Troubleshooting Log Out Issues in Google Chrome

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EnumaElish
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Using Google Chrome, I have been unable to log out. I am posting this after clicking on the "Log Out" link, which brought up two options:

Return to the page you were previously viewing
Go to forums index

I chose to return to the previously viewed page, which is how I am able to post this after I've logged out.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Clear your cache. There might be a problem with the cookie sticking around.

You can't stay logged in if it doesn't see the cookie.
 
Try clicking the log-out link twice. Do it once to reach a message screen from physicsforums, and you might see a log-out link yet in the upper right corner of the screen. Click on it again. Are you then logged out after this? This time, you should see no log-out link.
 
Have you tried what I suggested?

If you don't have the cookie, when you come back to PF you can't be logged in.

Log Out, Close the browser, Reload it and come back to PF.
 
EnumaElish said:
Can anyone duplicate this result?

No. The bug is even worse in the normal IE browser. I tried to log out, but my hand started shaking worse and worse the closer the mouse got to the Log Out link. I wound up passing out before I could ever get my mouse centered on the Log Out link.
 
BobG said:
No. The bug is even worse in the normal IE browser. I tried to log out, but my hand started shaking worse and worse the closer the mouse got to the Log Out link. I wound up passing out before I could ever get my mouse centered on the Log Out link.
This is pretty funny, I give it three chuckles (out of 5).
 
Why is it a problem ? I never log out or login (only logged in when I registered.)
 
Public computer, shared computer, nosy family / friends etc.

There's a few reasons logging out can be required and a problem if you cannot do so.
 
EnumaElish said:
It looks like the bug has been fixed.

Which suggests it was on your side, I don't think Greg changed anything.
 
For the third time, have you tried what I suggested?

Instead of all the non-sense here, give it a go. What I oulined before is the only reason you wouldn't be logged out - a glitch with the local cookie on your machine.

PF can't have a general glitch as others can still log out.
 
Yes, I can.

Have you tried the suggested yet?
 
EnumaElish said:
Using chrome? Clicking on the "Return to previous page" option?

No, that's not it.

In the upper right hand corner, under the red X, is a black wrench. Click it and go down to Options. Go to the Under the Hood tab, and click on Clear Browsing Data... You'll probably want to keep the Save Passwords box unchecked, but the other boxes are up to you. Be sure the Clear Cookies one is checked. Then click Clear Browsing Data.

If you've never done this before, it will take a *long* time!
 
lisab said:
No, that's not it.

I think she meant, can other log out in chrome and then hit the return to previous page button and still be logged out - because I said others can log out. Not that that is the way to clear your data. (Well that's what I think based on the quote she gave.)

Yes Lisa, you are correct for clearing the data and for the fifth time I would urge the OP to try it.

I would also note that if the "return to previous page" button acts as simply a back button, it could show you as logged in when you're not - you need to try lisab's explanation above!
 
What if I'd like to keep some cookies (other than PF) and I have other tabs open that I don't wish to close?

Jared, I was able to actually make a new post after I went through the "log out-previous page" routine so I know it's "real" and not a shadow or apparition.
 
Well if your browser has an issue with not being able to clear the PF cookie when the site instructs it to, that is a local problem not a site one.

When I log out, the site clears the file so next time I visit I'm not logged in.

Right, let's do this:

Click log out, close the browser (without pressing anything else), come back to PF and see if you need to log in.

Please report back on each step.
 
Report, part I:

Click log out ... done!

[detour]
Click "return previous page" link > Make a test post to verify that I am not really logged out > Delete the post > Find my way to here (Forum Feedback & Announcements)
[/detour]

Typeset Report part I.

Click [Post Quick Reply] button.
 
Last edited:
Report, part II:

Click log out ... done!
Close browser ... done!

[It could happen]
upon closing of the browser, lose 11 extra open tabs.
[/it could happen]

Reopen browser ... done!
See if I can post ... nope!
Log back in ... done!
Post Report part II ... don
 
EnumaElish said:
Report, part I:

Click log out ... done!

[detour]
Click "return previous page" link > Make a test post to verify that I am not really logged out > Delete the post > Find my way to here (Forum Feedback & Announcements)
[/detour]

Typeset Report part I.

Click [Post Quick Reply] button.

EnumaElish said:
Report, part II:

Click log out ... done!
Close browser ... done!

[It could happen]
upon closing of the browser, lose 11 extra open tabs.
[/it could happen]

Reopen browser ... done!
See if I can post ... nope!
Log back in ... done!
Post Report part II ... don

Right, I tried what you did in Firefox. The site works fine.

I clicked log out, it reports cookies cleared, I click return to previous page and it asks me to log into post.

So, the problem is clear. The cookie isn't being removed until you restart the browser (despite you being told it is). So when you click return to previous page (or go anywhere on the site), it still sees you as logged in.

This would be a bug with Chrome, not PF.

You can report it to Google, live with it or change browsers (I recommend Firefox).
 
For the record, I had this happen once (with IE). Stayed "online" after logging out until I closed the browser. It never happened again after that.

My guess is that the cookie is being accessed by the browser somewhere else and can't be cleared right away.
 
Do you still have problems using https://www.physicsforums.com/" ?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Well I think we can safely say we've identified the problem. The cookie isn't being cleared.

I've given you the options.
 

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