ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED on Chrome: what it is and how to fix it

ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED is an error message that you may see when using Google Chrome to access a website. Although frustrating, it usually indicates a client-side issue that is simple to resolve.

Error code	ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
Error type	Connection
Error variations	This site can’t be reached This page is unavailable Unable to connect Hmmm…can’t reach this page
Error causes	Faulty internet connection Google synchronization error Bad Google Chrome extensions Antivirus, firewall, or VPN interference Outdated browser or DNS cache

On Mozilla Firefox, this error produces the “Unable to connect” message. Meanwhile, Microsoft Edge displays “Hmmm…can’t reach this page” when the issue occurs.

In most cases, ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED is a client-side error, which means that an issue on your machine has caused it. However, in rare cases, this can be caused by the target web server.

If you see ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED on localhost, though, the solution to your problem will be related to localhost as well.

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Learn how to fix the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error on your web browser.

12 methods to fix ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED

This section will explore twelve methods to fix the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error in Chrome.

The methods are mostly beginner-friendly, although some of them are advanced. We will walk you through each step, making the troubleshooting process as painless as possible. Let’s start.

1. Check whether the website is down

The ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error can sometimes be caused by issues with the website itself, such as server downtime. Before trying out the other methods, check if the site is accessible.

To check if a website is down, use free online tools such as Website Planet, Host Tracker, or Site24x7. All you have to do is input the website’s URL, and the tool will tell you the website’s status.

If the website is down for everyone, all you can do is wait for the website administrators to fix the issue. If not, the problem undoubtedly lies in your machine, and you can try the following methods.

2. Restart your network router

You can often fix a faulty internet connection by restarting your router. Whenever you have connection issues, this method should always be the first thing you try.

To restart your network adapter, locate your router and unplug the power. Wait 10-30 seconds before plugging the power back on. Once you’ve reconnected to the internet, try reaccessing the website.

3. Troubleshoot the internet connection

Windows and macOS have built-in tools for troubleshooting connection issues. The troubleshooter can pinpoint the problem and offer possible fixes.

Follow these steps to start the connection troubleshooter on a Windows machine:

1. Open Settings using the Start menu or pressing the Windows key + I.
2. Navigate to the Network & internet menu.
3. Press the Troubleshoot button.

4. Select the network adapter you want to diagnose and click Next.

5. Wait until the system finishes analyzing the issues.
6. If issues are found, apply the suggested fixes.
7. Close the troubleshooter and reboot the system.

For Mac users, here’s how to start the internet troubleshooter:

1. Disconnect or unplug all external devices except your monitor and keyboard.
2. Turn off the system.
3. Turn the system back on while pressing and holding D.
4. Choose your preferred language.
5. Wait until Apple Diagnostics has finished running.
6. If the system identifies issues with your connection, it will suggest possible solutions.
7. Apply the suggested solutions and reboot the system.

After running the troubleshooter on your system, try revisiting the problematic web page. If the issue persists, try the other methods.

4. Turn off synchronization to Google

Problems with Google’s synchronization may cause the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error in Chrome.

Here’s how to turn off synchronization on Google Chrome:

1. Open the three dots menu located to the right of the address bar.
2. Select Settings.
3. Go to Sync and Google Services -> Turn off.

Check whether the error is solved. Don’t forget to turn on the synchronization again after browsing the website.

5. Check Google Chrome extensions

Google Chrome extensions extend Chrome’s functionality and improve the overall browsing experience.

However, many extensions are made by third-party developers and are not closely monitored by Google. Therefore, an outdated or problematic Google Chrome extension may be causing the error.

We suggest checking all the extensions installed on your Google Chrome browser. Make sure that they are all recently updated, and uninstall any outdated ones.

This is also an excellent opportunity to disable Chrome extensions that are weighing down your browser. It’s vital to regularly audit installed extensions to prevent speed issues and security threats.

To remove a Google Chrome browser extension, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to Chrome’s three dots menu -> More tools -> Extensions.
2. In the Extensions menu, find the extension you want to uninstall and click Remove.

Finally, check whether you can access the website after uninstalling the extension.

6. Reinstall Chrome

Your current Google Chrome installation may have issues causing the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error. The easiest way to revert Chrome to its original settings is to uninstall and reinstall it again.

But before you do this, consider a quicker way to revert the Chrome browser to its original settings by resetting it.

Follow these steps to reset Chrome:

1. Open Chrome.
2. Navigate to the three dots menu -> Settings -> Advanced.
3. Click Restore settings to their original defaults.
4. Select Reset settings.

If the error still appears, proceed to reinstall the Chrome browser. Here’s how to do it on Windows:

1. Open Chrome.
2. Download the latest version of Google Chrome to your computer.
3. Open Settings -> Apps -> Apps & features.
4. Find Google Chrome in the App list, expand the three dots menu, and click uninstall.

5. After Chrome is successfully uninstalled, run the previously downloaded Chrome installer.

7. Disable antivirus and firewall

Antivirus and firewall programs protect your computer from security threats like viruses and malware. These programs regularly scan your files and network traffic for malicious activity and block it from infecting your computer.

However, antivirus and firewall programs are not perfect. Sometimes, they can block safe websites, preventing users from accessing them. Instead of opening the website normally, the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error may appear on your browser instead.

Temporarily disabling the antivirus and firewall might fix this error. That said, ensure that the website you’re trying to access is safe before trying this method.

Here’s how to disable the antivirus software and firewall on Windows if you’re using the default Windows Defender Firewall:

1. Access Windows Security by going to Settings -> Privacy & security.
2. Click Virus & threat protection.
3. Under Virus & threat protection settings, select Manage settings.
4. Switch off Real-time protection.

5. Go to Firewall & network protection.
6. Open each network profile – domain network, private network, and public network and disable Microsoft Defender Firewall.

If you’re using a macOS machine, follow these steps to turn off the built-in firewall temporarily:

1. Click the Apple logo at the top left corner.
2. Select System Preferences -> Security and Privacy.
3. Select the Firewall tab to expand its settings.
4. Click the lock icon and enter your username and password.
5. Once it’s unlocked, select Turn off Firewall.
6. Click the lock icon again to prevent further changes to the firewall settings.

If you use third-party antivirus and firewall software, the steps to disable it will be specific to the software. We recommend studying the software’s documentation to learn how to do it correctly.

Keep in mind that you should only temporarily disable your antivirus and firewall software. If you keep them off, you risk getting viruses or malware.

After trying this method, quickly restore the antivirus and firewall software to its original state.

8. Deactivate your VPN

For many people, having a VPN is essential for ensuring their online privacy. A VPN lets users mask their actual IP address, making them appear to be browsing the internet from another location.

However, some VPNs might interfere with the connection and trigger the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error in Chrome. Deactivating the VPN temporarily may fix the issue.

Most VPN services make activating and deactivating VPN easy. For example, here’s how to deactivate NordVPN:

1. Open the NordVPN client.
2. Make sure you’re connected to a server and select Disconnect.
3. Select how long you want to pause the VPN connection for.

Don’t forget to reconnect to the VPN once you’re done trying this method.

9. Clear browser cache

The browser cache is where Chrome stores cookies, login data, and other information to speed up the website loading process and personalize the user experience.

It’s possible that your browser currently stores an outdated cache of the problematic website, triggering the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error. Clearing the browser cache will force your browser to reload the website’s data fully, updating the cache to its latest version.

Another way to quickly open a web page without using the existing cache is to open the website in incognito mode or use a different browser. If the error message still appears, go ahead and clear your browser cache in Chrome:

1. Navigate to the three dots menu -> More tools -> Clear browsing data.
2. In the Time range drop-down menu, select All time.
3. Ensure that all the browsing data, including browsing history, cookies, cached images and files, and other site data are selected. Then, click Clear data.

Try reaccessing the problematic website. If the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error message persists, proceed to the following method.

10. Flush DNS cache

The browser cache is not the only place where website data is kept locally on the client’s computer. Every computer also stores a Domain Name System (DNS) resolver cache stored in the operating system rather than the browser.

Flushing the DNS cache will force your computer to redownload the latest DNS information of the website, which might fix the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error.

For Windows users, follow these steps to flush the DNS cache:

1. Open the start menu and search for Command Prompt.
2. Right-click it and select Run as administrator.
3. Type in this command and press Enter:

netsh winsock reset catalog

4. Next, type in the following DNS flush command and press Enter again:

ipconfig /flushdns

If you use macOS, here’s how to clear the DNS cache:

1. Click the Spotlight Search button, search for Terminal, and open it.
2. Type in the following command in Terminal and press Enter:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

3. Enter your password when prompted to begin the DNS cache flush.

Once the DNS resolver cache is cleared, try to reaccess the problematic website and see if the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error message persists.

11. Configure Proxy Server Settings

Aside from VPNs, people also use proxy servers to protect their privacy online. A proxy server lets you browse under a different IP address and filter communication as well as cache data.

However, a proxy server can also cause connection issues like ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED.

There can be various causes, such as incorrect proxy configuration, caching errors, or the web server blocking the proxy and the IP address attached to it. It’s also possible that the proxy you’re using has gone offline.

So, if you’re using a proxy, it’s worth checking whether its settings are correctly configured.

Here’s how to check proxy settings on a Windows system:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Navigate to Network and Internet -> Internet Options -> Connections -> LAN Settings.
3. Make sure to uncheck both Automatically detect settings and Use a proxy server for your LAN (These settings will not apply to dial-up or VPN connections).

4. Click OK.

If you use macOS, here’s how to access proxy settings and adjust them:

1. Click the Apple logo -> System preferences.
2. Open proxy settings in Network -> Advanced -> Proxies.
3. Uncheck all selectable proxy protocols.

4. Click OK.

Once your proxy is disabled, try reloading the web page. If the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED persists, there’s one final method you can try.

12. Change DNS server

An overloaded or inactive DNS server can be the culprit of ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED.

By default, every internet user uses their internet service provider’s (ISP) DNS server address. You’re free to change the DNS address if you need to.

To find out if your current DNS server is causing the problem, try changing your default DNS address to one of the following:

• Google Public DNS: 8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4
• Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 or 1.0.0.1
• OpenDNS Home: 208.67.222.222 or 208.67.220.220
• AdGuard DNS: 94.140.14.14 or 94.140.15.15
• Quad9: 9.9.9.9 or 149.112.112.112

Here’s how to change your DNS settings on Windows:

1. Open the Start menu -> Settings -> Network & internet.
2. Select the internet connection you want to assign the new DNS to. In this tutorial, we’ll select Wi-Fi.
3. Open Hardware properties.
4. Next to DNS server assignment, click Edit.
5. If it’s set to Automatic, change it to Manual.
6. Choose the internet protocol version (IPv) that your ISP requires. Most ISPs use IPv4 by default, but some require IPv6 addresses.
7. In this example, we’ll switch to Google Public DNS. Enable IPv4 and enter Google Public DNS’s Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server.

8. Some DNSs are encrypted, which is better for security. To make sure encryption is enabled, choose Encrypted preferred, unencrypted allowed for each DNS address.
9. Click Save.

Here’s how to change the DNS servers on macOS:

1. Click the Apple logo -> System Preferences.
2. Open Network.
3. In the left sidebar, select the network you want to assign the new DNS to.
4. After the network is selected, click Advanced.
5. In the new window, open the DNS tab.
6. Remove the existing DNS servers.
7. Click + to add the new DNS server addresses.
8. Enter your preferred public DNS address. In this example, we’ll use Google Public DNS.

9. Click OK.

Unfortunately, custom public DNSs can run into problems as well. If you happen to use a custom DNS server already, try reverting to your ISP’s original DNS. This can sometimes fix the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error.

Conclusion

ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED is a client-side error that can be caused by a variety of factors. This includes an unreliable internet connection, Chrome extension issues, antivirus and firewall interference, and incorrect internet settings.

In this guide, we went over twelve methods to solve the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error. These methods include:

• Checking if the website is down
• Restarting your network adapter
• Troubleshooting your internet connection
• Turning off synchronization to Google
• Checking Google Chrome extensions
• Reinstalling Chrome
• Disabling antivirus and firewall
• Deactivating VPN
• Clearing cache
• Flushing DNS cache
• Configuring proxy server settings
• Changing the DNS server address

We hope that one of these methods helped you fix the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error. If the error persists, we recommend contacting your hosting provider for help.

ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED FAQs

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