Error 15 Overview
Error 15 is the result of a new cyber security system integrated into FamilySearch. It has been added to our site to protect data in Family Tree, historical records, and memories from online attackers. It is very important to us to protect our users and the family history data on our site. We also need to honor the contractual agreements we make with our collaborating third-party genealogy companies. This new security system provides important protection that achieves these goals.
While it has been successful in shielding the site from attacks, the security system may block honest users from interacting with our site. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you.
Solutions
Here are the top 3 solutions that we find work for most of our users who experience Error 15:
- Turn off or adjust the settings of any add-ons or extensions that you have installed in your browser (this is the most common issue). We can't provide a list of problematic add-ons, since there are many. TO TEST: Try running FamilySearch with your browser in Incognito or Private mode. If you do not see an error while in Incognito or Private mode, then you can be fairly certain that a browser add-on is the problem.
- Disable your VPN while you use FamilySearch.
- Try using FamilySearch on a different browser.
If the above does not work, one of the following solutions may help:
- Fix the date and time on your device.
- Clear cache and cookies.
- Reset your browser to its default configuration. Note: This will disable and potentially remove any extensions you may have installed.
- Make sure your device and operating system are fully updated.
Related Information
For more instructions, please visit these websites: