If Boston Globe puzzles (Daily Crossword, Mini Crossword, Sudoku, or Word Flower) fail to load on your device, you may see a blank box, a stuck loading spinner, or an error message similar to these:
- Error Code: MT-600, SE-600, Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_15_7) ... Chrome/155.0.0.0 Safari/537.36
They do not indicate a problem with your device or subscription. In most cases, the error happens because browser privacy settings or expired session tokens block the connection between the Boston Globe website and the external partner server that hosts the games.
What should I do?
Try Refreshing First: Press the refresh button your browser to reload the page. If the embedded game frame loaded before the main page finished verifying your login, a simple refresh usually resolves the error immediately.
If you continue to receive an error, proceed to the following articles:
Troubleshoot Error Code on Safari
- Disable Cross-Site Tracking Protection: Go to Safari > Settings (or Preferences) > Privacy and uncheck Prevent cross-site tracking.
- Enable Functional Cookies: Scroll to the bottom footer of the Boston Globe website, click Your Privacy Choices under the More column, toggle Functional Cookies and Performance Cookies ON, and save. (Targeting/advertising cookies can remain off.)
- Use a Standard Window: Exit Private Browsing mode and open the puzzle in a regular Safari window.
Troubleshoot Error Code on Google Chrome
- Allow Third-Party Cookies & Site Data: On the Boston Globe Games page, click the Site Settings icon (tune/sliders icon left of the URL) > Cookies and site data, and allow third-party cookies and on-device site data. Alternatively, go to Chrome > Settings > Privacy and Security > Third-party cookies and ensure Block all third-party cookies is not selected.
- Enable Functional Cookies: Scroll to the bottom footer of the Boston Globe website, click Your Privacy Choices, turn Functional Cookies and Performance Cookies ON, and save.
- Use a Standard Window: Close any Incognito tabs and open the puzzle in a standard Chrome window.
Additional Steps for Troubleshooting
If the error persists after updating your browser settings, verify these four settings:
| Setting | Requirement | Reason |
| Pop-Up Blockers | Disabled / Whitelisted for Globe | Prevents blockers from stopping the embedded game container. |
| VPN | Disconnected / Bypassed | Avoids partner server blocks on shared or international VPN IP pools. |
| Browser Cache | Cleared for Globe Domain | Removes expired login tokens and outdated game scripts. |
| Window Mode | Standard Browsing Window | Preserves Indexed DB storage when switching tabs. |
Clear Your Browser Cache
- Safari: Go to Safari > Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data, search for globe or bostonglobe, click Remove All > Done, and restart Safari.
- Chrome: Press Command + Shift + Delete, set the time range to All time, check Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, click Clear data, and restart Chrome.
Alternative Ways to Play
- Switch Browsers: Open the puzzle in Safari (with Prevent cross-site tracking unchecked) if Chrome fails, or vice versa.
- Use The Boston Globe App: Download the official app on compatible mobile devices or tablets.
- Print from the ePaper: Visit epaper.bostonglobe.com, search for “crossword” in the top-right corner, increase the font size, and print in landscape orientation. (Digital-only games, like Word Flower, are not available on ePaper.)