Getting stuck in a reCAPTCHA loop?
Every now & then a customer will let us know they’re stuck in a reCAPTCHA loop when trying to access their pattern library. We know how frustrating this can be! Here's a quick explainer on why this might happen—and what you can do to fix it.
Why reCAPTCHA Appears for Some People (and Not Others)
reCAPTCHA is a tool used on websites (like ours) to stop spam and bots. It checks that you're a real person before letting you log in or view content. Most of the time, it runs quietly in the background and you won’t even notice it. But sometimes, it gets a little overprotective. If we turn it off, we get inundated with thousands of fake profiles.
Why You Might Not See It at All
Google (who runs reCAPTCHA) looks at a few things to decide whether to show you a challenge:
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Are you signed into a trusted Google account?
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Do you have cookies and JavaScript enabled?
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Is your IP address stable and low-risk?
If all these look good, you may not see reCAPTCHA at all.
Why You Might Get Stuck in a Loop
On the flip side, if reCAPTCHA doesn’t feel confident you’re human (even when you definitely are!), it might get stuck or keep showing puzzles.
This can happen if:
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You’re using a VPN or proxy
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You’re browsing in private or incognito mode
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You have extensions or ad blockers enabled
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Your internet connection is spotty or your IP is shared (e.g. hotel or office Wi-Fi)
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JavaScript or cookies are turned off in your browser
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Your browser is outdated or not fully supported
What You Can Do
If you're stuck in the “verify you're human” loop:
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Try a different browser
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Disable extensions (especially ad blockers) and refresh
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Restart your modem or switch to a different network
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Avoid using a VPN if possible
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Make sure JavaScript and cookies are enabled in your browser settings
Still not working? Try a different device altogether—just to rule things out.
Need more help?
If none of the above steps help & you’re still stuck, feel free to contact us. We’re here to help get you sewing again, not battling tech.
Happy sewing!
Kate x
