How to Fix the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED Error in Chrome?

Have you ever seen a message showing an error while browsing? You are not alone. One of the errors that you can come across is “ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED” while using Google Chrome. It sometimes becomes a problem, especially when one wants to get into a particular website.

“ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED”

What does ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED mean?

This error message indicates that Chrome failed to establish a connection to the website you are trying to visit. There may be many causes for this. Sometimes it could be your internet connection, other times Chrome itself, or even the site you are trying to reach.

Here’s what the error message means:

ERR: This shows that there has been an error.

CONNECTION: Refers to your computer being linked up with the website.

REFUSED: This means that someone denied the connection request.

In simpler terms, Chrome is trying to connect to the website, but the website is rejecting the connection.

How to Fix the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED Error on Chrome?

The error of ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED in Chrome can be fixed in several ways. We’ll look at various solutions, beginning with the easy ones.

Solution 1: Check website status

Before you jump into troubleshooting from your end, it is recommended that you check if the site itself is down. Sometimes websites will go under routine maintenance or experience difficulties leading to temporary unavailability.

Here’s how to check the website status:

Try another website: Open a different website in Chrome. If the other website loads, it suggests the problem might be with the original website you were trying to access.

Use online tools for checking website status: Websites like Down For Everyone Or Just Me (https://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/) or Down.com can help you confirm whether a given site is down for everyone or just for you alone.

Unluckily, if this site is down, then there is not much hope on your side as we can do nothing until it comes back online.

Solution 2: Restart Your Router

Sometimes simply restarting your router could solve various internet connection issues. It’s like starting afresh with your router and clearing any temporary bugs that may have been causing problems.

Here’s how to restart your router:

  1. Locate the “power” button on your router.
  2. Turn off the router by disconnecting the power cord.
  3. Wait for at least 30 seconds (or as per your router’s manual) before plugging the power cord back in.
  4. Allow your router to boot up completely. This might take a minute or two.
  5. Once the router is back online, try opening the website again in Chrome.

Solution 3: Delete Browser History

Delete Browser History
Source:- Lifewire

The cache of your browser holds temporary information from the websites you visit like cookies, browsing history, and images. This data makes it faster for the website to load when you revisit it. However, corrupt or obsolete data can sometimes cause connection problems.

Here is how to clear Chrome’s browser cache:

  1. Open your computer’s Chrome.
  2. In the top-right corner of your browser window click on three “vertical” dots. That is the “More icon.”
  3. From that appearing menu choose “History” then Clear browsing data.
  4. A new window will display various options for clearing browsing data.
  5. Choose the “time period” by clicking in the Time range section to clear the cache; if you want more thorough cleaning however select All Time.
  6. Ensure the check box beside “Cached images and files” is ticked but you may leave other boxes unticked if you do not wish to clear your download history and browsing history respectively.
  7. Click the “Clear data” button on the page.
  8. Close and then re-open the Chrome browser.

If this error continues, please try accessing the site again.

Solution 4: Check Your Proxy Settings

Check Your Proxy Settings

Proxy servers act as intermediaries between your computer and the internet. They can be used for various reasons, such as improving security or privacy.

However, using a proxy server can sometimes cause connection issues, including the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error.

Here’s how you can check your proxy settings in Chrome.

  1. Start “Chrome” on your PC.
  2. Press the three vertical dots on the top right corner of your browser window (More icon).
  3. Select “Settings” from the menu.
  4. Scroll down to the bottom and click “Advanced.”
  5. Then under the system, click Open your computer’s proxy settings.

Windows Users:

Your internet connection settings will open up in a new window.

  1. Click on the “LAN” settings.
  2. Check whether the Automatically detect settings option is active under Automatic Configuration.
  3. Make sure to Use a proxy server for your LAN choice is “turned off” in the Proxy server section.
  4. To save changes click “OK.”

Mac Users:

  1. Go to the “Apple menu” at the corner of your screen on the top-left side,
  2. Then click Network followed by System Preferences.
  3. Select either “Wi-Fi” or “Ethernet” depending on your type of connection from the left list.
  4. Click the “Advanced” button.
  5. In the Proxies tab, uncheck any boxes that are checked on it.
  6. Finally, “OK” should be clicked upon saving changes made through this process

Once you’ve disabled any proxy settings, restart Chrome and try accessing the website again.

Solution 5: Disable Your Antivirus and Firewall Software (Temporarily)

Essentially, antivirus as well as firewall programs are essential for protecting your computer from online threats although these can sometimes block particular sites or connections causing the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error.

You can temporarily stop your antivirus and firewall software to check if it is responsible.

Important Note: Disable only your antivirus and firewall software to troubleshoot and ensure that you reactivate them once you finish working on the PC.

How to Disable Your Antivirus and Firewall Software (General Steps, Consult Your Software’s Specific Instructions If Needed):

Antivirus: Depending on the specific program that you are using, there are different ways of disabling it. Look for a feature that allows you to turn off real-time protection or scanning temporarily.

Firewall: Firewall settings are usually found under security settings in your operating system. This could be Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall in Windows or System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall on Mac.

Once you’ve disabled your antivirus and firewall, try opening the website again in Chrome. If the website loads successfully, it suggests your antivirus or firewall might be blocking the connection. You can then consult your software’s documentation or contact their support for further guidance.

