Shield and keyhole blocking a chain link connection
If a website works in one Android browser but fails in another, it’s rarely “the site is down.” More often, it’s a mismatch in what gets blocked: cookies, scripts, or cross-site requests that logins and CAPTCHA rely on.

Here’s a symptom → cause → fix map that focuses on the differences between Chrome, Firefox, and “Safari” on Android (usually meaning an in-app browser or a Safari-like experience inside another app).

Quick reality check: There is no Apple Safari app on Android. When people say “Safari on Android,” they typically mean (1) an in-app browser opened inside another app (social, email, messaging), or (2) a different browser that “feels like Safari.” Those in-app browsers have their own tracking protections and cookie behavior, so they can behave very differently from Chrome/Firefox.

1. Symptom: login page reloads, loops back to sign-in, or says “cookies disabled”

Likely cause: session cookies or third-party cookies are blocked, or the browser is clearing site data aggressively.

Why it differs by browser: Chrome, Firefox, and in-app browsers each handle third-party cookies, “enhanced tracking protection,” and anti-tracking lists differently. Some logins still depend on cross-site cookies during the handoff to an identity provider.

  • Fix (works anywhere): temporarily allow cookies for that site, then try the login again.
  • Fix in Chrome: open the site in Chrome (not in an in-app browser). In Chrome settings, check Third-party cookies and any privacy/ad blocking features that might be set to strict.
  • Fix in Firefox: set Enhanced Tracking Protection to Standard for that site (site shield), then retry. If you use add-ons like uBlock, try disabling it only for the login domain and the identity domain.
  • Fix for “Safari” (in-app browser): look for an option like Open in browser or Open in Chrome/Firefox. In-app browsers frequently isolate cookies, which can break sign-in handoffs.

If the login works after loosening blocking, you’ve confirmed the root issue (cookie/session blocking), and you can re-tighten settings afterward with a narrower exception (site-only).

2. Symptom: CAPTCHA doesn’t load, “verify you are human” spins forever, or the checkbox won’t appear

Checkbox with loading ring and broken puzzle piece
Likely cause: the ad blocker is blocking CAPTCHA scripts, challenge endpoints, or required third-party resources (common with strict lists).

Why it differs by browser: Firefox add-ons can block at the extension level; Chrome may rely on DNS-level or VPN-style blockers; in-app browsers may block trackers or isolate third-party requests in ways that trip bot protection.

  • Fix (lowest risk): turn off the blocker just for the CAPTCHA page, complete the challenge, then turn it back on.
  • If you use a DNS/VPN ad blocker: pause it for 2 minutes, complete sign-in, then resume. DNS blocking can prevent CAPTCHA endpoints from resolving at all, regardless of browser.
  • Firefox-specific: if you’re using strict tracking protection plus a content blocker add-on, try leaving tracking protection on Standard and only disabling the add-on for that site (so you don’t globally reduce protection).
  • In-app browser (“Safari”-like): avoid completing CAPTCHA in-app. Use Open in external browser so cookies and the challenge session persist normally.

One clue you’re on the right track: the CAPTCHA loads immediately on mobile data but not on Wi‑Fi (or vice versa) when you use network-level blocking.

3. Symptom: “Continue” / “Next” / “Pay” buttons do nothing, pages look half-loaded, or forms won’t submit

Likely cause: a required script is blocked (tag manager, anti-fraud script, payment widget, identity SDK), or the site is served a different bundle when it detects blocking.

  • Fix: reload once with the blocker disabled for that domain. If it works, re-enable and add a narrow allowlist rule for the specific domains the site needs (often the identity provider or payment processor).
  • Fix in Chrome: try Chrome’s Incognito mode with extensions/ad blocking disabled (if applicable), or temporarily disable any “lite”/data saver features that rewrite pages.
  • Fix in Firefox: check whether the issue disappears in a Private tab (with add-ons disabled, depending on your setup). If it does, it’s almost certainly an add-on/filter issue rather than the site itself.
  • Fix for in-app browsers: open the same link in Chrome/Firefox. In-app browsers often lag on modern web features or restrict popups/redirects needed for checkout flows.

As a safety note: don’t keep clicking “Pay” repeatedly while scripts are failing—you can create duplicate pending authorizations even if the page looks stuck.

4. Symptom: it works in Chrome but fails in Firefox (or the other way around)

Three browser-like icons with diverging arrow paths
Likely cause: different defaults and different blocking layers.

  • Chrome tends to fail when: you have DNS-level blocking (Private DNS), a VPN ad blocker, or a security app filtering traffic. Chrome can look “broken” even though it’s just the network resolver refusing key domains.
  • Firefox tends to fail when: strict Enhanced Tracking Protection or a content-blocking add-on blocks identity/CAPTCHA scripts that Chrome still allows.
  • In-app “Safari”-style browsers tend to fail when: the login requires a redirect chain and shared cookies between domains (in-app browsers often isolate or reset session state).

Fix mapping: if one browser works, use that as your control. Match settings step-by-step: same network, same DNS/VPN state, same cookie policy, then test again.

5. Symptom: only one specific site is broken, and you don’t want to weaken your privacy everywhere

Likely cause: the site depends on a small set of third-party domains that your blocker categorizes as “tracking,” even though they’re also used for authentication, fraud prevention, or embedded widgets.

  • Fix: prefer a site-only allowlist over turning the blocker off globally.
  • Fix order that keeps you safest: allow the site → allow the identity provider domain (if visible) → allow CAPTCHA/payment domains only if necessary.
  • If you’re unsure what to allow: temporarily disable blocking, sign in successfully, then re-enable and watch what breaks. Add the smallest exception that restores the exact step that fails.

If the site still won’t work even with blocking disabled, it’s time to suspect something else (outdated WebView, broken time settings, or a server-side account flag).

Final thoughts

When “Safari vs Chrome vs Firefox” matters on Android, it’s usually not the browser brand—it’s the blocking layer and cookie behavior. Use the working browser as a baseline, then change one variable at a time (cookies, tracking protection, DNS/VPN blocking, in-app vs external).

If you want the least disruptive fix, start with a site-only exception and keep everything else locked down.