Fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT Error in Chrome

Google Chrome is a very popular web browser that is well maintained by Google. Updates are released regularly and promptly. But you can still encounter some errors that may interfere with your browsing experience, including the “err_connection_timed_out” error. The reason is simple, these errors have nothing to do with the browser. For example, the err_connection_timed_out error occurs due to connection problems and will appear on all browsers.

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What is our Err_Connection_Timed_Out error?

When you enter a URL in Chrome, the address is passed to many upstream servers called DNS servers. One of the DNS servers caches the IP address information for the corresponding site address. This is the IP address of the web server where the web page you are viewing is physically stored.

Although this process seems long, it happens in a fraction of a second. Especially when you are looking for popular sites like Google, the domain name resolution process happens instantly. But for unknown sites, getting the IP address may take milliseconds.

Now you know how the domain resolution process works. Whenever one of the upstream servers does not respond to a request within the stipulated time, you will see a 504 Gateway Timeout error in your browser. 504 is the HTTP status code returned by a web server when the connection times out. The error err_connection_timed_out on Chrome is similar to a 504 Gateway Timeout error.

Fix Err_Connection_Timed_Out Error

If the error continues to appear, it can become very annoying. There are multiple solutions that can help you resolve this issue.

1. Reload the page

When the error appears on Chrome, you will see a “Reload” button. Click the “Reload” button or refresh the browser to load the webpage again. If this issue occurs due to intermittent unavailability of the server connection, you can resolve this issue.

Remember that you should not refresh the web page during payment or any other form submission.

2. Check your internet connection

The most likely cause of the timeout error is your internet connection. This has nothing to do with checking the cable; it’s about your service provider. If you consistently see timeout errors for a handful of sites, check with your ISP to see if they are not blocking those sites.

Sometimes your ISP can help, but sometimes they can’t if the blocking is at a country level. Remember that countries like China block access to global sites like Google, Facebook, YouTube, etc. Nowadays, every website has social icons and Google fonts installed on server sites. When you open a site, your browser calls these services. Eventually this will result in a timeout error because there is no response.

If the err_connection_timed_out error does not appear when connecting to the internet using a different network, you can confirm that your ISP is causing the problem. So, the first step is to check with your service provider.

3. Change DNS

As mentioned above, DNS servers play a vital role in this error. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) automatically assigns a DNS when you connect to the internet. But corrupted and outdated DNS server details can trigger errors.

To overcome DNS-related errors, you should use alternative DNS servers such as OpenDNS and Google DNS. Follow these steps:

• Open Control Panel and click Network and Internet.
• Click Network and Sharing Center and look for Change adapter settings on the left. Click it.
• Right-click on the current connection and select Properties from the context menu. A new window will appear.
• Click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties again.
• If you choose Google DNS, enter 8.8.8.8 as the primary domain name and 8.8.4.4 as the alternate domain name.
• If you choose Open DNS, enter 208.67.222.222 as the primary domain name and 208.67.220.220 as the alternate domain name.

Restart your computer and check if the problem is resolved. Read a detailed article on how to set up Google Public DNS.

4. Flush DNS

Similar to DNS servers, your computer also caches DNS records. The cached records are used the next time you visit the same site.

This can cause problems, especially if the site has changed DNS or name servers. So, flush the DNS and try to visit the site that is loading on your browser. Learn how to view and flush DNS in Windows.

5. Clear Cookies and Cache

Accumulated cookies and cache may be the reason why you are having difficulty opening a particular website. Try clearing your browsing data to fix this error. Follow these steps:

• Open the Chrome web browser and type “chrome://settings/privacy” in the address field.
• Click on the last option “Clear browsing data” option under the “Privacy and Security” section.
• In the new window, make sure that browsing history, cookies, and cache are all checked under the “Advanced” tab.
• Select “All time” from the time range drop-down menu.
• Click the “Clear Data” button.

Check if the problem is resolved.

6. Check the Hosts File

The Hosts file is used to map the IP addresses of domains in your computer. The hosts file does not need to be maintained, but it can cause errors if the IP addresses of the domains are not maintained correctly. If the hosts file contains outdated information for websites that you frequently visit, errors such as err_connection_timed_out may appear. Follow these steps to view the Hosts file and check if any website is blocked:

• Right-click Notepad and select Run as Administrator in the context menu
• Click the “File>Open” menu. Go to “C:/Windows/System32/drivers/etc”, assuming that you have installed Windows on the C drive.
• The hosts file does not have an extension, so you may not see it.
• Select the All Files option to view the hosts file.
• Click on the hosts file and then click on the Open button.
• In the hosts file, check if there are any domains mapped to IP addresses such as 0.0.0.0 or 127.0.0.1 and delete the entries.
• Save the modified Hosts file and restart your computer.

Open the site in a browser such as Chrome and check if the issue is resolved. Learn more about how to edit hosts file in Mac and Windows.

7. Disable proxy server

Your network and proxy settings can cause various malfunctions. If you suspect that your LAN and proxy settings are causing the err_connection_timed_out error, then you should do the following:

• Open Control Panel and click on Internet Options
• A new window will open and you should click on the Connections tab. Then, click LAN Settings
• Make sure the “Automatically detect settings” option and the Proxy server checkbox are unchecked.
• Click OK and restart your computer.

8. Use VPN

Instead of using unreliable proxies, we recommend using premium VPN services like ExpressVPN or VyprVPN. You can install a separate application or Chrome extension to enable or disable VPN.

VPN will help bypass the internet connection through your ISP and connect anonymously through a private DNS server. Thus, you can access blocked sites and err_connection_timed_out can be resolved.

9. Update network drivers

Make sure you have the latest drivers for your network adapter. In some cases, you get the error because your drivers are too old and cannot cope with the latest network standards.

Another way is to restart your computer into safe mode with a network connection. Check if you can access the sites without errors.

10. Check firewall settings

A high security level in firewall settings can delay the connection to some sites. Disable the firewall and check if the page loads on Chrome. This will help identify the problem with the firewall settings.

Also make sure to allow Chrome through Windows Defender’s Firewall settings.

Learn how to enable Chrome in Windows and Manage Firewall in macOS.

Summary

We believe that the above solutions can help you fix the err_connection_timed_out error. Make sure your Internet connection is not restricted by your organization or your ISP. If none of these options solve your problem, consider switching to a different ISP.