How to fix the ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED error On Chrome

While browsing the web using Chrome browser you might have got the ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED error, and you are unable to load that webpage. However, many times the error is temporary and to resolve this all you have to do is refresh the webpage by pressing the f5 button of your keyboard. But if you are constantly getting this error then this article will help you to fix this problem permanently.

Also Read: Fixed: DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG Error

What Causes ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED error?

When you open any website the data is transferred from the browser through a web server or through a proxy server if you are using a VPN or proxy. But if the server interrupts this data transfer in between, then the web page doesn’t load and shows the error message, The Webpage is not available, ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED. There can be several reasons for this error, it can be your ISP, the website on which you get the error can be down by itself, the browser you are using can be outdated, the extensions can be the culprit and many more.  Therefore in this article we will look into various troubleshooting steps that will help you to fix this error.

How to Fix the ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED error

We will start with some basic steps then will move ahead with some little bit technical steps(however you just need to follow them step by step). But before we start just make sure that your Internet is up and running. Also you can check that whether the problem is just at your end or the website that you are trying to access is down for all.

Down for Everyone or Just Me, is a website that can help you to confirm whether the problem is confined to your end or everyone is facing the same issue. Just enter the website URL and hit enter key, Down for Everyone or Just Me website will show you the exact status. Now if it shows that it is only you who is facing the problem and for everyone else it is up and running then head to the troubleshooting steps given below.

Also Read: How To Fix the Error “This Site Can’t be Reached”

Restart your Router

For any errors that are directly related to the network, it is always a good idea to restart your Router. Also since it is quick and easy, therefore there is no harm in giving it a try.

To get started power off your router by unplugging it from the power source and wait for 30-45 seconds before you plug back into the power source.

Now try opening the webpage again to check whether you can load it without any problem. In case you are still getting ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED error then try the next step.

Remove Unneeded Browser Extensions

Browser extensions are there to boost the performance of your browser. But do every browser extensions? No, there can be some buggy extensions as well that deteriorate your browsing experience and can lead to the error like ERR_EMPTY_RESPONSE. So if you have installed an extension from an unknown source or untrusted publisher then immediately uninstall it. Moreover, as browsers keep on releasing the updates with the time, the same is true for extensions as well. But the extensions that come from unreliable publishers do not provide any updates and with the time they just lead to browser slow down and crashes.

To remove unneeded Chrome extensions follow the steps below:

1. Launch Chrome browser and click on the menu icon at the top right corner of the browser screen

2. Now from the browser menu select More tools > Extensions. This will open the window on which you can see all the installed extensions.

3. Select the ones that are no longer needed. Now, to completely remove them click on the Remove button.

Now after removing all the unneeded extensions try reloading the website. If the extension was a culprit then you can load the website without any errors.

Update Your Browser to the Latest Version

An outdated browser version causes lots of problems like crashing, slowness and error like the one we are dealing with right now. But to fix all these errors and problems a simple step is to always update your browser to the latest version. So, if you’re getting an ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED error on Chrome then firstly make sure that you are using the most updated version. To check the Chrome browser version and update it to the latest version follow the steps below:

1. Double click on the Chrome icon to launch the browser.

2. Now click on the menu icon (three dots) located at the top right corner of the browser screen.

3. Now from the drop-down menu select Help > About Google Chrome. Here you can check the current version of the browser. And if it is outdated then Chrome will check for updates and will install them automatically.

4. Lastly click on the Relaunch button to let Chrome finish the updates.

5. Now check whether you are still getting any error message while browsing the web. If this has resolved the ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED error then you can skip the below steps. But if the problem persists then head on to the next step.

Also Read: How to Stop ISP Throttling?

Change DNS Server Settings

Your ISP i.e. your Internet the Internet Service Provider automatically assigns you a DNS server. But if that DNS server is temporarily unavailable, down or overloaded then you are likely to get the ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED error on Chrome. However as a user you always have an option to change this DNS server to a reliable one like Google Public DNS, OpenDNS server or Cloudflare.

Changing DNS server on your computer is an easy process that can be done by following the steps given below

1. Right-click on the network icon that is located in the Taskbar at the bottom right corner of the screen. Now, click on the Open Network and Sharing Center option from the available options. This will open the Network and Sharing Center screen. Alternatively, open Windows Settings > Network & Internet. Now from the left pane click on the Status, and from the right pane click on Network and Sharing Center option.

2. Now in the Network and Sharing Center screen, click on the network you are connected to.

3. Next on the Wireless Network Connection Status screen click on the Properties button.

4. Now on the Wireless Network Properties window double click on Internet Protocol Version 4.(TCP/IPv4)

5. On the Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4) properties window click on the General tab if not already selected. Now select Use the following DNS server address (this will deselect Obtain DNS server address automatically) and enter the following values 8.8.8.8 in Preferred DNS server field and 8.8.4.4 in Alternate DNS server field respectively.

6. If you are using Open DNS then use the following values
Preferred DNS server: 208.67.222.222
Alternate DNS server: 208.67.220.220

7. If you are using Cloudflare DNS then use the following values
Preferred DNS server: 1.1.1.1
Alternate DNS server: 1.0.0.1

Now once you have replaced your default DNS server address try accessing the website again to check whether you still get the same error or it is fixed

Disable Proxy Settings or VPN

Proxy servers or VPN are undoubtedly the best way to keep your privacy intact by keeping you safe from prying eyes. You can use a VPN to browse any website anonymously or access any site restricted by your Internet network provider. However, in between all these advantages it is often seen that your proxy servers might interfere with the constant transferring of data and lead to the ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED error.

To disable proxy server on Windows follow the following steps:

1. Open Windows Settings and on the Setting screen click on the Network & Internet.

2. Now on the screen that opens, scroll down and click on the Proxy option in the left panel. Now on the right pane toggle the button to ON that is below Automatically Detect Settings option.

This will disable any Proxy server settings and hopefully it will resolve the error. If you are using a VPN then you will find a button to disable in the program itself.

Reset Network Settings

If disabling the proxy server didn’t work for you and you continue getting the error ERR_EMPTY_RESPONSE then you need to flush DNS and reset the network settings by exactly following the steps listed below:

Click on the Windows Start button and in the Windows Search bar type Command Prompt. Now on the available results right click on the top result and select Run as administrator option

Now on the Command Prompt screen type the following commands one after another.

Note: After typing each command press the Enter key.

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

ipconfig /flushdns

netsh winsock reset

net stop dhcp

net start dhcp

netsh winhttp reset proxy

Once you have run all the commands, close the Command Prompt and reboot your computer. After the computer restarts, connect to your network and try reloading the webpage again. Hopefully this has resolved the problem.

Conclusion

The ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED in Chrome on the first instance although looks quite complicated, however the above steps will definitely help you in fixing this error. Do share with us in the comments section below which step in particular worked for you. Your suggestions and feedback always keeps us motivated, so do share them with us.

---