11 Ways to Troubleshoot (“ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED”) on Google Chrome

Waternedx

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posted on 2 days ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Do you keep getting an "ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED" error message when you browse with Google Chrome? It indicates that the connection between your browser and the web server can't be established or is closed mid-session and it can originate from either the visitor's device or the website's server. Read on to learn more about fixing the error.

What Causes ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED & How to Fix It

Check your internet connection.

A bad connection will result in "ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED" errors. If the network you're using disappears while browsing a site, you'll see this error pop-up, even if you were just browsing it normally. You may need to swap from a Wi-Fi network to a data network if you don't have a strong signal.

Reset your router.

Router misconfigurations can lead to the error. Turning your router off and back on again will clear any temporary settings that can be causing the connection issue. To restart your router, unplug it from power, wait a minute, then plug it back in.

Clear your browsing data.

Corrupted or old data can cause the "ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED" error. Here's how you can clear the browsing data in Chrome: Click ⋮. Click Delete browsing data. Select "Cookies and other data" and "Cached images and files". Click Delete data.

Flush the DNS cache.

Outdated or corrupted cached files can cause the error. Flushing the cache will allow you to establish a brand-new connection with the websites. Here's how to flush the DNC cache on multiple platforms: Windows 11/10: Run Command Prompt as an administrator and enter "ipconfig /flushdns". Press Enter and you should see a message like, "Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache." Mac: Open Terminal and enter "sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder". Press Return and enter your admin username and password to confirm.

Update Chrome.

An outdated browser can prompt a connection error. Your browser automatically updates whenever you open Chrome for the first time, but here's how you can do it manually: Click ⋮. Hover your mouse over Help and click About Google Chrome. Click Relauch if Chrome has an update available.

Disable Chrome extensions.

Some extensions block the connection and cause the error. Even though many extensions are helpful and add to the browser's functionality, some extensions can interrupt your connection to websites. To turn off extensions: Click the extension to turn it off. Alternatively, click the jigsaw puzzle piece to the right of the URL bar and click Manage Extensions. There you can click the toggle to turn them off. Some extensions, like Bitdefender's anti-tracking extension, can be the source of the connection block.

Reset Chrome settings.

Some custom settings in Chrome can interrupt a connection, causing the error. If you see "ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED" error and have recently made changes to your Chrome's settings, that might be the culprit. To reset Chrome's settings, go to ⋮ > Settings > Reset Settings > Restore settings to their original defaults > Reset settings.

Reinstall Chrome.

Corrupted files can cause the error. Just deleting the current installation and installing a fresh version might not be enough since the old files still exist. Instead, follow these steps to ensure you're installing a clean, new version of Chrome: Windows: Open "Apps & features" to see a list of installed apps. Select Chrome and click Uninstall. Delete the folders called C:\Users\YOUNAME\AppData\Local\Google\ and C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\. Restart your computer and then reinstall Chrome from https://www.google.com/chrome/. Mac: Make sure Chrome isn't running from the Activity Monitor, then find the application in the Application folder. Drag and drop it in the Trash. In Finder, select Go > Go to Folder and enter "~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome. Delete everything in that folder and restart your computer. Finally, reinstall Chrome from https://www.google.com/chrome/.

Check your firewall or anti-virus software.

Software meant to protect you from online threats can also cause the connection error. You can temporarily disable your antivirus software or allow the site that's giving you the error through your firewall. Windows: Open Settings > Updates & Security (Windows 10 only) > Windows Security > Firewall & Network Protection > Microsoft Defender Firewall. Mac: Go to System Settings > Network > Firewall. Click + to add a site to go through the firewall.

Disable VPN or proxy server.

Either of these can malfunction and give you the connection error. Turn these off and see if the error is fixed.

Check the hosting IP address.

An unreachable address will also give this connection error. This isn't a frequent issue, but it can happen if you have an old website address that you want to visit again. It may no longer exist or you may have incorrectly written it down. Open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac) and enter "ping YOUR SITE'S IP ADDRESS Or ping YOURSITE.com. If you don't get a ping back, the address is null or incorrect.