ERR_CONNECTION_RESET Error in Chrome (8 Easy Ways to Fix It)

If you see the “net::ERR_CONNECTION_RESET” or “This site can’t be reached The connection was reset” error in Google Chrome, it means your browser lost its connection to the website’s server. Most of the time, this happens because of a problem with your device or network, and you can usually fix it with a few simple steps. This article explains what ERR_CONNECTION_RESET means and shows you eight easy ways to fix it in Chrome on Windows 10 and 11.

If you’re in a hurry, try these fixes in order:

• Check your internet connection (Wi‑Fi / Ethernet, router, modem).
• Clear Chrome cache and cookies.
• Disable or remove problematic extensions.
• Update or reset Google Chrome.
• Check your proxy settings in Windows.
• Reset network configuration (Winsock, IP, DNS).
• Switch to Google’s Public DNS (8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4).
• Update or reinstall your network adapter driver.

What Is ERR_CONNECTION_RESET in Chrome?

The ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error indicates that Chrome attempted to connect to a website but the connection was reset before it could be established. In simple words, the connection was cut off unexpectedly. The error may appear as:

• ERR_CONNECTION_RESET
• net::ERR_CONNECTION_RESET
• This site can’t be reached – The connection was reset

This is a network issue. Most of the time, it doesn’t mean the website is down. Instead, something between your browser and the website is blocking the connection.

Common Causes of ERR_CONNECTION_RESET

This error message indicates that the connection between the browser and the website’s server was interrupted or reset unexpectedly. There are several potential causes for this error, including:

• Weak Wi‑Fi signal, loose Ethernet cable, router problems, or ISP issues can all cause connection resets.
• Overly strict security software can sometimes block or reset legitimate connections.
• Old or damaged cached data can conflict with the website’s current configuration.
• VPNs, proxy extensions, ad blockers, and security add‑ons can interfere with network traffic.
• Misconfigured LAN/Proxy settings in Windows can break your connection.
• Old or corrupted network adapter drivers may cause random disconnections.
• Sometimes the website’s own server, firewall, or SSL configuration is misconfigured. In that case, the issue is not on your end.

Check Your Internet Connection

Start with the basics. A stable internet connection is required for websites to load correctly. Any drops or interruptions can trigger ERR_CONNECTION_RESET.

Try other websites

• Open a few different websites in Chrome.
• If all sites fail, the problem is likely your network.
• If only one site fails, it could be a server‑side issue with that website.

Check your Wi‑Fi or Ethernet connection

• If you’re on Wi‑Fi, move closer to the router to improve signal strength.
• If you’re on a wired connection, make sure the Ethernet cable is firmly plugged in.

Restart your router and modem

• Turn off the router/modem.
• Wait 30–60 seconds.
• Turn it back on and wait until all lights stabilize.
• Try accessing the website again.

Check with your ISP

• If you still experience connection drops on multiple devices, contact your internet service provider to check for outages or line problems.

If your connection is stable but the error persists, move on to the next step.

Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

Corrupted or outdated cache and cookies can interfere with how websites load, especially if the site has changed or moved servers. Clearing them ensures that your browser retrieves fresh data from the website.

• Open Chrome and Click the three dots (menu) in the top‑right corner.
• Select “Settings” and scroll down to find “Privacy and Security.”
• Click on “Clear browsing data” and select the time range (e.g., “All time”).
• Check the boxes next to “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.”
• Click “Clear data” to confirm and wait for the process to complete.

Close and reopen Chrome, then try visiting the website again.

Disable or Remove Browser Extensions

Sometimes browser extensions such as ad blockers, VPNs, or proxies, can modify your network settings and cause errors. Incognito mode disables browser extensions and uses default settings, allowing you to test if an extension is causing the issue.

First, test in Incognito mode:

Open Chrome and click on the menu (three dots) in the top right corner and select “New incognito window” from the menu.

Try opening the website that showed the error. If it works in incognito mode, a browser extension is probably causing the problem.

To disable or remove extensions in Google Chrome

• In Chrome, click the three dots > Extensions > Manage extensions
  (or type chrome://extensions/ in the address bar and press Enter).
• Disable all extensions by turning off the toggle next to each one.
• Reopen the website in a normal window and see if it loads.

If the website loads, turn your extensions back on one at a time and test the site after each. When the error comes back, the last extension you enabled is the cause. Click Remove to uninstall it.

Update or Reset Google Chrome

An outdated or corrupted Chrome installation can cause compatibility issues with modern websites and SSL/TLS protocols, leading to connection errors. To address this, consider updating your Chrome browser and your operating system to the latest versions available.

Update Google Chrome

• Open Chrome and click on the menu icon in the top-right corner (three vertical dots).
• Hover over ‘Help’ in the menu. In the submenu that appears, click on ‘About Google Chrome.’
• Chrome will automatically check for updates. If an update is available, it will start downloading and installing.
• Once the update is complete, you’ll see a button that says ‘Relaunch.’ Click on it to restart Chrome and apply the updates.

To update Windows PC, Press Windows key + I to open settings. Go to Windows Update and hit check for updates. If new updates are available, allow them to download and install.

Reset Chrome Settings (If Needed)

If updating your browser and operating system doesn’t resolve the err connection reset error, you may also consider resetting your browser settings to their default configuration. This can help eliminate any lingering issues caused by misconfigurations or conflicting settings.

• Open Chrome Settings.
• Scroll down and click Reset settings (or Reset and clean up).
• Click Restore settings to their original defaults.
• Confirm by clicking Reset settings.

Test the website again after the reset.

Check Your Proxy Settings in Windows

Incorrect or leftover proxy settings can prevent Chrome from establishing a direct connection, especially after using VPN or proxy software.

• Press Windows Key + R, type “inetcpl.cpl” and hit enter to open Internet Properties.
• In the “Internet Properties” window, go to the “Connections” tab.
• Click on “LAN settings” and ensure that “Automatically detect settings” is checked and “Use a proxy server for your LAN” is unchecked.
• Click “OK” to save the changes and restart your PC.

If you use a corporate network or VPN that requires a proxy, check with your administrator before changing these settings.

Reset Network Configuration (Winsock, IP, DNS)

If your network stack is corrupted or misconfigured, resetting it can often resolve persistent connection errors such as ERR_CONNECTION_RESET.

Note: These commands reset network settings such as Winsock catalog and IP configuration. If you use a custom VPN or special network setup, note down your settings before proceeding.

• Press the Windows key, type cmd.
• Right‑click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
• In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands one by one, press Enter after each:

Command to execute:

• netsh winsock reset
• netsh int ip reset
• ipconfig /release
• ipconfig /flushdns
• ipconfig /renew

• After all commands have completed successfully, restart your computer.
• Open Chrome and try visiting the website again.

If the error was caused by corrupted Winsock or IP configuration, it should be resolved now.

Switch to Google’s DNS Server

Your ISP’s DNS servers may be slow or unreliable. Switching to Google Public DNS can help resolve DNS‑related issues and sometimes fix ERR_CONNECTION_RESET. You can always revert these changes later by selecting Obtain DNS server address automatically.

To change DNS to Google Public DNS (on Windows):

• Press Windows key + R, type ncpa.cpl and click OK. This opens the Network Connections window.
• Right‑click your active network connection (Wi‑Fi or Ethernet) and choose Properties.
• Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
• Choose “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter the following:
  • Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
  • Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4
• Click “OK” to save the changes.
• Restart your browser and try loading the website again.

Note: These are Google’s public DNS servers. There are other free DNS providers (e.g., Cloudflare, OpenDNS), but Google DNS is usually very reliable.

Update or Reinstall Network Adapter Driver

If your network adapter driver is outdated, incompatible, or corrupted, it can cause random disconnections and connection resets.

• Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
• Expand the Network adapters section.
• Right‑click your active network adapter and choose Update driver.
• Click Search automatically for drivers and follow the on‑screen instructions.
• Restart your PC after the update completes.

If Windows reports that the best drivers are already installed but you still have issues, you can manually download the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website.

• For laptops: visit your laptop manufacturer’s website (e.g., HP, Dell, Lenovo, ASUS), search for your model, and download the latest network driver.
• For desktop PCs, visit your motherboard or network card manufacturer’s website and download the appropriate driver.

Reinstall the Network Adapter Driver

Before uninstalling a network driver, ensure you have access to another device or offline copy of the driver, just in case Windows does not reinstall it automatically.

• Open Device Manager again.
• Expand Network adapters.
• Right‑click your adapter and choose Uninstall device.
• Confirm and restart your computer.
• Windows should automatically detect and reinstall the driver. If it doesn’t, install the driver you downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.

When the Problem Is Not on Your Side

If:

• Only one specific website shows ERR_CONNECTION_RESET, and
• The site does not open on any device on the same network, or
• The site does not open from a different network (e.g., mobile data),

then the issue may be on the website’s server, not on your computer. In that case, you can wait and try again later. Contact the website owner or admin if you have their details.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does ERR_CONNECTION_RESET mean in Chrome?
It means Chrome tried to connect to a website but the connection was unexpectedly interrupted, so the page could not be loaded.

2. Is ERR_CONNECTION_RESET a virus?
No. ERR_CONNECTION_RESET is just a network error message, not a virus. However, malware can sometimes change network settings and trigger this error.

3. How do I fix ERR_CONNECTION_RESET quickly?
Start by checking your internet connection, clearing Chrome cache and cookies, disabling extensions, and restarting your router. If it persists, reset network settings and change DNS.

4. Why do I see ERR_CONNECTION_RESET on only one website?
If the error appears on just one site, it’s often a problem with that website’s server or firewall. Test it in Incognito, on another device, and from a different network to confirm.

5. Will resetting Winsock and IP settings delete my files?
No. Resetting Winsock and IP only changes network configuration. It does not delete your personal files, apps, or documents.

Also read

• Fix DNS probe finished nxdomain error on Google Chrome
• Solved: “No Internet, secured” Wi-Fi Problem in Windows 10
• Solved: ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED Google Chrome Error
• How To Fix Windows 10 Internet Connection Problems