ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED: 10 Ways to Fix This Error in Chrome

If you encounter the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error when trying to access a website in Google Chrome, learn what the error means and how to fix this error below.

What Does ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED Mean?

When you try to visit a website in a browser, the browser sends a request to the server where the site is hosted. The ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error indicates that your browser cannot establish a connection to the server hosting the website. This error message means that the server you are trying to access refused the connection and the page is prevented from loading.

Common error messages of the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error:

• This site can’t be reached
• This page is unavailable
• Unable to connect
• Can’t connect to the server

Common causes of the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error:

• Network issues: Problems with your internet connection. DNS errors.
• Browser configuration issues: Incorrect browser settings or cache problems. Bad Google Chrome extensions.
• Proxy or VPN issues: VPNs or proxies may interfere with internet connections.
• Firewall or antivirus software issues: They may interfere with or block some connections.
• Server-side issues: Temporary website server outages or misconfigurations.

10 Tips to Fix ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED Error in Chrome

1. Ensure Your Internet Connection Is Working

If your network is not connected or unstable, Chrome will not be able to connect to websites, leading to the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error. Therefore, the first step you should take is to check your internet connection to make sure it is working well.

• You can try opening other websites to see if they can smoothly open.
• Change another Wi-Fi and try to open the website again.
• Restarting your modem/router to fix potential network issues.

2. Clear Cache and Cookies in Chrome

Browsers store cached data and cookies of visited websites. Over time, these files may become corrupted and may cause conflicts or connection issues like the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error.

To fix this, you can clear cache and cookies in Google Chrome:

• Open Chrome.
• Click the three dots icon on the right of the address bar and select “Delete browsing data”. Alternatively, you can also press Ctrl + Shift + Del keyword shortcut to open the “Delete browsing data” window.
• In the pop-up window, select a time range and check “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and other site data”.
• Click “Delete data” to remove cache and cookies.
• Restart Chrome and try to visit the website again.

3. Check If the Website Is Down

Sometimes, the problem may be on the website’s end. If the server hosting the website is temporarily down or misconfigured, you may encounter the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error when trying to access the website.

You can use some tools like Downdetector, Down for Everyone or Just Me, etc. to check if the website is down for everyone or just you. For instance, enter the website URL on Downdetector’s website and click “Search”. It will automatically check if there are any outages or problems with the website you are trying to visit.

4. Check If You Can Open the Website in Incognito Mode

If the website is not loading and shows the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error in Chrome, you can try to open the site in Incognito Mode.

The browser’s Incognito Mode or Private Mode disables extensions, cookies, and cached data, giving you a clean browsing experience.

Open Chrome in Incognito Mode (Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Command + Shift + N on Mac) and try accessing the website again.

This helps check if the error is due to browser settings or extensions. If the website successfully loads, you can narrow the issue down to browser settings or extensions.

5. Flush DNS Cache on Chrome or Device

A corrupted DNS cache can prevent Chrome from accessing websites. Flushing the DNS cache can help resolve this. Check how to flush the DNS cache of Chrome or your whole device.

To flush the DNS cache on Chrome:

• Open Chrome.
• Visit “chrome://net-internals/#dns”.
• Click the “Clear host cache” button.

To flush the DNS cache on the device:

• On Windows, press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt. Type: ipconfig /flushdns, and press Enter.
• On Mac, search and open Terminal via Spotlight. Type: sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder, and press Enter.
• Restart Chrome and check if the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error persists.

6. Temporarily Disable Firewall or Antivirus Software

Sometimes, your antivirus programs and firewalls may block connections to certain websites, leading to the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error.

Temporarily disabling your antivirus or firewall can help you identify if they’re causing the issue. Don’t forget to turn them back on after testing.

7. Change the VPN Server

If you use a VPN to access the website, check if your current VPN server is experiencing downtime. You can change to another VPN server and try to visit the website again. Still, make sure to connect to a server location where the website is accessible since some websites are only available in certain countries. If your VPN is not working properly, you can reconnect or restart the VPN.

8. Change DNS Server

DNS servers can also impact website loading. Your default DNS server might be slow or unreliable, causing connection issues like the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED issue in Chrome. You can switch to a faster DNS provider like Google DNS to improve connectivity. Learn how to change DNS servers below.

On Windows:

• Press Windows + R, type “ncpa.cpl”, and press Enter.
• Right-click your active network and select “Properties”.
• Select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click “Properties”.
• Select “Use the following DNS server addresses”.
• Enter your preferred DNS server addresses. Here are some popular options:

Google DNS:

• Preferred DNS: 8.8.8.8
• Alternate DNS: 8.8.4.4

Cloudflare DNS:

• Preferred DNS: 1.1.1.1
• Alternate DNS: 1.0.0.1

OpenDNS:

• Preferred DNS: 208.67.222.222
• Alternate DNS: 208.67.220.220

On Mac:

• Click Apple > System Settings.
• Select “Network”.
• Select your active network and click “Advanced”.
• Click the “DNS” tab.
• Enter your preferred DNS server address like Google DNS.
• Click OK > Apply to save the changes.

9. Update Google Chrome

You can also click the three-dot icon in Chrome and select Help > About Google Chrome to update your Chrome browser to the latest version. Then try to open the website again to see if the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error is gone.

10. Check Server-Side Configurations (for Website Developers)

If you are the developer of the website and meet this issue, you may diagnose server-side problems, like incorrect firewall settings, server downtime, or misconfigured server settings.

Conclusion

In short, the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error prevents you from loading a website by refusing the connection between your browser and the server. By following the 10 troubleshooting steps above, you can quickly identify and fix the error, getting back to normal browsing.

If the problem persists, it may be worth contacting your internet service provider (ISP) or the website’s server admin for further assistance.