How to enable JavaScript

Private.Ki’s web application requires JavaScript to be enabled in your browser. This is because the encryption and other dynamic features run client-side in your browser using JavaScript. If JavaScript is disabled, Private.Ki will not function correctly. You might see a warning or experience a blank page if you try to use Private.Ki without JavaScript. The good news is that most browsers have JavaScript enabled by default. If you or a browser extension turned it off, you can re-enable it with a few steps.

Below are instructions for enabling JavaScript in all major browsers:

Google Chrome (desktop)

  1. Open Chrome on your computer. Click the menu (⋮) at the top right corner and select Settings.

  2. In Settings, click Privacy and security in the left sidebar (you may have to scroll), then click Site settings.

  3. Scroll to the Content section and find JavaScript.

  4. Ensure that it says “Sites can use JavaScript”. If it’s set to “Blocked”, toggle the switch to enable JavaScript. In recent Chrome versions, you’ll see an option that should be set to Allowed (recommended).

  5. Close the settings tab and refresh the Private.Ki page. It should now load with JavaScript enabled.

(Note: In Chrome for Android, the steps are similar – go to Settings > Site settings > JavaScript and set it to allowed. On iPhone/iPad, Chrome uses the system WebKit engine which has JavaScript on by default; there’s no separate toggle in Chrome iOS.)

Mozilla Firefox (desktop)

Firefox does not provide a simple checkbox in settings for JavaScript because it’s enabled by default and intended to stay that way. If JavaScript is disabled in Firefox, it was likely done through the advanced configuration or an add-on. Here’s how to re-enable it:

  1. Open Firefox. In the address bar, type about:config and press Enter. You may see a warning “This might void your warranty!” – click “Accept the Risk and Continue”.

  2. You’ll see a search bar for preferences. Search for javascript.enabled.

  3. The javascript.enabled preference should show up. If its value is false (meaning JavaScript is off), toggle it to true by either double-clicking it or clicking the toggle button. True means JavaScript is enabled.

  4. Close the about:config tab and refresh Private.Ki. It should work now.

If you use NoScript or another script-blocking extension, you’ll need to allow Private.Ki in that extension as well (usually by whitelisting the Private.Ki domain in the extension’s menu).

(Firefox on Android similarly has JS on by default with no easy toggle. Firefox on iOS uses WebKit like Safari, which has JS on by default.)

Apple Safari (Mac)

  1. Open Safari on your Mac. In the top menu bar, click Safari and select Preferences (or press Cmd + ,).

  2. Go to the Security tab in Preferences.

  3. There will be a checkbox labeled Enable JavaScript. Make sure this box is checked.

  4. Close the Preferences window. If needed, refresh the Private.Ki page. With JavaScript enabled, any previously blocked content should now load.

(Safari on iPhone/iPad: JavaScript is usually enabled by default. If it was turned off: go to iOS Settings > Safari > Advanced > make sure JavaScript is on. Safari’s default is on, and most users won’t need to change it.)

Microsoft Edge (Windows)

Microsoft Edge (the modern version) is based on Chromium, so the steps are very similar to Chrome:

  1. Open Edge. Click the menu (… three dots) in the upper-right and choose Settings.

  2. In the left panel, click Cookies and site permissions.

  3. Scroll to All permissions and find JavaScript in the list. Click it.

  4. Make sure the toggle is set to Allowed (recommended) for JavaScript. If it was off, switch it on.

  5. Refresh your Private.Ki tab. It should now run properly with scripts enabled.

(For older Internet Explorer – if anyone still uses it – JavaScript settings are in Tools > Internet Options > Security > Custom Level > Scripting > “Active Scripting”. But we highly recommend using a modern, supported browser for Private.Ki for both security and compatibility.)

Why JavaScript is important for Private.Ki

Private.Ki uses JavaScript to perform crucial tasks such as encrypting and decrypting your messages in your browser. If JavaScript is off, your browser can’t run the code that does the encryption, and thus you wouldn’t be able to read or send messages (because nothing would get encrypted/decrypted). Also, features like the user interface responsiveness, buttons, and dynamic content rely on JS. Essentially, Private.Ki will not work without JavaScript, so enabling it is mandatory for the web app.

If you are concerned about enabling JavaScript (some privacy-conscious users disable it to prevent tracking scripts), remember that Private.Ki’s JavaScript is there to protect you (handling encryption) rather than track you. Of course, always be careful about other sites, but for Private.Ki, you can safely allow JS to run – it’s an integral part of our secure architecture.