In recent years, you may have been prompted to tick a box that says “I’m not a robot” while browsing the internet. That’s reCAPTCHA, a Google technology that helps protect websites against automated attacks.
CAPTCHAs and reCAPTCHAs both work in the same way, except that CAPTCHAs require more input from you. You might be asked to answer an arithmetic problem, analyze a document, or verify specific photos, for example.
Any website can use these services to prevent automated robots or bots from accessing its content. Fake users cannot see pages, make purchases, create accounts, or log in using this method.
Some customers claim that reCAPTCHA appears as expected, but when they click on it, it simply fades away, and the website does not load. A caution indication appears when users reload the webpage.
What exactly is ReCaptcha?
Google’s ReCaptcha is a complimentary service that protects websites against spam and abuse. A CAPTCHA is a Turing test that distinguishes humans from bots.
It’s simple for people to figure out but difficult for “bots” and other harmful software. You may restrict automated software while allowing your welcome users to enter easily by adding ReCaptcha to a site.
What Causes “ReCaptcha Not Working” In Google Chrome, IE And Firefox?
There are a few common conditions that result in the notice “ReCaptcha Not Working”:
Web Browser Is Not Updated.
The use of an older Chrome version is one of the most typical causes of this problem. Before granting you access, ReCaptcha will check the browser version.
Ip Address Has Been Blocked.
If you’re unlucky enough to be assigned an IP address that falls within a forbidden range that Captchas is aware of, you can run into trouble. If you’re working with a dynamic IP, forcing your ISP to give you an alternative IP is one option.
Infection With Malware.
This problem could be the result of a malware infection. Browser hijackers and adware injectors can send ReCaptcha to too many process requests, causing the software to stop working.
Browser Profile Is Corrupted
Several afflicted users have stated that forcing Google Chrome to establish a new browser profile resolved the problem indefinitely. This step can be completed manually by renaming the current browser profile (Default).
VPN or Proxy Service
Some VPN and proxy services will cause this issue with the ReCaptcha V2 verification. In most circumstances, contacting the VPN/proxy provider’s assistance or switching to a different service is the best answer.
How To Fix “ReCaptcha Service Not Working” Issue (Windows And Mac)
There can be many errors like this viz: wpforms ReCaptcha not working, ReCaptcha key not working, origin ReCaptcha not working, ReCaptcha not working on steam, etc.
For all the problems, the common solutions are as mentioned below.
- Update Web Browser
- Check Your Network
- Avoid Unknown Proxy Servers
- Use Google Public DNS
- Create New Google Chrome Profile
- Disable VPN Software
- Do Not Search Illegal Stuff
- Stop Automated Queries
- Reset IP Address
- Scan System For Virus And Bad Extensions
- Reset Browser
1. Update Web Browser
An old browser version is one of the most prevalent causes of the “ReCaptcha not working” problem; you should update it. I’ll go over how to update popular web browsers, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, and Edge.
Google Chrome
- Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu symbol in the upper right corner to access the browser’s settings.
- To open the “About Chrome” page, go to Help and About Google Chrome.
- Chrome will automatically scan for any available updates. If there are any, the updates will be installed automatically.
- Relaunch Google Chrome after the updates have been successfully deployed to see if the “ReCaptcha not working” issue has been resolved.
Mozilla Firefox
- Double-click the Firefox on the desktop to open Firefox, then click the three lines in the corner (upper right) to bring up the menu.
- Select “About Firefox” from the “Help” drop-down menu. If any new updates are available, the browser will check for them.
- If any are found, Firefox will download and install them automatically the next time it is restarted.
Microsoft Edge
- To access Microsoft Edge’s settings, open it and click the main menu button (the three dots in the upper right corner).
- Select “About Microsoft Edge” by hovering your mouse above the “Help and feedback” option.
- The Edge should run a scan to see any accessible updates online. If any are found, it will download and install them automatically.
- After installing the updates, you’ll be requested to restart Microsoft Edge to finish the process.
2. Check Your Network
Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) may conceal your IP address to track your browsing habits. It will force security technologies like Google’s ReCaptcha to block the entire network of IP addresses used by that ISP.
Another networking issue could be caused by WiFi network sharing. In this instance, someone else on your network may be sending automated traffic, in which case Google will halt searches throughout the entire network.
Address the ReCaptcha not working problem and obtain more information. You can contact the network administrator.
Your ISP can also provide you with a unique static IP address. It will assist you in resolving the ReCaptcha not working issue.
3. Avoid Unknown Proxy Servers
You may be visiting the web page using a proxy connection, resulting in the ReCaptcha not functioning issue. If you’re using a proxy server, you’ll need to disable it.
Captcha may not load when using many free VPN services, where the tunneling protocols are not very secure. If you receive this problem while using a premium service, you should immediately notify the developers.
Premium VPN services employ complex protocols, which aid in identifying genuine requests. Inform the developers of connecting to the website without being identified as a robot.
If you’re utilizing a proxy service, follow the exact instructions. To get around the ReCaptcha not working issue, you’ll need to disable the proxy service.
4. Use Google Public DNS
Another networking issue could be your DNS server. The Domain Name System, or DNS, aids in the conversion of a website’s numeric IP address to a hostname.
The DNS issue could be caused by your computer’s settings, your ISP’s DNS, or the VPN’s private DNS. Although a damaged DNS will not result in a “ReCaptcha not working” warning, it will cause the connection to slow down.
Switching the DNS to a reliable public DNS is a straightforward option.
- Navigate to the “Properties” of your existing network connection in “Network and Sharing Center.”
- Under the “Networking” tab, select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).”
- IPv4
- Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
- Alternative DNS server: 8.8.4.4
- Select “Properties” from the drop-down menu. (If you’re using version 6, choose TCP/IPv6.)
