“JavaScript must be enabled” error in Edge, Office.com / Gmail fails

Topic

New Reply

Hello, I’m checking with the community if they’ve encountering these messages when using Edge this week?  In the middle of preparing a Win 11 system for a user (was logged in as the user) and in accessing office.com (Online SharePoint, Outlook, etc.) earlier this week I was finding sites not loading and the popup block, then reviewing seeing the above message.  I would then allow the popup and allow the JavaScript.

This is a Dell XPS15, fully patch from a recent offboarding and already has some strange behaviour (Microsoft is giving me a generic error upon login stating it cannot manage the device when I logged in as the user for the first time as one example) and I have an occasional addware – prmsrvs.com that Trend and I believe to have gotten rid of.  Anyways, this is a temp machine to diagnose a potential WiFi issue (it never ends) and once I have it back I’m wiping it / starting from scratch.  But till that time comes.

What’s has me twisting my noodle, the same user, working on their Win 10 system that they’ve been using for 2 years (both systems have their patches, 22H2 in place) messaged me late today to say they can’t work (I’m guessing it isn’t as bad as that) with the message “JavaScript must be enabled in order for you to use Gmail.  However, it seems that JavaScript is either disabled or not supported by your browser.”  Unfortunately I don’t know for sure if they’re using Edge or Chrome.

Not seeing anyone else expressing a concern with a quick Internet search (Google, Reddit).

Putting aside that the XPS15 (less than 6 months old) will need a reinstall, has anyone else experienced the JavaScript message recently?

Let me know and thanks,

 

IT Manager Geek

Reply | Quote

Replies

Is there an extension(s) in the browser blocking scripts (Ublock, NoScript, etc) on the websites?

Reply | Quote

No, or more to the point, nothing the organization would have authorized or I’m aware of.

Take care,

IT Manager Geek

Reply | Quote

@itmgrgk –

In the banter back and forth below, @b brings up a good point, that the browser’s settings might be set too restrictively to run JavaScript. Specifically, check the browser’s settings to see just where the Enhanced Security mode is set. If it’s set to Strict, then it will disable JIT JavaScript, which is JavaScript that runs Just In Time when it’s needed on the page. The setting for Enhanced Security Mode can be found at (within the browser) Settings>”Privacy, search, and services” on the left side menu. After you click on “Privacy, search, and services”, scroll down a ways and you’ll come to it at the bottom of the settings section on that page labeled “Security”.

The other settings option to look at (but maybe you already have and didn’t say so) is the actual setting to allow JavaScript or not within the browser. That setting can be found (within the browser) at Settings>”Cookies and site permissions”. After you click on Cookies and site permissions, scroll down the page a bit, and it should be the 5th or 6th item presented for those settings, just below the listing for Notifications and just above the listing for Images. Make sure it’s slider is set to on, or Allowed.

There are some settings within Group Policy, but see if these two things are set properly first.

Hopefully this helps!

Reply | Quote

IT Manager Geek wrote:

“JavaScript must be enabled”

I see this every time I open Edge.
I just close Edge and go back to my trusty Chrome.

Reply | Quote

Do you also block JavaScript for all sites in Chrome?

If so, doesn’t that break functions on many websites?

Most websites require JavaScript to be enabled for all its bells and whistles to work properly, too. For example, if you disable JavaScript in your browser, you can say goodbye to automatic timeline updates on Twitter. With JavaScript enabled, you’re able to take advantage of most features that make websites around the web great.

How to Disable (and Enable) JavaScript in Google Chrome

Reply | Quote

b wrote:

Do you also block JavaScript for all sites in Chrome?

I didn’t block JavaScript on Edge.

JavaScript is on on Chrome.

Reply | Quote

Alex5723 wrote:

I didn’t block JavaScript on Edge.

Er …

Alex5723 wrote:

I won’t allow JavaScript, so Edge is useless.

Reply | Quote

b wrote:

Alex5723 wrote:

I didn’t block JavaScript on Edge.

Er …

Alex5723 wrote:

I won’t allow JavaScript, so Edge is useless.

I didn’t set Edge to block JS but when I see the message I just close the browser and switch to another browser.

Reply | Quote

But you set the Strict level under Enhanced security mode (instead of the recommended Balanced) which disables some JavaScript on all sites:

Enhanced security in Microsoft Edge helps safeguard against memory-related vulnerabilities by disabling just-in-time (JIT) JavaScript compilation and enabling additional operating system protections for the browser.
…
Strict

Microsoft Edge applies added security protections to all sites visited by default. Strict mode may impact your ability to complete normal tasks on the web because some parts of websites might not work as expected.

Note: Some parts of a website you visit might not work due to compatibility issues when this feature is turned on. Strict mode is not recommended for most users as it would require some level of configuration to complete daily tasks.

What is enhanced security in Microsoft Edge?

So you chose to restrict Edge more than you choose to do in Chrome.

Reply | Quote

b wrote:

But you set the Strict level under Enhanced security mode

You are right.

1 user thanked author for this post.

b

Reply | Quote

Hi, seeing / noting B’s & Alex5723’s replies, I’ve not enable for the organization “set the Strict level under Enhanced security mode”, it just started to happen (I’m not sure if I experienced it on my assigned systems – as the IT person has to have more than one, just because) though I will look.

I was wondering if Microsoft had once again changed the config / rules / whatever and I missed the memo (assuming a memo was sent).

More tomorrow.

Thanks all,

IT Manager Geek

Reply | Quote