Description of the issue: I am getting captchas after every single search on google.com
Steps to Reproduce (add as many as necessary)
Open Brave search anything and you get a captcha
Actual Result (gifs and screenshots are welcome!):
I have to solve a captcha after every single search
Expected result:
It shouldn’t show a captcha after every single search
Reproduces how often:
Every single search
Operating System and Brave Version(See the About Brave page in the main menu):
Windows 11 Brave 1.88.136 (Official Build) (64-bit)
I have reinstalled brave still it happens. When I use chrome it doesn’t happen. It was working fine 2 days before now every search It throws a captcha. I even changed my network to other telecomm provider, Changed dns. I am getting captchas again and again. Maybe it’s happening due to brave shields. I am posting here if anyone else facing came issue.
UPDATE [10/05/2026]: The only difference now is that I dont need to solve the captchas by proving robot by clicking images which was in earlier update. A simple click on the box does the work but it’s annoying how this issue came up again
Exactly the same here. CAPTCHA for unusual traffic after nearly every search on Google and occasionally on YouTube. It’s only happened since the recent update.
No extensions
No VPN
It’s just happened once in Chrome too, so perhaps a Google related change.
I cannot get access to Google search pages, YouTube or any website with Brave due to the unusual traffic problem. It started as soon as I updated to version 1.88.136 (Official Build) (64-bit) I have a desktop PC running Win 11. Everything worked very well before the update
Assuming you’re using Windows, can you perform a network reset or at least an IP and DNS flush?
Network reset: Go to Windows Settings>Network and Internet>Advanced Network Settings>Network Reset. This will fully reset your network, so make sure you can retrieve your Wifi password first!
Open Terminal as admin, and run these commands one by one:
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns
netsh int ip reset
cd/
netsh int tcp show global
netsh int tcp set global chimney=enabled
netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=normal
netsh int tcp set global congestionprovider=ctcp
netsh int tcp show global
No it didn’t. Also as I have already mentioned in my post “When I use chrome it doesn’t happen” so it must be issue with brave and some on my friends too are experiencing the same issue now.
In a Brave Browser New Window, go to: brave://settings/cookies and there, in the Sites allowed to use third-party cookies ← Add → [*.]google.com
That setting will endure.
In fact, that is as far as I had to go this early morning, in order to not be stopped by Google’s rCAPTCHA Squad when using Google’s search field at https://www.google.com.
Sometimes, you may find it necessary → in a Brave Browser New Window, to go to: brave://settings/content/braveShields ← and there, in the Shields Down section, Add → [*.]google.com
Try that.
Other steps …
In a Brave Browser New Window, go to: brave://settings/clearBrowserData
For Time range > All time, using the Basic tab
EnableCookies and other site data
EnableCached images and files
Click the Delete data button
Exit / Quit everything. Restart the computer. Start up Brave Browser.
Using a Brave Browser New Window:
Visit https://www.google.com
Click the “tune” icon to the left of the https in the URL address field
In the pop-down menu, click Site settings
In the resulting Site Settings Details window, try > click on Delete data (might not exist?)
Next, in the same Site Settings Details window, click on Reset permissions (definitely exists)
Close the settings page.
Reload the https://www.google.com webpage
Click the “tune” icon
Make sure that JavaScript is Enabled
Tune icon:
The “world” of the Google Eco-System relies upon persisting identification characteristics, from the perspective of Google websites ← the persistance of which, fails “for some reason” at satisfying Google. Thus, the challenges such as rCAPTCHA.
In contrast to maybe 6 months ago, I now encounter many challenges by “the world” of Cloudflare. Wherein, whatever is the documentation they provide to their customers - on how to tune Cloudflare products - Brave Browser “takes it on the chin.”
I’m a Microsoft tech, not only certified but 2 decades of experience. Please let’s not issue commands that are doing nothing.
netsh int tcp show global only shows your interface configuration, that’s it. It SHOW’s you data, but does not set, nor configure anything.
netsh int tcp set global chimney=enabled netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=normal netsh int tcp set global congestionprovider=ctcp
All completely a placebo and a misunderstanding as to what each of these actually do.
netsh int tcp show global Then running this again? I guess for lol’s just to see you set those variables? Again, this does nothing.
Also, NONE of this would be causing Captcha’s anyway. What can is a browser, extensions, ad blockers, tracker blockers, etc. It has nothing to do with DNS which is what all of this only achieves: ipconfig /flushdns
…because
ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew
…is ONLY releasing your IP and renewing it. Not with the ISP of course, with your FIREWALL/NAT. Again, accomplishes nothing for Captcha’s, and is nothing but an entire waste of time for the user to jump through, while messing with their TCP/IP stack in ways they really should NOT be doing.
Short list of Google domain names and hostnames related to Google’s Unified Login:
[*.]accounts.google.com
[*.]google.com ← that alone, worked for me, but your mileage may vary
[*.]gstatic.com
[*.]mail.google.com
[*.]recaptcha.net
[*.]www.google.com
In a Brave Browser New Window, go to: brave://settings/cookies and, in the Sites allowed to use third-party cookies section, Add those Google domain names and hostnames.
In a Brave Browser New Window, go to: brave://settings/content/braveShields and, in the Shields Down section, Add those Google domain names and hostnames.
In a Brave Browser New Window, go to: brave://settings/content/javascript and scroll down to the Allowed to use JavaScript section, and there, Add those Google domain names and hostnames.
Also test …
Create a new user Profile for Testing:
Create and use AN ADDITIONAL Brave Browser user Profile (Menu --> More tools --> Add profile) - only ← meaning: Do not have any other Brave Browser user Profile tabs/windows open.
When creating this new Brave Browser user Profile for test purposes
Do not import anything.
Do not add any extensions.
Do not allow/enable any Brave Browser “bells and whistles” such as Brave Rewards, Brave Talk, etc.
IF this test Brave Browser user Profile does not present your problem, then possibly, the profile that you have been using, has a problem . . . and that might be caused by one or more extensions, or too many tabs ← complex/conundrum.
Detailed info about testing - IF, in regard to memory and performance issues:
Seems like these companies are making the internet more frustrating to use. They don’t want anon users who can’t be tracked. That’s why they are pushing age verification and eventually a license to be on the internet.
