I have a non-writing technical question.
I can't get into Hotmail using Safari for all of my email accounts. I can't even explain what it's telling me is the reason. But I can if I use Chrome. So it has something to do with Safari.
I found in a Google search potential ways to address it. One was to use Safari's Private Mode. I did and it worked.
So what is it about Private Mode that would help me figure out what my problem is? Cookies? Something else?
Thanks for your help.
The base set of features for Private Browsing:
• Safari does not save visited web pages to your browser history.
• Browsing is isolated across tabs, so websites can't track your history across multiple sessions.
• Safari won't suggest or use your AutoFill information.
• Search queries are not stored in the Smart Search bar or your iCloud account.
• Cookies, cached images, and other website data are deleted when the session ends.
• Downloads aren't included in the downloads list – but they DO remain on your computer.
• Tabs close automatically when you exit the Private session or restart Safari.
• On macOS Sonoma, Private windows can even be locked behind Touch ID for added security.
I'm going to guess it's cookie-related.
I'm going to guess it's cookie-related.
My guess would be localStorage-related.
Many websites use localStorage for caching data and speed up the experience. And there are differences between browsers in handling localStorage.
I guess Hotmail's localStorage handling is more compatible with Chrome and it breaks under Safari, but when Hotmail detects a private session, it turns off usage of localStorage, and then it's not affected by whatever bug it is that stops it from working on Safari.
I don't know if it was LocalStorage or cookies or cache, but the problem seems to be fixed. I went into Safari's Privacy settings where you manage cookies. I couldn't find any with Hotmail or Outlook in it, but I deleted a few with MS or MSN or Microsoft. I didn't bother checking if they were cookies, cache, or localStorage. I just deleted them. And now Hotmail is working.
Thanks, guys.
It does a lot of things. Think of it as a clean-room browser. Cookies, logins, some cached files, extensions, local DBs for websites -- all disabled. Service workers are started clean. All that stuff is specific to a browser. Your safari instance is full of accumulated cruft. :)
I use Windows 11.
Microsoft make the 'Hotmail" domain inaccessible, so I had to switch to 'Outlook'. That may have something to do with your problem.
Microsoft make the 'Hotmail" domain inaccessible, so I had to switch to 'Outlook'. That may have something to do with your problem.
hotmail.com directs you to Outlook. It's been like that forever.
That may be, but I had Hotmail and was forced to go to Outlook, because the domain was inaccessible to Windows 11.