- Choose the radio selection that says “Use the following DNS server addresses:” and fill in the information.
- Google’s DNS servers for IPv4 and IPv6 are listed below:
- IPv6
- 2001:4860:4860::8888
- 2001:4860:4860::8844
- Click the “OK” button, then shut and reopen your browser.
5. Create New Google Chrome Profile
Create a new browser profile to fix the “ReCaptcha not working” problem. According to this idea, a corrupted browser profile can also be the source of this problem.
To resolve the “ReCaptcha not working” issue in Chrome, follow the steps below to establish a new browser profile:
- To open Task Manager, press Shift + Ctrl + Esc.
- Look for Google Chrome processes in Task Manager.
- One by one, select the Chrome processes and click End Task. It will terminate all Chrome processes currently active on your machine.
- Using the Windows and E key combination, open your File Explorer.
- Navigate to the location by pasting it into the navigation bar of Windows Explorer:
- %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\
- Right-click the Default folder in the User Data folder and select Rename. After that, rename it to “Backup Default.”
- At the next startup, the Chrome browser will be forced to establish a new Default folder, which will result in the making of a new browser profile.
- To see if the problem has been repaired, open Google Chrome and force it to create a new browser profile. Then go to a ReCaptcha page.
6. Disable VPN Software
VPN connections may potentially obstruct ReCaptcha operation. As a result, if you’re using a VPN, turn it off for a while and see whether the ReCaptcha problem goes away.
Similarly, turning it off may help solve the ReCaptcha problem if you’re using a proxy service.
7. Do Not Search Illegal Stuff
If you attempt to search for unlawful terms, Google will most likely halt you for verification. You can try searching again after clearing your browser’s cache.
Keep in mind that Google can simply trace all of your search searches using your IP address. So cleaning your browser’s cache will only work if you searched for anything incorrectly.
Otherwise, any searches that violate Google’s rules will be blocked, and you’ll have to wait a while before attempting again.
8. Stop Automated Queries
You may quickly search for terms using a URL like “https://www.google.com/#q=search-term,” you may quickly search for terms. It is the most common method for automated bots to send traffic to Google.
Avoid searching directly with the URL and instead utilize the search box to send the query terms.
Stop modifying the user query before submitting it to Google if you’re a developer. Also, without altering the search results, show them as they were retrieved from Google.
9. Reset IP Address
If you’re using a questionable IP address, you can get a “ReCaptcha not working” error. Your IP address is being used for suspicious activities.
Internet service providers typically use a variety of dynamic IP addresses. Your IP address is causing the “ReCaptcha not working” issue.
You can receive a new IP address by simply removing and rejoining your Internet connection. To reset your IP address, follow the steps below.
Windows System
- In the Windows 10 Cortana search box, type “cmd” in it. Then pick “Run as administrator” from the menu of the best match Command Prompt.
- In a Command Prompt window with elevated privileges. To reset your IP address, type the following commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each one.
- netsh winsock reset
(enter)
- netsh int ip reset
(enter)
- ipconfig /release
(enter)
- ipconfig /renew
(enter)
- You can exit Command Prompt once all commands have been successfully run. Open Google Chrome to see if the “ReCaptcha not working” problem has been resolved.
Mac System
- Open spotlight searches and navigate to “System Preferences” by pressing “Command + Spacer bar.”
- Select your active Wi-Fi connection from the “Network” options.
- By entering your administrator password and clicking “Click the lock to make changes,” you can enable edit mode.
- Select the “Advanced” option, then the “TCP/IP” tab.
- Release and renew your IP address. Select “Renew DHCP Lease.”
- Now check if the “ReCaptcha not working on mac chrome” issue is resolved
10. Scan System For Virus And Bad Extensions
Malware might infiltrate your system when you download harmful files or apps from the internet. It can also come in the form of an email attachment if you click on infected links or images.
It’s a good idea to do a malware scan on your computer to ensure it’s not the source of the “ReCaptcha not working” issue. You can use Windows Security, Microsoft’s free antivirus for Windows operating systems.
- Click on the “Windows Security” icon in your system tray.
- Press the Windows key, write “Windows Security,” and then press “Enter.”
- Click the “Quick scan” button in the “Virus & threat protection” option.
- Check for malware, and a scan will be run. Choose a scan choice from the “Scan options” link for more scan options.
- If Windows Security finds any dangers, it will place them in quarantine until you evaluate and delete them.
I propose Malwarebytes or another advanced security tool. Compared to traditional antivirus software, this is a malware cleanup solution that operates more aggressively.
11. Reset Browser
If nothing else works, try resetting your Chrome or Firefox browser to its default settings.
Google Chrome
- Launch Chrome to get started. In the address line, write chrome:/settings/reset.
- Under Reset and clean up, select Restore settings to their original defaults.
- To complete the Chrome reset procedure, click the Reset settings option.
- Your browser will be reset to its default state once the reset is complete.
- Check if the “ReCaptcha not working” problem still appears after restarting Chrome.
Mozilla Firefox
- To use Firefox, first launch it.
- At the corner (top right), select the Settings (3 horizontal lines) menu.
- To get help, go to Help.
- Choose More Troubleshooting Information from the drop-down menu.
- Click the Refresh Firefox button on the right side of the Troubleshooting information page.
- Click Refresh Firefox once more in the confirmation window.
- After the refresh procedure is complete, restart your browser to see if the “ReCaptcha not working” error has been resolved.
Conclusion
Google will only display the CAPTCHA message if unexpected traffic patterns are observed. Google will allow you to search normally once the odd behavior has stopped. So, if you’re getting this notice regularly, something is probably wrong. After reading this, you must be competent to fix the Google “ReCaptcha not working” issue.