Fixes / Chrome · Checked September 30, 2026

Chrome ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT: what it means and how to fix it

Short answer

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT means Chrome asked a website's server to connect and got no answer before it gave up. The site may be down, or something on your side (a VPN, proxy, firewall or stuck router) is blocking the connection. Start by opening the site on another device or network. If it works there, turn off your VPN or proxy and restart your router.

What this message means

When you open a page, Chrome first looks up the site's address and then tries to open a connection to that server. ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT means the lookup worked but the server never answered the connection attempt, so Chrome stopped waiting. Unlike ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED (the server actively said no) or DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN (the name could not be found), a timeout means the request disappeared somewhere between your computer and the site. That can be the website itself being down or overloaded, or something along your path: a VPN, a proxy setting, security software, an entry in your hosts file, a router that needs a restart, or a network that blocks that site.

Common causes

Cause	How to tell
The website is down, overloaded or blocking your region	The same site also times out on your phone using mobile data, while every other website loads normally on your computer.
A VPN or proxy is not passing traffic	The error started after installing or connecting a VPN, or it appears on many sites at once. Disconnecting the VPN or turning off the proxy makes pages load again.
Firewall or antivirus software is blocking Chrome or the site	The site loads in another browser or on another device on the same Wi-Fi, but not in Chrome on this computer. Often happens after a security suite update.
Your router or internet connection is stalled	Many sites load slowly or time out, other apps (email, streaming) also struggle, and other devices on the same Wi-Fi have problems too.
The network you are on blocks the site	Only happens on a school, work, hotel or public Wi-Fi network. The site works at home or on mobile data.
A stale DNS cache or a wrong entry in the hosts file	The site recently moved servers or you (or software) edited the hosts file. The site works on other devices but not this one, in any browser.

How to fix it

1. Check whether the site itself is down

Check the address in the address bar for typos, then press F5 (Windows) or Cmd+R (Mac) to reload.
Open the same address on your phone with Wi-Fi turned off so it uses mobile data.
If it also fails there, the problem is on the website's side. Wait and try again later, or check the site's social media or status page.
If it works on mobile data, the problem is your computer or network. Continue with the next fixes.

2. Turn off VPN and proxy settings

Windows 10 and 11, macOS 13 Ventura and later

Disconnect or quit any VPN app, then reload the page.
Windows: open Settings > Network & internet > Proxy. Under Manual proxy setup, select Set up, turn off Use a proxy server and select Save. Unless your workplace uses one, also check that no script address is set under Automatic proxy setup.
Mac: choose Apple menu > System Settings > Network, click your connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet), click Details, then click Proxies. Turn off any proxy you did not set up on purpose and click OK.
Chrome uses the system proxy settings, so restart Chrome after changing them and try the site again.

3. Restart your router and computer

Unplug the router (and modem, if separate) from power.
Wait 30 seconds, plug the modem in first, then the router, and wait until the lights settle (about 1 to 2 minutes).
Restart your computer.
Try the site again. If you are on public or work Wi-Fi, try a different network to rule out a blocked site.

4. Test Chrome without extensions and clear its data

Press Ctrl+Shift+N (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+N (Mac) to open an Incognito window and load the site. Extensions are off there by default.
If it works in Incognito, go to the three-dot menu > Extensions > Manage Extensions and turn extensions off one at a time (ad blockers, VPN and security extensions first).
To clear cached data, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+Delete (Mac), choose All time, tick Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, then select Delete data.
Make sure Chrome is up to date: three-dot menu > Help > About Google Chrome.

5. Flush DNS and reset the network stack

Windows 10 and 11 (Command Prompt), macOS (Terminal)

Windows: right-click Start, choose Terminal (Admin) or open Command Prompt as administrator.
Run these one at a time: ipconfig /flushdns, then ipconfig /release, then ipconfig /renew, then netsh winsock reset.
Restart the PC (required after netsh winsock reset).
Mac: open Terminal and run: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder, then enter your Mac password.
Open the hosts file (Windows: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts, Mac: /etc/hosts) and remove any line that contains the site you are trying to reach.

6. Check firewall and antivirus

Temporarily pause your third-party antivirus or internet security suite, then reload the site. Turn it back on right after testing.
If the site loads, open the security software's web protection or firewall settings and allow Chrome (chrome.exe on Windows, Google Chrome on Mac) or add the site as an exception.
Windows: open Windows Security > Firewall & network protection > Allow an app through firewall and make sure Google Chrome is ticked for Private and Public.
Mac: open System Settings > Network > Firewall > Options and make sure Google Chrome is not set to block incoming connections.

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Still not fixed?

If the site fails on every device in your home but works on mobile data, contact your internet provider, since they may be blocking or misrouting traffic to that site. If it fails only on a work or school network, ask the IT team whether the site is blocked or needs the company proxy. If only one site times out everywhere, including on mobile data, contact that website's owner. As a last step in Chrome, go to Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults, which turns off extensions and clears temporary data without deleting bookmarks or saved passwords.

Questions people ask

Is ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT my fault or the website's?

It can be either. Open the site on your phone using mobile data: if it fails there too, the website is the problem; if it works, something on your computer or network is blocking it.

Why do I get ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT on only one website?

Usually that site is down or blocking your region, your network blocks it, or your hosts file, VPN or security software is interfering with just that address. Test on mobile data and in an Incognito window to narrow it down.

What is the difference between ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT and ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED?

Timed out means the server never replied at all. Refused means the server (or something in front of it) answered and rejected the connection, which usually points to the server or a firewall rule rather than your internet connection.

Can a VPN cause ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT?

Yes. A VPN server that is overloaded, disconnected or blocked by the website can make connections time out. Disconnect the VPN or switch to a different server location and reload the page.

Does clearing Chrome's cache fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT?

Sometimes, but rarely on its own, because a timeout is almost always a network problem. Check the site on another device and turn off VPN or proxy first, then clear the cache if it still fails.