Troubleshooting Common Issues
1. Browser Extensions are Clashing
Sometimes, other tools you’ve added to your browser (like ad blockers) can get in the way of Hypothesis.
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The Fix: Try turning off your other extensions one by one. If the page starts working again, you’ve found the “troublemaker” that was causing the conflict.
2. Password-Protected Pages
If you are using a “proxy” (a middleman service) to view a page that requires a login, Hypothesis won’t be able to see it. While you are logged in, the service is not.
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The Fix: Go directly to the website itself, log in as you normally do, and then click your Hypothesis bookmark or extension button to start highlighting.
3. Hidden Frames (iFrames)
Some websites are like Russian nesting dolls—they show one page “inside” another using something called an iframe. Hypothesis can usually read the main page, but it can’t reach inside that inner window to highlight text.
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The Fix: If the text you want to highlight is trapped inside one of these boxes, you unfortunately won’t be able to annotate it unless the website owner changes how their page is built.
4. Unexpected Software Glitches
Every now and then, the “gears” of the software get stuck, or Hypothesis doesn’t get along with the code on the specific website you are visiting.
If things aren’t working as they should, it helps to take note of exactly what went wrong, which website you were on, and whether you are using a Mac, PC, or a specific browser like Chrome or Safari. This helps pinpoint if the issue is with your computer or the website itself.