I get these Facebook “Bad Request” errors all of the time when entering sweepstakes. I finally decided to figure out what was going on and find a fix for them.
If you get a bad request error it is usually after you enter a sweepstakes but in rare cases I have seen it before I try to enter. It looks like this:
Error: Your browser sent a request that this server could not understand. Size of a request header field exceeds server limit
The issue could be a corrupt cookie since it shows the word Cookie in the error – see above. A cookie is a file that is placed on your computer when you visit a site. You can easily delete it without causing any problems.
Clear the cache and the cookies from sites that cause problems.
NOTE: When you delete Facebook cookies it will log you out of Facebook and you will have to log in again. I suggest you delete any cookie that has the word Facebook in it.
I also suggest you search and delete cookies for the follow apps since they are used to run sweepstakes and could have been corrupted once a sweepstakes has ended. They continue to try to use the same cookie when a new sweepstakes is listed using that app.
- Offerpop
- Woobox
- Wildfire
Firefox Instructions:
Clear the Cache:
- Tools > Options > Advanced > Network > Offline Storage (Cache): Clear Now
Remove Cookies from individual sites causing problems:
- Tools > Options > Privacy > Remove Individual Cookies > Search for Facebook
Internet Explorer Instructions:
Clear the Cache:
- Tools > Options > Advanced > Network > Offline Storage (Cache): Clear Now
Remove Cookies from individual sites causing problems:
Google Chrome Instructions:
Clear the Cache:
- Chrome Menu (far right) > Settings > Show Advanced Settings > Privacy > Content Settings > All Cookies and Site Data > Search for Facebook or other terms
Remove Cookies from individual sites causing problems:
Tools > Options > Privacy > Remove Individual Cookies > Search for Facebook
lydia goodman says
THANK YOU!!!!! These bad request messages were driving me crazy!
garianne draves says
thanks, hope this will work!
Marie Beauregard says
Thank you so much! I was having problems with the Windows Phone contest and was able to remove the individual cookie and it works again!
Teresa says
I use a Google Chrome extension called Cookies to manage my cookies. You can make a list of cookies you want deleted and just click one button to do it. If this link doesn’t work, just search for the word Cookies in the Chrome web store:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/cookies/iphcomljdfghbkdcfndaijbokpgddeno?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon
Sue Brandes says
Thank you!
Donna says
I sure wish I knew how to fix my messages page on Facebook. Every time I click on it I get a white screen. Cannot even see old messages. FB can be such a pain!!
Allison says
Thanks for stepping it out for me too, I would be at it all day!
Christine M says
Thanks!