How to Clear Browser Cookies to Resolve “Error 500 – Internal Server Error”

If you are receiving an “Error 500 – Internal Server Error” message while trying to log into Canvas, you will need to clear the cookies on your web browser to resolve this issue. Please follow the instructions below to clear the cookies for your desired browser.

Please make sure that you are using the latest versions of the browsers below. Before you begin troubleshooting, please close all the windows of the particular browser. Once you have gone through all the steps, re-open your browser and log into Canvas.

Google Chrome

Step 1: In the top right corner of your browser window (under the x), click on the 3 vertical dots
Step 2: Click on “Settings”
Step 3: Scroll to the bottom and click “Advanced”
Step 4: Under “Privacy and Security,” click on “Clear browsing data”
Step 5: A dialog box pops up where you will have the “Basic tab” highlighted and the time range will have a drop down menu. Choose “All time”
Step 6: Click “Cookies and other site data”
Step 7: You can now click the blue “CLEAR DATA” button at the bottom

Internet Explorer (IE)

Option 1
Step 1: Press the Windows Start button in the lower left hand corner
Step 2: Click “Control Panel”
Step 3: Click “Internet options”
Step 4: Under the General Tab’s “Browsing history” header, you will see “Delete temporary files, history, cookies, saved passwords…” Click “Delete”
Step 5: The “Delete Browsing History” dialog box will appear, click the “Cookies and website data” checkbox
Step 6: Click the delete button at the bottom of the dialog box. You may see a progress window pop up
Step 7: The last window open will be the Internet properties dialog box. Click “ok”

Option 2
Step 1: In the top right corner of your IE browser window (under the x), click on the gear (settings/options) icon
Step 2: Choose “Internet Options” on the drop down menu
Step 3: The same “Internet Options” dialog box appears as if you went through the Control panel
Step 4: Under the General Tab’s “Browsing history” header, you will see “Delete temporary files, history, cookies, saved passwords…” Click “Delete”
Step 5: The “Delete Browsing History” dialog box will appear, click the “Cookies and website data” checkbox
Step 6: Click the delete button at the bottom of the dialog box. You may see a progress window pop up
Step 7: The last window open will be the Internet properties dialog box. Click “ok”

Mozilla Firefox

Step 1: In the top right corner of your browser window (under the x), click on the triple bar or “hamburger/pancake/Oreo icon” for settings/options
Step 2: Click “Options”
Step 3: Click on “Privacy and Security” on the left hand side
Step 4: Under the “Cookies and Site Data” heading click on the “Clear Data” button on the right side
Step 5: The “Clear Data” dialog box appears. Make sure that “Cookies and Site Data” are checked and click the “Clear” button at the bottom
Step 6: In the next dialog box that warns you about clearing all cookies and site data, click the “Clear Now” button at the bottom
Step 7: Close your “Options” window

Instructions for Apple Safari

Please note that if you change your cookie preferences in Safari or remove the cookies in your browser, this might remove or change the cookie settings in your other applications including your Dashboard. This guide is for OSX Lion.

Step 1: Open Safari
Step 2: Click Safari then Preferences. Click on “Privacy”
Step 3: Click on “Details”
Step 4: You will see a list of websites that store cookies. You can remove single sites by clicking the “Remove” button and selecting a site. If you want clear all cookies, click “Remove All”
Step 5: When you have finished removing sites, click “Done”