9 Ways to Fix SSL Connection Error on Google Chrome

It’s a struggle to acquire an SSC certificate and then setting it up, but it still throws up errors like an SSL connection error even after it’s been set up in the right manner. You usually come across such errors when the traffic is forcefully pushed through HTTPS and that’s when you come across the SSL connection error message.

This prevents you from accessing certain websites and mostly occurs in Chrome, and similar other browsers. There are different types of SSL connection errors that you may bump on while trying to access certain websites and these are pretty common. While some of the errors can show up due to server issues, others could be due to issues with the local settings.

So, when you try to securely access a website over HTTPS, you are thrown off the server and you encounter the SSL connection error. At times, the Google Chrome or other browsers may allow you to proceed, but most of the times, you will be warned that you can proceed at your own risk. This means, that the website you are trying to access does not have a proper SSL certificate which is a security risk and bypassing such warnings to use the website can be harmful for your PC.

Different SSL connection error messages may arise due to a different glitch, for example, not all websites will show an error due to server issues. It may be possible that the website you are trying to access has a proper SSL certificate and yet you run into the error. The good news is, there are some ways that can help you to possibly fix the SSL connection error issue on Chrome. Let’s see how:

 

Method 1: Change Date and Time

You may experience the SSL connection error issue while browsing on Chrome due to incorrect date and time. In such a case, changing the date and time of your system as per your current zone and local time can help fix the issue. Let’s see how:

 



Step 1: Click the Start button on your Taskbar and select Run in the menu to open Run command.

 

Start Right Click Run Min

 

Step 2: In the Run command that opens, search for timedate.cpl and press OK to open the Date and Time window.

 

Run Command Timedate.cpl Enter

 

Step 3: In the Date and Time dialogue box, click on the Change date and time button.

 



Change Date And Time Min

Step 4: Once you are in the Date and Time Settings window, here, you can set the Date and Time correctly, that is, as per your current local time and zone.

Press OK to apply the changes.

 

Date And Time Settings Set Correct Date And Time Ok Min

 

Step 5: Back in the Date and Time window, press Apply and then OK to save the changes and exit.

 

Now, restart Chrome and try browsing the desired websites to check if it still shows the error.

Method 2: Add to Trusted Sites in Internet Options

If the website you are trying to access is not missing a valid SSL certificate and is not trusted by Chrome, then it will try to block the website by showing the error. In such a case, you can add the website to trusted sites in Internet Options. Follow the below instructions to add it to the trusted sites:

 

Step 1: Press the Win + R shortcut keys on your keyboard at the same time and the Run command window will pop up.

Step 2: In the search bar, type inetcpl.cpl and press OK.

This will open the Internet Properties window.

 

Run Command Inetcpl.cpl Enter

 

Step 3: Next, in the Internet Properties dialogue box, navigate to the Security tab.

Here, go to the “select a zone to view or change security settings” field and select the Trusted sites icon.

Now, click on the Sites button below.

 

Internet Properties Security Trusted Sites Sites Min

 

Step 4: You will now see a new pop up, Trusted sites.

Under this, go to the Add this website to the zone and type the website url that was showing the error and click on Add.

It should pop up in the Websites list below.

Once done, press OK to save the changes.

 

 

Trusted Sites Add This Website To The Zone Zoom.us Add Min

 

Step 5: Press Apply and then OK back in the Internet Properties window and this will apply the changes and close the window.

 

Now, try opening the same website in your Chrome again and it should not show the error anymore.

Method 3: Use TLS 1.1 and 1.2

Sometimes, changing the proxy settings in the Internet Properties may help fix the SSL connection error issue on your Chrome. Here’s how to change the settings:

 

Step 1: To open the Run command window, press the shortcut keys – Win + R simultaneously on your keyboard.

Step 2: Now, as the Run command search bar opens, type inetcpl.cpl in it and hit Enter and the Internet Properties will open.

 

Run Command Inetcpl.cpl Enter

 

Step 3: Next, in the Internet Properties dialogue box that opens, click on the Advanced tab and under the Settings list, check the boxes next to Use SSL 3.0, Use TLS 1.0, Use TLS 1.1, Use TLS 1.2 and Use TLS 1.3 one by one.

Press Apply and then OK to save the changes and exit the Internet Properties window.

 

Internet Properties Advanced Use Ssl 3.0, Use Tls 1.0, Use Tls 1.1, Use Tls 1.2 And Use Tls 1.3 Check Min

 

Now, restart your Chrome browser and you should be able to access the desired website without any issue.

Method 4: Change to Enhanced Security Settings

Due to the missing SSL certificate, Chrome can identify the website as potentially dangerous and automatically block it. This is when you will see the SSL connection error. Here’s how to change the privacy settings to possibly fix the issue:

 

Step 1: Open Google Chrome and then move your cursor to the upper right side of the window.

Here, click on three dots (Customize and control Google Chrome) and click on the Settings options in the menu.

 

Settings Google Chrome 11zon

 

Step 2: In the Settings window, go to the left side of the pane and click on the Security and Privacy option.

 

Google Chrome Settings Security And Privacy

 

Step 3: On the right side of the pane, click on the Security option.

 

Chrome Security And Privacy Security Min

 

Step 4: Next, in the Security settings window, navigate to the right side, and under Safe Browsing, select Enhanced Protection.

