Troubleshooting General Issues

This guide covers common PerfoAds problems beyond sync and OAuth including login issues, slow performance, missing data displays, button clicks not working, and general error messages. Step-by-step solutions help you quickly resolve issues and get back to work.

What You'll Learn

Time needed: 12 minutes to read

Quick Troubleshooting Checklist

Before Deep Diagnostics, Try These:

  1. Hard Refresh: Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+R (Mac)
  2. Check Internet: Open another website to verify connection
  3. Clear Cache: Browser settings → Clear browsing data
  4. Try Different Browser: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari
  5. Check Browser Console: F12 → Console tab → Look for red errors

⏱️ Time: 2-3 minutes to run all 5 checks

Fixes: 60% of issues resolved by these steps alone

[Screenshot: Browser console showing common error vs no errors] Red errors in console indicate problems. No errors = healthy

Problem 1: Can't Log In

Symptom Set A: Login Button Not Working

Symptoms:

Cause 1: Popup Blocked

Diagnostic: Browser blocked the Google sign-in popup window

Solution:

Chrome:

  1. Look for blocked popup icon in address bar (right side)
  2. Click icon
  3. Select "Always allow popups from app.aiperfoads.xyz"
  4. Retry login

Firefox:

  1. Preferences → Privacy & Security → Permissions → Popups
  2. Add exception for app.aiperfoads.xyz
  3. Retry login

Safari:

  1. Safari → Preferences → Websites → Pop-up Windows
  2. For app.aiperfoads.xyz, select "Allow"
  3. Retry login

[Screenshot: Browser popup blocker notification] Allow popups for PerfoAds to enable Google sign-in

Cause 2: Third-Party Cookies Disabled

Diagnostic: Browser blocks cookies needed for OAuth

Solution:

Chrome:

  1. Settings → Privacy and Security → Third-party cookies
  2. Select "Allow third-party cookies"
  3. OR add exception for [.]googleapis.com and [.]aiperfoads.xyz
  4. Retry login

Firefox:

  1. Preferences → Privacy & Security
  2. Change "Enhanced Tracking Protection" to "Standard"
  3. OR add exception for site
  4. Retry login

Safari:

  1. Safari → Preferences → Privacy
  2. Uncheck "Prevent cross-site tracking" (temporarily)
  3. Login
  4. Re-enable after successful login

Symptom Set B: "Session Expired" After Login

Symptoms:

Cause: Cookie Storage Issue

Solution:

Step 1: Clear Site Data

  1. F12 → Application tab → Storage → Clear site data
  2. Refresh page
  3. Retry login

Step 2: Check Cookie Settings

  1. Browser must allow cookies for aiperfoads.xyz
  2. Settings → Privacy → Cookies → Allow
  3. Retry login

Step 3: Disable Extensions Temporarily

  1. Privacy extensions (uBlock, Privacy Badger) may interfere
  2. Disable extensions
  3. Retry login
  4. Re-enable after successful login

Symptom Set C: Stuck on "Logging in..."

Symptoms:

Cause: Backend Connection Issue

Solution:

Step 1: Wait 30 Seconds

Step 2: Hard Refresh

Step 3: Clear Cookies and Retry

  1. Settings → Privacy → Clear cookies
  2. Refresh page
  3. Retry login from scratch

Step 4: Check System Status

Problem 2: Slow Performance / Pages Load Slowly

Symptoms

Cause 1: Too Many Browser Tabs

Diagnostic: 20+ browser tabs open

Solution:

Cause 2: Large Data Set Loading

Scenario:

Client with:
- 100+ campaigns
- 50,000+ keywords
- Viewing "All Time" date range

Expected: Pages will load slower (normal behavior)

Optimization:

  1. Narrow date range (use Last 30 Days instead of All Time)
  2. Filter campaigns (show only active campaigns)
  3. Paginate keywords (show 100 at a time instead of all)

Why: Less data = faster rendering

Cause 3: Browser Cache Bloated

Solution: Clear cache

Chrome:

  1. Settings → Privacy → Clear browsing data
  2. Select: Cached images and files
  3. Time range: Last 7 days
  4. Click Clear data
  5. Refresh PerfoAds

Firefox:

