain. If you click on a link from another website, check if the link is not broken or expired.
• Problematic cache and cookies. You can try clearing your cache and cookies, as described above, to ensure that your browser does not send incorrect or outdated data to the server.
• Annoying extensions or add-ons. You can try disabling or removing extensions or add-ons that might change or block your HTTP requests, as described above.

403 Forbidden.

This error indicates that you do not have permission to access the website you requested. This can be caused by several factors, such as:

• Websites blocked by your internet service provider, government, or organization. You can try using a VPN, proxy, or Tor to change your IP address and access blocked websites. However, you should be careful with the security and legality risks of this method.
• Websites that require authentication or authorization. You should check that you are logged into your account, or entered the correct password or passcode if the website requires it. If you’ve forgotten your password or access code, you can try contacting the administrator or owner of the website for help.
• Websites that have access restrictions based on location, time of day, or device. You should check if the website is only available to certain users, such as those in certain countries, at certain hours, or using certain devices. If so, you should try to change your location, time, or device according to the criteria set by that website.

404 Not Found.

This error indicates that the website you requested does not exist or was not found by the server. This can be caused by several factors, such as:

• Incorrect or missing URL. You should check if you typed in the website address correctly and completely, as explained above. If you click on a link from another website, you should check if the link is not broken or expired.
• Websites that have been deleted or moved. You should check if the website still exists or has been deleted or moved by the owner. You can try using a site like [Wayback Machine] or [Google Cache] to view older or archived versions of those websites, if available. – Websites experiencing technical or maintenance issues. You should check if the website is experiencing an outage or is in the process of updating. You can try contacting the administrator or owner of the website for more information, or wait a while and try accessing the website again.

500 Internal Server Error.

This error indicates that there is a server-side issue preventing the website you are requesting to display. This can be caused by several factors, such as:

• Errors in the code or configuration of the website. You can’t do much to solve this problem, because it is the responsibility of the administrator or website owner to fix it. You can try contacting them to report the issue you’re experiencing, or wait a while and try accessing the website again.
• The traffic load is too high. If too many users access the same website simultaneously, the server can become overwhelmed and not be able to handle HTTP requests properly. You can try accessing the website at a different time, when the traffic is less congested, or use an alternative site that provides the same or similar content.
• Cyberattacks or malware. If a website’s server is attacked by hackers or infected by malware, its performance and security can suffer. You should be careful with suspicious or malicious websites, and always use antivirus and firewalls to protect your device. You should also avoid clicking on links or downloading files that you don’t know or trust.