Troubleshooting Sign-on Problems

There are several possible issues that can cause difficulty signing on to your AbeBooks account. The most common problems are outlined below. If you continue to have trouble signing on after working through these steps, please contact Customer Support by using the Contact Customer Support link to the right and we will be happy to help.

Before beginning, please verify that the email address and password you are entering are correct. If you've forgotten your password, simply enter your email address and click the [Forgot your password] button. We'll email your password to you right away.

Too many failed attempts to sign on will result in your account being locked. If this happens, simply wait and try again later.

Browser Compatibility:

AbeBooks is optimized for the following browser versions. You may need to upgrade your browser if you are using an older version.

• Internet Explorer 7.x
• Mozilla Firefox 3.x
• Netscape 8.x
• AOL Explorer 1.x
• Safari 3.x 

Cookies:

Each browser has cookie preferences. When you first created your AbeBooks account, our system sent a cookie to your browser. If your browser preferences are set to disallow cookies, our system will not allow you to sign on because it won't recognize you as a registered account holder.

Below are instructions to enable cookies for some of the most commonly used browsers. If your browser is not included, please consult your browser's Help files for specific instructions.

Internet Explorer 7.x:

1. In the Tools menu, click [Internet Options].

2. Click the [Privacy] tab.

3. Click the [Sites] button.

4. Enter www.abebooks.com in the [Address of website] field of the Per Site Privacy Actions box.

5. Click [Allow].

6. Click [OK].

7. Click [OK] again, in the Internet Options box.

8. Close and re-open your browser.

9. Try signing on to your AbeBooks account.

Mozilla Firefox 3.x:

1. In the Tools menu, click [Options].

2. Click the [Privacy] tab.

3. In the Cookies section, check [Accept cookies from sites].

4. Click the [Exceptions] button.

5. Enter www.abebooks.com in the [Address of web site] field.

6. Click [Allow].

7. Click [OK].

Firewalls:

If you have a firewall on your computer, it could also be preventing access to our Web site.  Please contact your firewall's support centre for help with disabling or re-setting your firewall. 

Note:  Windows XP and Vista come bundled with a firewall and you may have it turned on without realizing it. For more information, please visit the Microsoft Web site: http://support.microsoft.com/