What is ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error?
Generally, the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED might threaten people, as minimal details are available when it appears on your screen. This makes it a bit complicated to troubleshoot on your own.
For starters, the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error might occur on any browser. It is an issue that is most probably due to your internet connectivity, but there might be several other reasons behind why it appeared. Rarely, it might appear if the website is unavailable.
Here are some common reasons that might cause the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error:
- The site refuses to connect
- Internet connection is experiencing a downtime
- Issues related to DNS Cache
- Issues related to Cookies
- The browser is outdated, etc.
Here are some highly effective methods to help fix the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error, despite its cause. This article contains the top 8 solutions that you must try one by one to resolve the issue finally.
10 Fixes for ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error
Fix 1: Try to resolve the error by resetting the internet router
In most cases, when an error occurs on your browser, resetting the router is probably the easiest and the most effective solution. Internet connection issues might cause various errors, including the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED.
Therefore, to resolve the error, try resetting the router by clicking on its power button or unplugging the electric cable. If you are using a personal Wi-Fi connection, then disconnect it for about 30 seconds. Further, reconnect the internet and then try reloading the website again.
Possibly the issue might have been resolved by then, and if not, then try the other solutions mentioned below.
Fix 2: Check the website’s status
Next, you must check the website’s status that you wish to access. Sometimes, the server-side might also be the reason behind the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error. To check it, try visiting some other web page. If the error message still occurs, then your connection is the cause of it, otherwise not.
Or, to check If the server-side is the cause of the error, visit this link and then enter the non-functioning web page and then click on ‘Check’ Next, you will be able to access whether the page is down or up.
If the page is down, it’s better to wait for some time for it to be fixed from the server-side. However, if the page is up, here are a few more solutions that you must try to resolve the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error.
Fix 3: Ensure that Chrome is updated
Sometimes, the outdated chrome version might not support the newer websites, leading to the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error. To fix this cause, check if the chrome version is updated or not.
Usually, the browser automatically updates, but it might have been skipped if you disable the automatic updates. Therefore, you must follow the below-mentioned steps to check if Chrome is updated and update it if it’s not.
1. Click on the three dots available at the top right corner and then click on ‘Help’ and move on to the ‘About Google Chrome’ option. You will visit a page where Chrome automatically starts checking for updates.
2. The window will then prompt Chrome to the option stating ‘update automatically.’
3. After updating, relaunch the browser to ensure that the changes are effective.
4. Now try to reload the website and see if the error persists.
If the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error is still there, try to follow the other steps to resolve it.
Fix 4: Stop the Google Account Synchronization
Sometimes the synchronization between Chrome and your Google account might be the reason behind the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error. To solve it, type ‘chrome://settings/people’ in the browser’s search bar, and you will see your name and email appearing on the screen. You will spot a ‘Turn Off’ button near your name, click that, and then check back if the error is still present.
If the error is still there, try the other solutions available.
Fix 5: Clearing cache and cookies, or going Incognito
Browser cache stores a lot of contents and details, including logins, videos, images, etc. But, as the browser is overloaded with all the stored data, its efficiency and speed will reduce, which might cause the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error.
To solve it, you should try to visit the browser in incognito mode.
Or, you can also delete the cookies and cache to ensure that you will not face the error anytime sooner. To do it, follow the given steps:
1. Open Chrome and then click on three dots on the top right corner and click on ‘Settings.’
2. Go to ‘Tools’ and then click on ‘Clear Browsing Data.’
3. Select the ‘All time’ option and then click on ‘clear data.’
Now try to reload the website again and check for the error. If the error is still occurring, follow the other tricks to fix it.
Fix 6: Try resolving the error by Checking Proxy server settings
Proxy settings allow you to surf the internet with some other IP address which acts as an intermediary between the website and the browser. Check the proxy settings to resolve the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error. Here are the steps for the same:
1. Open the browser and then click on the three dots at the top right corner. Now click on settings and then type proxy in the search bar. Go to ‘Open your computer’s proxy settings.’
2. Click on the button stating ‘LAN settings’ and then ensure that the ‘Automatically detect settings’ option is not enabled.
3. Under the section ‘Proxy server,’ check to ensure that the ‘Use a proxy server for your LAN’ is disabled.
Now restart your browser and try to revisit the website. The error might have been resolved. But if not, try the other methods in the sequence.
Fix 7: Clearing DNS cache
An outdated DNS might also be the reason behind various errors and issues, including the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error. Here are the steps to help you deal with the same by clearing the DNS cache.
1. Open the Command prompt on your windows or move to Windows PowerShell and move to ‘Run as Administrator.’
2. A new window will open, type ‘ipconfig /flushdns’ there and then press the ‘Enter’ key.
Close the PowerShell window and then check if the error is still occurring.
Fix 8: Switching the DNS address
Switching your DNS server might also act as a quick fix to resolve the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error. Here are the steps to help you change the DNS server to another prominent one that is also faster and a public DNS.
1. Move to the Search bar in your Windows and then type ‘Control panel.’ Click on the option available.
2. Now, move to the option stating ‘Network and Sharing.’ Now, move to the option stating ‘Change Adapter settings.’
3. Right-click on the connection that you are using and then click on the ‘Properties’ option.
4. Scroll down and click on ‘Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4)’ and then again click on the ‘Properties’ button.
5. Now click on ‘Use the following DNS server addresses’ and then type 1.1.1.1 on the first row and then 1.0.0.1 on the second. Further, click on ‘OK’ to apply the changes.
Now open Chrome and then try to revisit the website. Follow the other mentioned solutions if the issue persists.
Fix 9: Disabling the extensions in Chrome
Chrome extensions provide some added browser functionalities to the users. Third-party developers develop several of them, and thus they might not get regularly updated. Sometimes, the outdated browser extensions or the updated ones might cause the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error. Therefore, you must regularly check for which extensions are updated and necessary for you and remove all the unnecessary ones.
Try these steps to resolve the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error:
1.Click on three dots at the top right corner of the chrome and then click on ‘Settings.’
2. Now, visit the ‘Extensions’ option and remove the unnecessary and outdated ones.
Check if the error persists.
Fix 10: Running Internet Connection troubleshooter
Here are the steps to try troubleshooting the internet connection issue for resolving the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error.
1. Move to the Search bar in your Windows and then type ‘Control panel.’ Click on the option to open the panel application.
2. Now, move to the option stating ‘Troubleshooting’ and click on the option stating ‘Network and Internet settings.’
3. Windows will start detecting the problem. Run the troubleshooter if there is an issue and then reboot the system.
The error will no longer be displayed. The error will most probably disappear after going through all these steps.
ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED Conclusion
Several reasons might cause the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error, but any of the above-mentioned solutions will surely solve the problem. Try every solution, and the error will no longer be an issue for you.