In a digital globe hooked on instant gratification, one of the terminal things you desire to feel when browsing is an error message, such as ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED. This tin be incredibly frustrating, and may fifty-fifty be a sign that something serious has gone incorrect.

For boilerplate users, the really confusing errors are the ones where it tin sometimes hard to distinguish between a problem with your WordPress site and something else, such as a networking or browser issue.

The "ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED" bulletin is an especially common and unremarkably non-WordPress site related mistake message you'll sometimes see in Chrome. Fortunately, it's relatively easy to pinpoint the cause of this problem. In this post, we'll explicate what the bulletin means and how to fix it. Typically this involves the following steps:

  1. Check to meet whether the page itself has gone down.
  2. Restart your router.
  3. Articulate your browser's cache.
  4. Assess your proxy settings and adjust them as needed.
  5. Temporarily disable antivirus and firewall software.
  6. Affluent your DNS enshroud.
  7. Change your DNS accost.
  8. Disable any outdated Chrome extensions.
  9. Reinstall your Chrome browser.

Simply first, permit'due south accept a deeper wait into what this error actually means.

Prefer to lookout man the video version?

What Is the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED Fault?

Unfortunately, encountering errors comes mitt-in-hand with using the internet. There are hundreds of possibilities, from the white screen of death to the archetype 404 error , the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT mistake or the ERR_CACHE_MISS. Trust us, our support team deals with all sorts of WordPress errors on a daily basis. Then this is aught new for u.s..

Google Chrome (This site can't be reached)

In Google Chrome users may besides be familiar with the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED folio. You will see a message maxim:

This site can't be reached or This webpage is not available.

ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error in Google Chrome
ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error in Google Chrome

When you visit a website using Google Chrome and come across this bulletin, it means that your endeavour to connect was refused. This error code likewise appears in other browsers, albeit in dissimilar forms.

A similar bulletin that may also appear here is theDNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error, which is a DNS mistake which signals that the requested domain proper noun does not exist.

Mozilla Firefox (Unable to connect Error)

In Mozilla Firefox information technology will simply evidence equally Unable to connect.

Firefox can't institute a connection to the server at domain.com.

Unable to connect error in Mozilla Firefox
Unable to connect Fault in Mozilla Firefox

Microsoft Edge (Hmmm…tin can't attain this folio Fault)

In Microsoft Edge, it will just prove asHmmm… tin can't reach this page. Which isn't very helpful.

Make sure you've got the right spider web address: domain.com.

Microsoft Edge Hmmm...can't reach this page Error
Microsoft Edge Hmmm…can't achieve this folio Error

The ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error is sometimes acquired past a server-side problem, rather than an issue with your individual attempt at connectedness. It's usually zilch serious, and can simply be the result of incorrect firewall or server settings. However, it can as well exist a sign that something more than significant has gone wrong – such equally a malware attack, or unexpected downtime. An unreliable cyberspace connectedness can besides contribute.

Equally with most mistake letters, ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED lets yous know that something has gone incorrect, without being kind enough to tell y'all why it'southward happened. This means it'southward up to you to find and resolve the root consequence (if possible).
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How to Gear up the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED Fault in Chrome (nine Possible Solutions)

Although the range of potential causes can make troubleshooting tricky, information technology is possible to prepare the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED mistake. Permit'due south walk through nine steps yous tin can take, starting with the ones well-nigh likely to provide an reply.

one. Cheque the Status of the Website

Your first port of telephone call should be to check the status of the website you're trying to access. As we've already mentioned, the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error tin sometimes be caused past the site's server, rather than your ain internet connectedness.

A simple fashion to check whether this is the example is to visit another web folio. If the fault message occurs again, the problem virtually likely originates with your connection. If the second page loads correctly, all the same, the showtime site was probably at fault.

Yous tin as well utilise Down For Everyone Or Just Me:

Down for Everyone or Just Me?
Downward for Everyone or Merely Me?

Enter the address of the non-functioning page, and click on Or just me?. This site will then assess whether the page is offline (downwards), or online (upward). Unfortunately, when a page is down, the only matter y'all can do is wait for it to exist stock-still. However, if the page is upwards and is withal not loading for you, it'southward time to practice some further troubleshooting.

2. Restart Your Router

Equally a tried-and-tested method for fixing many net-related issues, your next footstep volition be to effort 'turning it off and back on again'. Restarting your home or office router doesn't come with a 100% success guarantee. However, the procedure takes only a few minutes, then it's more worth a try when you're dealing with a potential connection consequence.

To do this, disconnect the power supply to your router. Yous'll then need to wait for about 30 seconds, earlier plugging information technology back in. In one case the router has booted up once again, endeavour to access the folio that returned an error. If it loads, so you're proficient to become. If not, in that location'southward likely another cause at play.

three. Articulate Your Browser'south Cache

Similar any good internet browser, Chrome volition shop information in its cache on your computer or device. This includes your browsing history, saved login data, and cookies – all of which are recorded in order to load the relevant pages more than speedily the side by side fourth dimension they're visited.

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Although they're useful, caches tin can cause numerous issues when they become outdated. This is because the cached version of a page is likely to no longer lucifer the electric current, live version. Fortunately, this problem is easily solved by immigration your cache.

Simply before you exercise that, you can hands cheque to see if it's a browser cache issue by first opening upward your browser in incognito mode. Or yous can try a different browser. If you lot're still seeing the fault, then you volition want to proceed with clearing your cache.

To do so, begin by opening upwards Chrome's primary bill of fare (in the meridian-right corner of your browser window). From in that location, select More Tools: You tin can then click on Clear browser information.

Chrome clear browsing data
Chrome articulate browsing information

On the resulting page, yous'll need to make sure that all listed file categories are selected. If they aren't, Chrome won't exist able to empty the entire cache. Instead, it will simply remove the most recent entries, which won't result in the desired consequence:

Clear browsing data
Articulate browsing data

An culling method of completing this process is to enter the following URL into your accost bar:

chrome://settings/clearBrowserData

The resulting screen should grant you access to the same options nosotros've outlined above. Here are some other helpful links for immigration cache.

  • How to Force Refresh a Unmarried Page for All Browsers
  • How to Clear Browser Cache for Google Chrome
  • How to Clear Browser Cache for Mozilla Firefox
  • How to Articulate Browser Cache for Safari
  • How to Clear Browser Cache for Cyberspace Explorer
  • How to Clear Browser Cache for Microsoft Edge
  • How to Clear Browser Cache for Opera

4. Assess Your Proxy Settings and Adjust Them as Needed

With security threats consistently on the rise, it's no wonder that many people are at present using individual solutions to protect their sensitive data. A pop way of doing this is through the employ of proxy servers.

A proxy lets you go online nether a dissimilar IP address, and acts equally an intermediary between your browser and the websites y'all visit. As well as keeping your IP address individual, it can also help to filter enshroud data and server communications.

Just every bit with caching, a proxy server tin can be useful, merely it can besides cause the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED bulletin. For example, a web server might turn down the IP address attached to a proxy server, and then pass up the actual connectedness as a issue.

Information technology's likewise possible that the proxy is offline, or incorrectly configured. In short, if the mistake message in question occurs, it'due south worth checking out your proxy settings.

Chrome actually has its own proxy section, which tin make this step a specially elementary process. After all, you won't need to spend any time searching for the correct tools in your browser.

To go started, access the Settings menu in your Chrome browser. This will open upward the complete carte du jour of options. Nether the System department (you'll demand to click Avant-garde at the bottom to run across this), you should detect an entry titled Open proxy settings. By selecting information technology, y'all'll be taken to the corresponding menu:

Open Proxy Settings in Chrome
Open up Proxy Settings in Chrome

Your adjacent step depends on the system yous're currently using. Windows users volition want to click on LAN Settings, and uncheck the Use proxy server for LAN option. If you're a Mac user, you should immediately find yourself in the relevant card. Yous'll then accept to uncheck all selectable proxy protocols, and check to meet if the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED message has been resolved.

Uncheck proxies on Mac
Uncheck proxies on Mac

5. Disable Firewall and Antivirus Software Temporarily

Firewalls and antivirus software are intended to protect users and their systems. They scan your device regularly, and automatically block any suspicious activeness. You may start to notice a recurring theme here, nevertheless, since (much like with caching and proxy servers) this blazon of advanced security tin can at times atomic number 82 to connexion bug.

This is considering firewalls can often block pages they don't need to, or refuse content that is completely safe. To check whether this is the case for you, try disabling your firewall and antivirus programs. Of form, this is only brash if you know for sure that the site you're intending to visit is safe.