  1. Preferences → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
  2. Click Clear Data
  3. Check only "Cached Web Content"
  4. Clear
  5. Refresh

Result: Fresh cache, faster loads

Cause 4: Slow Internet Connection

Diagnostic: Run speed test at https://fast.com

Minimum Required: 5 Mbps download

Solution (if slow):

Problem 3: Data Not Displaying

Symptom Set A: Blank Dashboard (No Data)

Symptoms:

Cause 1: No Clients Added

Diagnostic: First-time user or all clients deleted

Solution:

  1. Go to Client List
  2. Click Add Client button
  3. Follow onboarding wizard
  4. See: Adding First Client

Cause 2: Filters Excluding All Data

Diagnostic: Date range or status filter set too narrow

Solution:

  1. Check date range selector (top right)
    • If set to custom range with no data: Expand range
  2. Check status filter
    • If "Paused Only" selected: Change to "All" or "Active"
  3. Check search box
    • If search term entered: Clear it
  4. Click "Reset Filters" button (if available)

Symptom Set B: Metrics Show $0 or Zero Values

Symptoms:

Cause 1: Never Synced

Diagnostic: "Last Sync" shows "Never" or very old date

Solution:

  1. Click client's Actions menu
  2. Select Sync Now
  3. Wait 2-5 minutes
  4. Refresh dashboard
  5. Data should appear

Cause 2: Selected Date Range Has No Activity

Diagnostic:

Viewing: Last 7 days
Client: New account, campaigns launched yesterday
Result: Only 1 day of data, rest shows zeros

Not a Problem: Account genuinely has no data for most of selected range

Solution: Adjust date range to match campaign activity period

Symptom Set C: Some Clients Missing from List

Symptoms:

Cause: Archived Clients Hidden

Solution:

  1. Client List page
  2. Look for "Show Archived" toggle or filter
  3. Enable "Show Archived"
  4. Missing clients appear (with "Archived" badge)

To Unarchive:

  1. Click archived client
  2. Actions → Unarchive
  3. Client returns to main list

Problem 4: Buttons Not Working

Symptom: Click Button, Nothing Happens

Affected Buttons: Sync Now, Save Settings, Export, Add Client, etc.

Cause 1: JavaScript Error

Diagnostic:

  1. Open browser console: F12
  2. Click Console tab
  3. Click the button that's not working
  4. Look for red error messages

Common Errors:

"Failed to fetch" → Backend connection issue
"Unauthorized" → Session expired, log in again
"Network error" → Internet connection lost

Solution by Error:

Cause 2: Page Not Fully Loaded

Diagnostic: Clicked button while page still loading

Solution:

Prevention: Don't click buttons immediately after page load. Wait 2-3 seconds.

Cause 3: Session Expired

Diagnostic:

Button click shows: "Session expired"
Or: Redirects to login page

Solution:

  1. Log in again
  2. Return to page
  3. Retry action

Prevention: Sessions last 30 days. If you see this often, check browser settings allow cookies to persist.

Problem 5: Error Messages

Error: "Failed to load data. Please try again."

Meaning: Backend API request failed

Solutions:

  1. Refresh page
  2. Check internet connection
  3. If persists >5 minutes: Contact support (possible backend issue)

Error: "Unauthorized"

Meaning: Session invalid or expired

Solution:

  1. Refresh page
  2. If persists: Log out → Log back in
  3. Should resolve

Error: "Too many requests"

Meaning: Rate limited (clicking too fast or too many API calls)

Solution:

  1. Wait 1-2 minutes
  2. Retry action
  3. Avoid rapid-fire button clicks

Error: "Network error"

Meaning: Can't reach backend API

Solutions:

  1. Check internet connection (open another website)
  2. Try different network (switch from Wi-Fi to mobile hotspot)
  3. Check firewall settings (may be blocking API requests)
  4. If persists: Contact IT (corporate firewall may block API domain)

Error: "Something went wrong"

Meaning: Generic error (catch-all)

Solutions:

  1. Hard refresh: Ctrl+Shift+R
  2. Check browser console for specific error
  3. Clear cache and retry
  4. If persists: Contact support with screenshot

Problem 6: Charts Not Displaying

Symptoms

Cause 1: No Data for Date Range

Diagnostic: Selected date range has no activity

Solution: Expand date range or check campaign launch date

Cause 2: Ad Blocker Interfering

Diagnostic: Ad blocker extension blocking chart library

Solution:

