Web Browser Best Practices and Basic Troubleshooting
Best Practices
There are some browser settings and practices that will help you avoid some of the common issues people encounter when using Blackboard and its integrated tools.
Keep your device up-to-date. Ensure that your computer or mobile device has the latest version of its operating system. This will make sure you’re able to keep your browser updated to the latest version.
Keep your browser up-to-date. The latest version of web browsers have the latest security settings and optimal configuration for the latest tech. Whether you’re using Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Safari, or Google Chrome, make sure you are using the most updated version available to you.
Enable third-party cookies. This setting helps the browser remember you when launching a third-party tool from Blackboard. The setting is usually located in the Privacy or Security section of your browser settings, but it’s different for each browser.
Disable “Prevent cross-site tracking.” Safari users do not have a setting for third-party cookies. Ensure that you disable, or uncheck, the “Prevent cross-site tracking” setting. (Safari > Settings > Privacy)
Run Blackboard’s Browser Checker. If you’re encountering frequent errors in a specific browser, you may want to check to see if your browser is compatible.
Basic Troubleshooting
There are some basic troubleshooting steps you can try if you’re encountering an unexpected issue while using Blackboard.
Clear your cache. This very simple step will resolve most unusual errors and weirdness within Blackboard, and it will usually be the first troubleshooting step we suggest.
Try using a different browser. If clearing the cache didn’t resolve the issue, we recommend using a different browser. Sometimes browser settings or versions can interact differently with learning technologies like Blackboard. Using a different browser is a good workaround.
Restart your computer. If clearing your cache and switching browsers didn’t work, we suggest restarting your computer. If there are any pending updates, please install those as well.
Try using a different computer. If all of our other steps fail, we ask that you try to use a different device. The issue may be specific to your computer or mobile device. If you’re on-campus, University Libraries has devices available for check-out.