HTTP Error 400 in Google Chrome

When trying to log into a WVU site such as Outlook Web App using Google Chrome, you may receive an error message. The Google Chrome web browser is known to store and reuse cookies left over from a previous login session. 

Problem

You receive the following error message when using Google Chrome to access a portal such as Outlook Web App: 

Bad Request - Request Too Long
HTTP Error 400. The size of the request headers is too long.

This is usually caused by an invalid cookie leftover from a previous session.

Solution

The easiest solution is to use the incognito browser in Chrome. Click the Customize and control Google Chrome icon in the upper-right (the icon looks like three horizontal bars), and then click New incognito window from the menu.

Another solution is to clear the cookies and cache in Google Chrome: 

1. Click on the Customize and control Google Chrome icon in the upper-right (the icon looks like three horizontal bars), and then click on Settings from the menu. 

2. At the bottom of the Settings menu, click on Show advanced settings...  and then click on Clear browsing data under the Privacy section.

3. Select "the beginning of time" from the Obliterate the following items drop-down.

4. Check the boxes for "Cookies and other site and plugin data" and "Cached images and files."

5. Click the Clear browsing data command button at the bottom.

6. Restart Chrome. This step is important!