This option provides advanced protection to you device from dangerous websites, downloads and extensions.

 

Chrome Security And Privacy Security Safe Browsing Enhanced Protection Min

 

Now, re-launch Chrome and check if the issue is fixed.

Method 5: Change Security Level to Medium

It could be possible that the Internet Security level is set too high and hence, it’s preventing the website to open on Chrome. In that case, you can change the security level to medium and see if it helps. Let’s see how:

 

Step 1: Go to the Windows icon on the Taskbar (Start), click on it and select Run from the list.

 

Start Right Click Run Min

 

Step 2: As you select Run, it will open the Run command search box.

Here, write inetcpl.cpl and press the OK button.

 

Run Command Inetcpl.cpl Enter

 

Step 3: This will now open the Internet Properties window.

Now, go to the Security tab, navigate to the “Security level for this zone” field and move the slider to set it to Medium-high.

Press the Apply button and then the OK button. This will save the changes and close the Internet Properties window.

 

Internet Properties Security Tab Security Level For This Zone Medium High Min

 

Now, go to Chrome and try to access the website that showed the SSL connection error earlier, It should be working fine now.

Method 6: Check for Browser Updates

At the same time, you must always check if there’s any available update for the Chrome browser and if yes, you must install the latest version for it to function properly. Here’s how to check for Chrome updates:

 

Step 1: Double-click on the Chrome icon to open the browser.

Next, navigate to the top right side of the browser and click on the three dots arranged vertically.

Now, from the menu, select Help and then click on About Google Chrome.

 

Chrome Settings Help About Google Chrome Min

 

Step 2: As soon as the help settings page opens in a new tab in the browser, on the right side you can see the About Chrome section.

Under this, Chrome will start checking for any available updates automatically.

If available, it will download and install the update on its own.

 

About Chrome Check If Chrome Is Up To Date

 

Once done, press the Re-launch button next to it and the browser will reboot. Now, you can check if the website you want to open is functioning properly.

Method 7: Clear SSL State Cache in Internet Properties

Chances are, that you see the SSL connection error due to the SSL State of your computer. You can try removing this cache and check if this helps fix the connection error to the said website. Here’s how:

 

Step 1: You must open the Run command window by pressing the Win + R shortcut keys simultaneously.

Step 2: Once the Run command search field is open, type inetcpl.cpl and press the Enter key to open the Internet Properties dialogue box.

 

Run Command Inetcpl.cpl Enter

 

Step 3: Now, in the Internet Properties window, you need to go to the Content tab.

Select the tab and under the Certificates field, press the Clear SSL state button.

 

Internet Properties Content Tab Clear Ssl State Min

 

As soon as you press the button, it will delete all the locally stored certificates on your system and so, next time, when you try to open the said website on Chrome, it will try to re-authenticate its certificate and in this process, it may bypass the error and successfully open the website.

Method 8: Clear your Chrome Cache and Cookies

A lot of times, many Chrome issues simply arise due to the piling cache and cookies in the browser. Clearing the Chrome cache and cookies may help you fox the issue and allow you to access the desired website. Follow the below steps:

 

Step 1: Open the Chrome browser, navigate to the three dots located on the upper right side of the window.

Now, click on Settings to open the Chrome Settings window in a new tab.

 

Chrome Settings Min

 

Step 2: In the Settings window, click on Security and Privacy on the left side.



 

Google Chrome Settings Security And Privacy

 

Step 3: Next, travel to the right side and under the Security and Privacy section, click on Clear browsing data.

 

Settings Privacy And Security Clear Browsing Data

 

Step 4: You will now see a new pop-up window called – Clear browsing data.

Here, under the Basic field, check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.

Now, press the Clear data button in blue, below.

 

Clear Browsing Data Basic Cookies And Other Site Data Cached Images And Files Clear Data Min

 

This process takes a while, so wait patiently for it finish removing the cookies and site data.

 

Once done, restart your browser and now, you can easily access the said website that was showing the SSL error.

Method 9: Disable QUIC Protocol of Chrome

If none of the above methods work, you can try this method to check if this can help resolve the SSL connection error issue for the website you want to access. Check process below:

 

Step 1: Launch your Google Chrome and copy and paste the below path in the address bar:

 

chrome://flags/#enable-quic

 

Chrome Navigate To Eneable Quic Flags Page Enter

 

Step 2: You will be taken to this Chrome flags page directly and you will see the Experimental QUIC Protocol option already highlighted since you directly searched for it.

This set to Default already.

Make sure you select Disabled from the drop-down to turn off the function.

 

Experimental Quic Protocol Change To Disabled Min

 

Now, re-open the Chrome browser and check if you can access the website now.

 

At the same time, you should also check if the Windows default antivirus or any 3rd party antivirus you are using may be blocking the website, It could be possible hat the website is using an outdated SSL certificate and hence, the antivirus software blocks it considering it as malicious, In that case, you can disable the antivirus for sometime and check if this helps you access the website. But, make sure, you enable the antivirus back later to stay protected.

You can also check if the Windows Firewall is preventing the website to open up. Make sure that you remove the website from the Firewall blocklist to ensure it works.

Alternatively, you should always try disabling any Chrome extensions, because in most cases, such connection errors arise due to the interreference of the 3rd party extensions.