Solution 6: Clear Your DNS Cache

The Domain Name System (DNS) cache is a temporary database on your computer that stores website addresses (URLs) and their corresponding IP addresses. This helps websites load faster because your computer doesn’t need to look up the IP address every time you visit a website. However, similar to the browser cache, the DNS cache can sometimes become corrupted or outdated, leading to connection errors.

Here’s how to clear your DNS cache:

For Windows Users:

  1. Open Command Prompt by searching for it in the Start menu.
  2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter

( ipconfig /flushdns )

  1. You’ll see a message confirming that the DNS Resolver Cache has been flushed successfully.

For Mac Users:

  1. Open Terminal (located in Utilities).
  2. Type the following command and press Enter

(sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder && echo macOS DNS Cache Reset)

  1. Run the following command. You will need administrator access to do this.

Once you’ve cleared your DNS cache, try accessing the website again in Chrome.

Solution 7: Change DNS Server

If clearing your DNS cache doesn’t resolve the issue, you can try changing your DNS server. Your computer uses a DNS server to translate website addresses (URLs) into IP addresses that your computer can understand.

Sometimes, the DNS server you’re using might be overloaded or experiencing technical difficulties, leading to connection problems.

Here’s how to change your DNS server in Chrome:

For Windows Users:

  1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Change adapter settings.
  2. Right-click on your network adapter and select “Properties.”
  3. Select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” from the list and click “Properties.”
  4. Select the option “Use the following DNS server addresses.”
  5. Enter the preferred and alternate DNS server addresses. You can use a public DNS server like Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8 for preferred and 8.8.4.4 for alternate) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1 for preferred and 1.0.0.1 for alternate).
  6. Click “OK” on all open windows to save your changes.

For Mac Users:

  1. Go to the Apple menu (top-left corner of your screen).
  2. Select “System Preferences” and then “Network.”
  3. Choose your connection type (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) from the list on the left.
  4. Click on the “Advanced” button.
  5. In the “DNS” tab, click the “+” button to add a new DNS server.
  6. Enter the preferred and alternate DNS server addresses (as mentioned above for Google Public DNS or Cloudflare DNS).
  7. Click “OK” on all open windows to save your changes.

Once you’ve changed your DNS server, restart Chrome and try accessing the website again.

Solution 8: Disable Outdated Chrome Extensions

Chrome extensions can add new features and functionalities to your browser. However, some out-of-date ones or those with malfunctions can get in the way of connecting Chrome inducing errors like ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED.

Here is how you can identify a faulty extension:

  1. Open your computer’s Chrome.
  2. Click on more icons, three vertical dots at the top right corner of the browser window.
  3. Choose more toolsextensions.
  4. You will see all installation extensions listed. Try disabling them one by one and after that open up that website which could not be accessed otherwise because it might still show an error message.
  5. If after disabling a particular extension, the website loads successfully, you have found who is responsible. You may continue keeping it disabled or decide to remove it altogether from your Google Chrome.

Remember to update your extensions regularly to minimize the risk of encountering issues.

Solution 9: Reinstall Chrome

If none of the solutions above work, you can try reinstalling Chrome as a last resort. Reinstalling Chrome can sometimes fix corrupted files or settings that might be causing the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error.

Here’s how to reinstall Chrome:

For Windows Users:

  1. Completely close Chrome.
  2. Go to Settings > Apps & features (or Programs and Features in older Windows versions).
  3. Look for Google Chrome among the installed apps.
  4. Click “Uninstall”.
  5. Follow the instructions on the screen until uninstallation is complete.
  6. Download the latest version of Chrome from the official Google Chrome website (https://www.google.com/chrome/).
  7. Run the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Chrome.

For Mac Users:

  1. Close Chrome completely.
  2. Drag the Chrome application icon from Applications to Trash.
  3. Empty the Trash.
  4. Download the latest version of Chrome from the official Google Chrome website (https://www.google.com/chrome/).
  5. Drag the downloaded DMG file to Applications.
  6. Once you’ve reinstalled Chrome, launch it and try accessing the website again.

The Bottom Line

As for the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error, it can be so annoying however hopefully the solutions in this guide will help you to fix the problem and get back on your browsing. Start with simpler solutions first and advance to more complicated troubleshooting steps if necessary.

If all else fails, there is nothing left but waiting for a website to resolve any technical issues that might have occurred at their end.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What if none of these solutions work?

Answer. If you have tried all remedies in this manual and the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED problem has still not been resolved, then it may be the web server’s fault. The web could be having a technical hitch or could be under maintenance. You can retry accessing the webpage later or look for any updates from the site owner.

Q: Is it safe to disable my antivirus or firewall software?

Answer. It is generally not recommended to turn off your antivirus or firewall software for long periods. These are crucial programs that will safeguard your computer against internet threats. Only disable them temporarily when troubleshooting and remember to switch them back on later.

Q: How can I prevent the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error from happening again?

Answer. The steps presented below assist in reducing the chances of encountering ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED:

  1. Keep Google Chrome browser updated to date.
  2. Have a reliable internet connection.
  3. Clear browsing cache, and DNS cache regularly.
  4. Be careful while adding Chrome extensions; select only those from trusted sources.
  5. Avoid visiting malicious sites.

These guidelines enable smooth surfing on the internet, thus minimizing errors displaying connection problems like ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED.