How to Fix the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET Error
If you’ve ever seen the message “ERR_CONNECTION_RESET” or “This site can’t be reached” in your browser, you know how frustrating it can be. This error appears when your browser fails to establish a stable connection with a website’s server—essentially, the conversation between your computer and the server gets interrupted before it can even begin. The good news is that this problem is almost always fixable with a few practical steps.
What Does ERR_CONNECTION_RESET Mean?
The ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error occurs when your browser attempts to connect to a website, but the connection is abruptly interrupted or “reset” before data can be transmitted. Think of it like trying to make a phone call where the line drops before the other person even picks up.
This error shows up differently depending on your browser:
- Google Chrome: “ERR_CONNECTION_RESET” or “This site can’t be reached”
- Microsoft Edge: “Hmmm… can’t reach this page” with ERR_CONNECTION_RESET
- Mozilla Firefox: “The connection was reset” with PR_CONNECT_RESET_ERROR
- Safari: “Safari can’t establish a secure connection to the server”
Why Does This Error Happen?
In most cases, the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error points to a problem on your end rather than the website itself. Here are the most common causes:
- Internet connection issues: A weak Wi-Fi signal, faulty Ethernet cable, or ISP outage can trigger this error
- VPN or proxy problems: These tools modify your network settings and can disrupt connections
- Corrupted browser cache: Outdated or damaged cached files can interfere with page loading
- Firewall or antivirus blocking: Security software sometimes blocks legitimate website connections
- Incorrect network settings: Misconfigured TCP/IP or DNS settings can prevent connections
- Website server issues: Occasionally, the website itself may be down or overloaded
- Browser extensions: Malicious or outdated extensions can interrupt communication
How to Fix the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET Error
Start with the simplest fixes first—most of the time, one of the first few solutions will resolve the problem.
1. Check Your Internet Connection
Before diving into more complex fixes, make sure your internet is actually working:
- Try visiting a few other websites to see if they load correctly
- Test the connection on another device (phone, tablet) using the same network
- Restart your router by unplugging the power cable, waiting 30 seconds, and reconnecting it
- If using Wi-Fi, try moving closer to the router or switching to a wired connection
- Check if your Ethernet cable is securely plugged in (if using a wired connection)
If other sites load fine but one specific site doesn’t, the problem likely isn’t your connection—move on to the next fix.
2. Check If the Website Is Down
Sometimes the issue is on the website’s end, not yours. You can quickly verify this:
- Visit downdetector.com or isitdownrightnow.com
- Enter the website address and check its status
- If the site is down for everyone, you’ll simply have to wait until it’s back online
If the website shows as online for others but not for you, the problem is somewhere in your setup.
3. Clear Your Browser Cache
Outdated or corrupted cache files are a surprisingly common cause of connection errors. Clearing your cache gives your browser a fresh start.
For Google Chrome:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + Delete (Mac)
- Select “All time” as the time range
- Check “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and other site data”
- Click Clear data
Quick Alternative:
Try opening the website in an Incognito or Private browsing window. If it loads there, your cache is likely the problem.
4. Disable Your VPN
If you’re using a VPN for privacy or work, it might be causing the connection reset. VPN connections can drop unexpectedly or route your traffic in ways that certain websites don’t accept.
- Open your VPN application
- Disconnect from the VPN temporarily
- Try accessing the website again
If the page loads correctly after disconnecting, your VPN was likely the culprit. You may need to reconnect to a different VPN server or update your VPN software.
5. Disable Your Proxy Server
If you’re routing your connection through a proxy server, it can cause ERR_CONNECTION_RESET errors when it fails to connect properly.
On Windows:
- Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy
- Turn off “Use a proxy server”
- Make sure “Automatically detect settings” is enabled
- Click Save
On macOS:
- Click the Apple menu → System Preferences → Network
- Select your active connection and click Details (or Advanced)
- Go to the Proxies tab
- Uncheck all proxy options
- Click OK to confirm
6. Reset Your TCP/IP Settings
Resetting your network settings can fix configuration issues that cause connection errors. This returns your internet connection to its default state.
On Windows:
- Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt as administrator
- Enter each of these commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns
- Restart your computer
On macOS:
- Go to System Preferences → Network
- Select your active internet connection and click Details (or Advanced)
- Navigate to the TCP/IP tab
- Click Renew DHCP Lease
Alternatively, you can flush the DNS cache via Terminal:
- Open Terminal and enter:
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache - Press Enter and type your admin password when prompted
- Then enter:
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder - Restart your computer
7. Temporarily Disable Your Firewall and Antivirus
Security software can sometimes be overly aggressive and block legitimate website connections. If you’re confident the website is safe, try temporarily disabling these protections.
On Windows:
- Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Windows Security → Firewall & network protection
- Select your active network and turn off Microsoft Defender Firewall temporarily
On macOS:
- Go to System Preferences → Security & Privacy → Firewall
- Click the lock icon to make changes, then click Turn Off Firewall
If the website loads after disabling security software, consider adding the site to your firewall’s or antivirus’s whitelist rather than leaving protection disabled.
Important: Re-enable your firewall and antivirus immediately after testing to avoid exposing your system to threats.
8. Disable Browser Extensions
Some browser extensions can interfere with website connections. Try disabling them to see if that resolves the issue:
- In Chrome, go to Menu (three dots) → Extensions → Manage Extensions
- Toggle off all extensions
- Try loading the website again
- If it works, re-enable extensions one by one to identify the problematic one
What NOT to Do
- Don’t disable security software permanently—only do so temporarily for testing and re-enable immediately
- Don’t ignore the error repeatedly—if it keeps happening on multiple sites, there’s likely an underlying network issue worth investigating
- Don’t reset Chrome settings unless you’ve tried everything else (this erases all your saved passwords, bookmarks, and preferences)
When to Contact Support
If you’ve tried all the fixes above and the error persists for more than 24-48 hours, consider reaching out for additional help:
- Contact your ISP if no websites are loading—there may be an outage in your area
- Contact the website owner if only one specific site is affected and it shows as “up” for everyone else
- Contact your IT department if you’re on a corporate network—there may be network or proxy configuration issues
Conclusion
The ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error is frustrating, but it’s usually caused by something simple like a network hiccup, corrupted cache, or misconfigured settings. Most of the time, restarting your router, clearing your browser cache, or disabling your VPN will solve the problem quickly. If those don’t work, resetting your TCP/IP settings or checking your firewall typically does the trick. Start with the easiest fixes, work your way down the list, and you’ll be back to browsing in no time.
