How to Fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT in Chrome
The ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT is one of the most common SSL errors you get to see in your chrome browser. This occurs when there is a delay in the time taken by the server to respond to the browser’s request and is, in fact, a preventive measure against lags that can get dangerous.
For instance, there could be an unauthorized third party intercepting the data while the server and the client are communicating, and this is why the system is designed to do what it does.
The prevention of time gaps is beneficial in cases where financial data like credit card details are exchanged.
How Do I Fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT in Chrome?
However, sometimes it has nothing to do with security but could result from an underlying problem. Unless that is fixed, your Chrome browser will show up this error over and over again, and that can be not very pleasant.
In that case, you need to find ‘ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT in chrome’ fixes and try them out one at a time to stop this issue.
The key focus of all the measures you implement should be on reducing the server response time, and usually, that has a lot to do with the browser. After all, it is the communication and sync between the browser and the server which generates the response. Let us now dive into how this can be fixed.
Clear Chrome’s Browsing Data
Every time you browse a webpage, the browser accumulates data in the form of cookies, cache, and other files, which can slow down the server-client communication and cause the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error. The cache files are the images and other media that the browser stores to reduce the response time.
Sometimes, those would be files that record customer preferences or other reusable information. As these are files, they add up to the browser’s memory and slow it down. Therefore, it is essential to clear it so that the server-client communication runs smoothly. To clear your Chrome’s browsing data, follow the below-mentioned steps.
- Click on the three vertical dots on the browser’s top-right hand corner.
Navigate to ‘Settings’ and click on it.
- Click on the ‘Privacy and security’ option.
- Click on the ‘Clear Browsing Data’ option, set the time range to ‘all time’ and check all the boxes.
- Click on the ‘Clear Data’ option.
If you have saved passwords and do not want them deleted, uncheck the corresponding box before hitting the ‘Clear Data’ option.
Edit the Host file on your Windows
Another way to fix this error is by checking if the host files indicate this error when you try to access any specific website. If they do, it’s probably because the host’s file has blocked out the website you are trying to access. You can check and modify the host’s file by following the below-mentioned steps.
- Please navigate to the host’s file on its default location.
- Then, navigate to the ‘etc.’ folder in which you will find the ‘hosts’ file that you must right click on and open with a text editor like the Notepad or Notepad++
- Remove all the lines that follow the hash line at the end.
Check the LAN
If you make use of a proxy or have at any time modified the LAN settings, then this could be the culprit. So, the only way out is to undo the damage by tweaking the LAN settings. You can adjust that by following the below-mentioned steps.
- Open Control Panel.
- Configure the view mode to ‘Icon View.’
- Click on the ‘Internet Options’.
- Click on the ‘Connections’ tab on the internet properties window & Navigate to LAN Settings.
- Uncheck every option in LAN Setting
- Click on ‘OK’ and restart the computer.
Check the Firewall
It is common for internet users to use antivirus and firewalls, two security essentials that are considered a standard norm from a security standpoint. However, this could sometimes cause the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT issue. So, check if the firewall is blocking the browser from accessing specific websites. If so, then reset the permissions, and that should fix it.
How this needs to be done is usually pretty straightforward but may vary depending on the firewall you use.
The last resort would be to disable the firewall, but that may cause other security issues. Besides the firewall settings, check if there is any other web filtering software application installed on your system that could be doing this very thing. If you find any, then check their settings also and make the necessary tweaks.
Flush DNS
It is also quite possible that this SSL error is showing up because of the DNS or IP problem. This can be fixed by flushing the DNS cache and releasing or renewing the IP addresses accumulated over time. Follow the below-listed steps to do that.
- Click on the Windows menu on the bottom left corner and type ‘CMD’ to open the command prompt.
- Then, type the ipconfig/flushdns command and hit enter.
- Now, enter the ipconfig/registerdns command and hit enter.
- Next, type ipconfig/release and press enter.
- Next, type ipconfig/renew and hit enter.
- Now, run the netsh winsock reset command to reset the Winsock catalog and the corresponding registry settings to default.
Check with your Internet Service Provider
If you have done everything right but still see the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error on your chrome browser and specifically on certain websites, then you must contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to check if this is a problem on their end.
You must list out the websites on which you are facing this issue and send it to them. Alternatively, you could use a VPN to access those websites and bypass the restrictions imposed by the ISP.
Final Takeaway
We have discussed almost all the potential causes for the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT SSL error, along with useful fixes.
In most cases, one of these should help you fix it and allow you to continue browsing your favourite sites. However, if that’s not happening and you still see that glitch, then try contacting the Chrome development team for a resolution.
Related :