  1. Disable ad blocker for aiperfoads.xyz
  2. Refresh page
  3. Charts should appear

Why: Some ad blockers block charting libraries (false positive)

Cause 3: Browser Compatibility

Diagnostic: Using outdated browser version

Solution:

Problem 7: Mobile/Responsive Issues

Symptoms

Cause: Not Optimized for Small Screens Yet

Current State: PerfoAds optimized for desktop (1280px+ width)

Mobile Support: Limited

Solution (Temporary):

  1. Use desktop browser for best experience
  2. Tablet in landscape mode: Works better than portrait
  3. Mobile: Basic navigation works, but full features require desktop

Roadmap: Full mobile optimization planned for Q2 2026

Browser Compatibility

Fully Supported Browsers

Recommended:

Known Issues:

Clearing Cache and Cookies Safely

Why Clear Cache?

Benefits:

Won't Lose:

How to Clear Cache Without Losing Everything

Chrome (Safe Method):

  1. Settings → Privacy → Clear browsing data
  2. Time range: Last 7 days (not "All time")
  3. Check:
    • ✅ Cached images and files
    • ✅ Cookies and other site data
  4. Uncheck:
    • ☐ Browsing history
    • ☐ Download history
  5. Click Clear data

Result: Fresh cache, but minimal disruption

When to Contact Support

Contact Support If:

  1. Login fails after trying all solutions (3+ attempts)
  2. Persistent errors that don't resolve with refresh/cache clear
  3. Data inconsistencies (data in Google Ads but not syncing)
  4. Missing features (expected buttons or pages not appearing)
  5. System-wide issues (all users in your team affected)

Don't Contact Support For:

What to Provide to Support

Include in Support Request:

  1. Description: What were you trying to do?
  2. Error Message: Exact text (screenshot best)
  3. Browser: Chrome 120, Firefox 115, etc.
  4. Steps to Reproduce: What did you click/do before error?
  5. Troubleshooting Tried: What solutions did you already try?
  6. Impact: Is this blocking your work?

Example Good Support Request:

Subject: Can't sync Client ID 123

Description:
Trying to sync "Acme Corp" (Customer ID 123-456-7890).
Click "Sync Now", get error "Failed to fetch".

Error Screenshot: [attached]

Browser: Chrome 120 on Windows 11

Steps Tried:
- Refreshed page
- Cleared cache
- Tried different browser (Firefox, same error)
- OAuth status shows Connected

Impact: Blocking. Client needs updated data for meeting today.

Preventive Maintenance Tips

Weekly Checks

Every Monday (5 minutes):

  1. Check OAuth status: Settings → Google Ads Connections
  2. Verify last sync times: Client List → "Last Sync" column
  3. Spot-check 2-3 clients for data freshness

Catches Issues Early: Before they become urgent problems

Monthly Browser Cleanup

First of Month (10 minutes):

  1. Clear browser cache (last 30 days)
  2. Update browser to latest version
  3. Review and disable unused extensions
  4. Check storage usage (if getting low, clear old downloads)

Benefit: Consistent performance, fewer errors

Keep Browser Updated

Auto-Update On: Modern browsers auto-update, ensure this is enabled

Why: Security patches, performance improvements, bug fixes

Check Version:

Common Questions

Q: Why do I need to clear cache so often? A: You shouldn't need to regularly. Only when issues arise. If clearing cache fixes issues repeatedly, contact support (may indicate deeper problem).

Q: Will clearing cookies log me out of everything? A: Yes, from sites stored in that time range. Selective clearing (last 7 days) minimizes impact.

Q: Can I use PerfoAds on multiple devices? A: Yes. Login works across desktop, laptop, tablet. Settings sync across devices.

Q: What if I forgot which Google account I used to log in? A: Check browser saved passwords or contact support with account details for verification.

Q: Is there a status page for system outages? A: Check https://status.render.com (our hosting provider) for infrastructure status.

Next Steps

Resolve specific issues with these specialized guides:

Try quick fixes first before deep troubleshooting

Check browser console for specific error messages

Contact support if issue persists after trying documented solutions

Last Updated: October 4, 2025