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Playing Words with Friends, get a blank box that freezes my screen

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 33 views
  • Last reply by natbak

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See details in attachment - WWF problem. I don't know if this is a browser issue, facebook issue or strictly the game issue, but it only happens to me when I play the game with one particular friend. I play with about 30 people, and never get this box that freezes my screen with them. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The first attachment shows a box at the top of the screen, there's a circle spinning up there, but the text never shows up and there's no X to cancel it out. I have to refresh the browser to continue on.

See details in attachment - WWF problem. I don't know if this is a browser issue, facebook issue or strictly the game issue, but it only happens to me when I play the game with one particular friend. I play with about 30 people, and never get this box that freezes my screen with them. Any help would be greatly appreciated. The first attachment shows a box at the top of the screen, there's a circle spinning up there, but the text never shows up and there's no X to cancel it out. I have to refresh the browser to continue on.
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

If you use extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) that can block (wanted) content (Adblock Plus, NoScript, Disconnect, Ghostery, Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin) always make sure such extensions do not block (wanted) content.

Firefox shows the shield icon at the left end of the location/address bar in case Content Blocking is blocking content.

  • click the shield icon for more detail and possibly disable the protection

You can check the Web Console about what content is blocked


You can try these steps in case of issues with web pages:

You can reload web page(s) and bypass the cache to refresh possibly outdated or corrupted files.

  • hold down the Shift key and left-click the Reload button
  • press "Ctrl + F5" or press "Ctrl + Shift + R" (Windows,Linux)
  • press "Command + Shift + R" (Mac)

Clear the Cache and remove the Cookies from websites that cause problems via the "3-bar" Firefox menu button (Options/Preferences).

"Remove the Cookies" from websites that cause problems:

  • Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security
    Cookies and Site Data -> Manage Data

"Clear the Cache":

  • Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security
    Cookies and Site Data -> Clear Data -> Cached Web Content: Clear

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is is causing the problem.

  • switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Themes
  • do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Safe Mode start window
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All Replies (4)

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Chosen Solution

If you use extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) that can block (wanted) content (Adblock Plus, NoScript, Disconnect, Ghostery, Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin) always make sure such extensions do not block (wanted) content.

Firefox shows the shield icon at the left end of the location/address bar in case Content Blocking is blocking content.

  • click the shield icon for more detail and possibly disable the protection

You can check the Web Console about what content is blocked


You can try these steps in case of issues with web pages:

You can reload web page(s) and bypass the cache to refresh possibly outdated or corrupted files.

  • hold down the Shift key and left-click the Reload button
  • press "Ctrl + F5" or press "Ctrl + Shift + R" (Windows,Linux)
  • press "Command + Shift + R" (Mac)

Clear the Cache and remove the Cookies from websites that cause problems via the "3-bar" Firefox menu button (Options/Preferences).

"Remove the Cookies" from websites that cause problems:

  • Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security
    Cookies and Site Data -> Manage Data

"Clear the Cache":

  • Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security
    Cookies and Site Data -> Clear Data -> Cached Web Content: Clear

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is is causing the problem.

  • switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Themes
  • do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Safe Mode start window
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I finally figured out the problem. I had downloaded an add-on called "ghostery", which was causing a lot of problems for me. Once I removed it, everything is back to normal.

Thanks for all the feedback.

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I paid for no ads on Words With Friends about 3 months ago. I had to switch to Firefox today because the new Chrome update totally sucks and slow. Now when I play Words With Friends on Firefox I get the spinning circle and time lapse like an ad is trying to load just like before I paid for no ads while using Chrome. This is frustrating!!! It shouldn't matter what browser a person uses.

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The 'normal' game using Firefox, PC, Win10 works but the small pop up game does not load; it loads fine on chrome, what is wrong?>