How to fix ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED error in Google Chrome

What is ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED in Google Chrome

ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED is a frequently-encountered error when trying to open some page in the Google Chrome browser. It happens when Chrome fails to establish connection with a page being loaded – and that is quite obvious. The reason for that, though, could be one out of many. For instance, it could be your third-party antivirus intentionally preventing connection with its firewall setup; a conflict caused by installed browser extensions; misconfigured Internet settings; and other issues as well. Luckily, our solutions below should be enough to forget about the problem and start using the necessary page or pages again. Follow along and try each of them until one finally does it.

1. Restart router

The first thing to start your solution journey off with is making sure nothing has bugged in your connection. Hold the power button at the back of the router for a couple of seconds until it shuts down. Then, push the same button to turn it back on. Make sure you try this quick method before moving on to further solutions below.

2. Disable third-party antivirus

If there is a third-party antivirus installed on your PC, try to disable it and check whether you can visit the page again. Antimalware software often has its own firewall that makes access to certain websites sometimes harder or totally unreachable. In case everything works as it should after disabling the antivirus, then you have found the problem. If you plan to visit the website on a regular basis and do not want to be annoyed by the error, you should try and add the website to the antivirus whitelist. Otherwise, you may consider trying another less conflicting antivirus. Our advice is MalwareBytes – a trusted and talented group of experts constantly maintaining their software to combat both minor and global threats. It is now available for Windows 11 as well. You can download it now using the link below and try a 14-day trial of the ultimate antimalware experience for free.

Malwarebytes main window

Malwarebytes settings

Malwarebytes scan results

3. Disable Chrome Extensions

Some extensions may cause friction with certain websites, preventing access to them. We advise you to try and disable them for short time to check the difference. It would also be a good idea to clean up your browser from suspicious extensions – if you have many installed. You can do it using the following steps:

1. Open Chrome and click on the three-dot icon in the top right corner.
2. Hover your mouse over More tools and select Extensions.
3. Disable all the third-party extensions by clicking on the blue toggle.

If this helped, then it means one of the extensions you disabled was guilty. Try enabling each one by one while at the same checking how it affects the connection. This way, you will find the culprit.

4. Clear browser data

The ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED error can also be caused due to accumulated browser data like cache. Some browser elements memorized by Chrome after browsing various pages may cause conflicts while opening certain pages. Clearing up your browser data may not only resolve the issue, but also increase browser performance and free up some space. Perform it via the instructions below:

1. Click on the three-dot icon in the top right corner, as we did above.
2. Got to More tools and choose Clear browsing data….
3. At the top, choose a time range. To delete everything, select All time.
4. Check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
5. Then click on Clear data.

Restart your browser and try to open the website again.

5. Disable Proxy in Local Area Network (LAN) Settings

Quite a common reason why ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED and similar errors occur couple be due to conflicts derived from the enabled Proxy server connection. In 99% of cases, enabled proxy servers make no real sense for regular users, which is why they should be disabled to prevent connection issues. If you remember turning it on by purpose, try to toggle it off and see if ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED still continues its presence. Here is how:

1. Open search box next to Start menu and type Control Panel. Open it up.
2. Make sure View by is set to either Small Icons or Big Icons in the top right corner.
3. Select Internet Options and navigate to Connections & LAN settings.
4. Make sure there is only Automatically detect settings enabled. Unpick the other 2 boxes if they are selected, and click OK in the end.
5. Now you should have LAN settings set up correctly. Go to the browser and try to open a page again.

6. Reset TCP/IP

TCP/IP is a set of fundamental protocols used to set up proper communication for the Internet and similar computer networks. Resetting these protocols may help you get back to normal internet configuration and circumvent the error. Here is how:

1. Find the Command Prompt by typing cmd into the searching box. Then right-click on it and choose Run as administrator.
2. In the opened window, you should paste these commands one by one, clicking Enter after each.

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset

3. Close the console and the problem should disappear itself. If not, try to paste the following commands according to the same algorithm.

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /renew

Hopefully, this option will solve the problem and help you regain access to the website you need.

7. Change address in DNS settings

Improper DNS settings can lead some browsers to face errors like ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED. This configuration can sometimes be accidentally changed after some manipulations. It may also be set to finding the server automatically, but not find the right one eventually. Whatever the reason for that, follow our instructions below in order to set up DNS settings the proper way:

To change DNS and IP:

1. Go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network Connections.
2. Double-click on your connection name.
3. Click on Properties.
4. Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
5. Mark Use the following IP address and Use the following DNS server addresses.
6. Change IP address, Subnet mask, Default gateway, and DNS according to the underneath image

8. Reset Google Chrome

If you are facing connection difficulties only in Chrome, but no other browsers, then there might be a problem with the browser itself. The best way to ensure no third-party extension or data is causing the conflict is to reset your Google Chrome to factory settings. This means everything gathered and kept by your browser like cookies, passwords, accounts, configuration, and other aspects will be deleted and sent back to their starting point. Please jot down what accounts and passwords have been used in Chrome so that you could sign in to them after performing a reset. Here is how you can reset Google Chrome:

1. Open Chrome browser.
2. In the top right corner, click More (three vertical dots) and then Settings.
3. Look at the left panel and expand Advanced.
4. Click Reset and clean up, and choose Restore settings to their original defaults. Confirm the action by clicking Reset Settings.
5. Wait until Chrome ends up restored and try to open the same web-page again.

Summary

Now, the issue is solved, and normal browsing has been resumed – we hope these are the words that came up to your mind at the end of reading this guide. If there is any other issue present now or in the future on your device, you can refer to our website for help. We have a big and constantly-updating database of articles on various topics – both error and malware removal.