I’m having trouble with my account. What are your top troubleshooting recommendations?
Last Updated: June 26, 2009
Text Size: A A A

Save to My Help

Save this article to My Help for easy reference. You can visit the article at any time from any computer.

Replace an article

You have reached the maximum number of saved articles. Your oldest saved article will be replaced with the new one.

Here are our top tips with six (6) recommendations:

1. Use a supported browser
The All-New Yahoo! Mail supports these browsers.

Yahoo! Mail Classic supports these browsers.

2. Enable JavaScript
JavaScript is a simple programming language that's essential to any current web site. Make sure that you have JavaScript enabled. Here's how:

Internet Explorer 6.0:

  1. From the "Tools" menu, click Internet Options.
  2. Click the "Security" tab.
  3. Click Internet to select the Internet Zone.
  4. Click Custom Level.
  5. At the bottom of the page, select a Medium or Medium Low setting from the "Reset to:" pull-down menu.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Click OK again.
  8. Close and relaunch Internet Explorer.

Internet Explorer 7.0:

  1. From the "Tools" menu, click Internet Options.
  2. Click on the "Advanced" tab and then, in the "Settings" list, scroll down to the "Security" section.
  3. Check the box beside "Allow active content to run in files on My Computer".
  4. Click OK.
  5. Click Apply.
  6. Click OK .
  7. Close and relaunch Internet Explorer.

Internet Explorer 8.0:

  1. Select "Tools" and click Internet Options.
  2. Click on the Security tab.
  3. Click "Custom Level...".
  4. Scroll to the "Scripting" section of the list.
  5. Click "Enable" under Scripting of Java Applets.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Close and relaunch Internet Explorer.

FireFox 1.5 and higher:

  1. From the "Tools" menu, select Options.
  2. Click the "Content" tab.
  3. Select both "Enable Java" and "Enable JavaScript".
  4. Click OK.
  5. Close and relaunch Firefox.

Safari 2.x:

  1. From the "Safari" menu, select Preferences.
  2. Click the "Security" icon.
  3. Select "Enable JavaScript".
  4. Click OK.
  5. Close and relaunch Safari.

Chrome:

  • Launch Google Chrome from Start/Run with the parameter -enable-javascript.
  • For example, in Vista: C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe -enable-javascript
  • For example, in Windows XP: "C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome" -enable-javascript

NOTE: Javascript is enabled in Chrome by default. This will reset the default parameters.

If enabling JavaScript in your browser did not fix your issue, hang in there! Let’s move on to the next most likely possibility…

3. Install the latest Java Runtime Environment
The Java Runtime Environment contains essential updates to the Java programming language, developed by Sun Microsystems. To ensure you’ve got the latest package installed, try downloading and installing the latest version of this software. It's available as a free download here:

http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

Did this correct the issue you’re having? If not, here’s our next best tactic:

4. Temporarily disable antivirus/antispy/firewall products
One of your security applications could be causing a problem with Yahoo! Mail.

To check, try disabling your security software to see if the issue goes away.

  • For most security software products, you can right-click on the security software icon in the lower-right corner of your screen. Usually this pops up a menu with Preferences or disable as options.

Please note: In some cases, you might not be able to completely disable the security software. The directions for each security software package differ from vendor to vendor. If you need help, please get in touch with your security software vendor or computer Help desk.

Did disabling your security software products resolve the issue? If not, please try the next set of recommendations.

5. Disable browser add-ons and plug-ins
"Add-ons" or "plug-ins" work with browsers to make them more useful. Common add-ons or plug-ins include (but aren't limited to):

  • Toolbars
  • News or Stock Tickers
  • Instant Messaging
  • Weather alerts
  • Email alerts
  • Antivirus/Antispy
  • Games

Some add-ons or plug-ins can actually cause problems running some web sites. To find out if one of them is interfering with Yahoo! Mail, please try one of the following tasks for your specific browser:

If you're running Internet Explorer 6.0:

  1. Close all Explorer windows and exit the application.
  2. Click your PC’s Start button.
  3. Click Settings.
  4. Click Control Panel.
  5. Double-click Internet Options.
  6. Click the "Advanced" tab.
  7. Under "Browsing," clear the check box in the "Enable third-party Internet browser extensions (requires restart)" check box.
  8. Click OK.
  9. Relaunch Internet Explorer.

If you're running Internet Explorer 7.0:

  1. Close all Explorer windows and exit the application.
  2. Click Start, then Settings, then Control Panel.
  3. Double-click Internet Options.
  4. Click the "Advanced" tab.
  5. Under "Browsing", un-check the "Enable third-party internet browser extensions" check box.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Relaunch Internet Explorer.

For Firefox 1.0.x or Firefox 1.5:

  1. From the "Tools" menu, click Extensions.
  2. Disable or uninstall extensions found here.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Close and relaunch Firefox.

For FireFox 2.0:

  1. From the "Tools" menu, click Add-ons.
  2. Disable or uninstall extensions found here.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Close and relaunch Firefox.

Note: Once a Firefox extension has been uninstalled, you can reinstall it by visiting the Firefox extension library here:

https://addons.mozilla.org/?application=firefox

If you're running Safari 2.x:

  1. From the "Safari" menu, click Preferences.
  2. Click the "Security" tab.
  3. Un-check "Enable Plug-Ins."
  4. Click OK.
  5. Close and relaunch Safari.

Once you've successfully disabled your browser's add-ons or plug-ins, try your Yahoo! Mail account again. Compose, reply, or forward a message. Did the steps above fix the problem? If so, an add-on or plug-in in your Internet browser is the cause.

To re-enable the add-ons or plug-ins in your browser, just repeat the steps listed above, now adding a check to enable them (instead of un-checking). Once you've figured out which add-ons or plug-ins are causing the issue, please contact the vendor for help.

If disabling plug-ins or add-ons didn’t resolve the trouble you’re having with your Yahoo! Mail account, let's try one last approach:

6. Try another computer with a different ISP
Try accessing your Yahoo! Mail account from another computer at a different location. This is to check if your internet service provider (ISP) might be causing the problem. So, if possible, make sure you're on a machine that connects to the internet via a different ISP. If Yahoo! Mail works on this other computer, your issue is with your ISP. Give them a call and see if they are experiencing issues.

Still not working?
Let us know what’s going on. If you use the all-new Yahoo! Mail, click here. If you use Yahoo! Mail Classic, click here. Click on the "Contact Us" tab on top of the page. Be sure to specifically include which steps you've tried so far, and the results from each step. This information helps us assess the issue effectively and efficiently.

Was this information helpful?      

My Help

Forgot your ID or password?

Sign In

Sign in to see your account information saved articles and more.
  1. Recent Searches

  2. Saved Articles

    Sign in to see your account information saved articles and more.