How To FIX if Web Browser Back Button Not Working.
Does nothing happen when you click or hit the back button in your web browser? Does it just reload the current page instead? Or is the back button grayed out?
Read :How to bring back ‘View Image’ button on Google’s Image Search
Typically, the back button in a browser does not work as expected due to reasons such as link redirects and conflicting browser extensions. But rarely will you be dealing with something as serious as a malicious add-on or browser hijacker.
Check out the suggestions and solutions below to fix when the back button is not working in Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Apple Safari.
Switch Tabs or Windows
Most of the links you click on usually open in the same browser tab. But if the back button on the page you just loaded is grayed out, it’s likely because it opened in a new tab or new window.
In this case, you will not be able to use the Back button. The only way to go back to the previous page is to switch tabs or windows.
If you are using an extension that forces your browser to open links in new tabs or windows, you can disable it (more on that below).
Multiple Redirects
Some links are redirected through one or more web addresses before downloading. In this case, pressing the Back button may cause the same page to reload.
One way to fix this problem is to press and hold the Back button. This prompts browsers like Chrome to display the history stack for the tab. Then just select the page you want to go to and you can skip the redirection addresses. This also works in mobile browsers; just press and hold the back button to open the history of the tab.
Another workaround is to quickly press the Back button a few times. This helps prevent any previous redirects from firing.
Also Read :Â Fix Back Button Not Working in Internet Explorer
Disable Conflicting Browser Addons
In particular, on desktop devices, extensions can prevent the back button from working properly in a browser. For example, add-ons like content blockers and custom script managers call this often. Disabling them should help.
If you can’t think of anything in particular, disable all browser extensions first. You can access the extensions page through the browser menu (look for the icon with three dots or lines). In Chrome, for example, choose More Tools> Extensions from the Chrome menu to open the list of extensions.
If the Back button starts working correctly after deactivating all extensions, start re-enabling them one by one until you figure out what the problem is.
Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
Corrupted or outdated browser cache is another reason why websites or the browser itself are not working correctly. If clicking or tapping the Back button does nothing or causes the same page to reload, clearing the page may help remedy the situation. Here’s how to remove cache in two popular desktop browsers.
Google Chrome
Open the Chrome menu and go to Settings> Privacy & Security> Clear Browsing Data. Then check the boxes next to Cookies & Other Site Data and Cached Images & Files, set Time Range to All Time, and select Clear Data.
Mozilla Firefox
Open the Firefox menu and go to Settings> Privacy & Security> Cookies and Site Data> Clear Data. Then check the boxes next to Cookies, Site Data and Cached Web Content and select Clear.
If you’re using a different browser, see our essential guide to clearing cache in any browser for specific instructions.
Read :Â How to fix time machine not backing up mac?
Update Your Web Browser
An outdated browser can lead to all sorts of weird problems. If the Back button does not work for some unknown reason, try installing the latest updates. This should help eliminate any known errors from the equation.
Most desktop browsers update automatically, but you can always run a manual check for updates. Here’s how to do it in Chrome and Firefox.
Google Chrome
Open the Chrome menu and choose Help> About Google Chrome. Then wait while Chrome searches for the latest updates. If it finds any updates, it should start installing them automatically.
Mozilla Firefox
Open the Firefox menu and choose Help> About Firefox. Then wait while Firefox finds and installs the latest updates. Then restart your browser.
On your mobile device, you can install the latest browser updates by going to the Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS).
Check for Malware and Browser Hijackers
Malware and add-ons can intercept the default browser. Besides the broken back button, you may also notice other unusual behavior like slowing down, crashing, etc.
The best way to fix this is to scan your device with a dedicated malware removal utility. For example, Malwarebytes can help you remove malware on both PC and Mac.
If you use Chrome on Windows, you can also use its built-in malware removal tool to remove malicious extensions and browser hijackers. To launch it, open the Chrome menu and go to Settings> Advanced> Reset & Clean> Clean Computer> Find.
Reset Your Web Browser
Most desktop web browsers provide a factory reset option to solve serious problems. If none of the suggestions or solutions above helped fix the Back button, do so now.
Here’s how to reset Chrome and Firefox preferences. You can back up your browsing data by syncing it with your Google or Firefox account before starting. If you are using a different browser, look for specific instructions on its online support pages.
Google Chrome
Open the Chrome menu and select Preferences. Then choose Advanced> Reset & Clean> Reset to Original Defaults.
Mozilla Firefox
Type about: support in a new Firefox tab and press Enter. Then select Refresh Firefox.
On a mobile device, you can uninstall and reinstall your browser to fix any underlying issues preventing the Back button from working. However, this is not possible in standard mobile browsers such as Chrome (Android) and Safari (iOS).
How To FIX if Web Browser Back Button Not Working
How To FIX if Web Browser Back Button Not Working