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
THANK YOU!!!!! These bad request messages were driving me crazy!
thanks, hope this will work!
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!
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
Thank you!
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!!
Thanks for stepping it out for me too, I would be at it all day!
Thanks!