Additionally, you should only disable this kind of software temporarily. Switch it back on afterwards you've finished checking to run across whether the error has been resolved, and so you don't become vulnerable to attacks. If you repeatedly run into errors considering of your firewall or antivirus software, you may want to consider changing what y'all're using.

6. Clear Your DNS Cache

As somewhat of an extension to an earlier troubleshooting stride, your next task will exist to clear your DNS cache. Although almost people are aware that their browser creates a cache, not every bit many know that their operating system does the aforementioned thing.

For example, your DNS cache contains all of the temporary entries for pages you've accessed with your browser. These entries shop fundamental information related to the domain names and addresses of the pages you've visited.

The purpose of this feature is like to that of other types of caches. It accelerates the loading process, every bit it eliminates the need to contact a site's DNS server repeatedly. This will salvage you time in the long run. Nevertheless, you may occasionally run into some brusk-term issues.

If a stored entry no longer matches the current version of the website it refers to, technical errors like the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED bulletin are not unusual. Fortunately, immigration your DNS cache is a quick and like shooting fish in a barrel solution.

Over again, how you lot'll do this will depend on your operating system.

Windows

Launch the showtime menu by pressing the Windows key and search for "CMD." This should return the control prompt.

command prompt windows
Control Prompt in Windows

In the command prompt run the following command:

          ipconfig /flushdns        
ipconfig flush dns
ipconfig /flushdns

You will so see a confirmation that it has successfully flushed the DNS resolver cache.

flushed dns resolver cache
Flushed DNS resolver cache

For the purposes of this article, we'll talk you lot through the process when you're using a Mac – although you lot'll be able to find numerous helpful resources online if y'all're a Windows fan.

Mac

On a Mac, you'll need to do the following:

Click "Get" up in the toolbar and and so "Utilities." (Shift-Command-U)

Mac utilities
Mac utilities

Open the Terminal.

Mac terminal
Mac terminal

Run the following command. You will need administrator access to do this.

sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder && repeat macOS DNS Cache Reset
Clear DNS cache Mac
Articulate DNS cache Mac

When you've done that, try accessing the trouble site again. Hopefully, if yous've followed all of our communication, it should be working by now. If not, your DNS may crave some more attention.

7. Change Your DNS Accost

Equally we discussed above, an outdated DNS cache entry is a potential source of issues like the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED message. However, the DNS address itself can also be responsible for these kinds of problems. This is because it tin can frequently become overloaded, or even go completely offline.

In the bulk of cases, your DNS server accost is automatically obtained from your cyberspace provider. However, you tin can also alter information technology if required. How y'all'll exercise this will over again depend on the operating organization you're using.

Allow's explore how Mac users can complete this process. Beginning, y'all'll need to open up Arrangement Preferences. On the resulting screen, select the option marked Network. You'll then demand to click on Advanced:

Mac network advanced
Mac network advanced

From there, select the DNS choice institute at the top of the screen. To add a new DNS server, click on the + push. To edit an existing DNS server instead, double-click on the DNS IP address you lot wish to conform:

Network DNS
Network DNS

Y'all can try temporarily irresolute these to a public DNS server, such equally Google or Cloudflare.

  • Some adopt to use Google'southward public DNS (eight.8.8.eight and 8.8.iv.four) long-term due to them sometimes existence more than reliable.
  • Cloudflare also offers its secure and blazing fast costless DNS (i.one.ane.1 and one.0.0.one).

Tip: If you lot're already using a free DNS server and having problems, removing it and defaulting dorsum to your ISP's DNS servers also sometimes fix things. Google and Cloudflare aren't perfect 100% of the time and there have been a few instances where we've noticed switching back has resolved the issue.

You can and so attempt to access the site again – and cross your fingers.

8. Disable Any Chrome Extensions

There's no denying that installing extensions often contributes to a more well-rounded Google Chrome experience. The many extensions on offer can add key features, and even help to automate complex processes.

However, a big number of the extensions bachelor for Google Chrome are not developed by the browser'south developers. Instead, they're usually created past third parties. This tin hateful there'due south no real guarantee they'll work as you intended, or that they will be correctly updated over time.

Incorrect or outdated extensions are likely to cause numerous problems – including the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED fault bulletin. For this reason, it'south of import to regularly inspect the extensions that are fastened to your browser.

To do that, first open the Extensions menu in your Chrome browser. Y'all tin can then begin to appraise each of your installed extensions in turn. Start by questioning whether you actually need each ane. If an extension is no longer necessary, you lot can merely remove information technology.

Next, find out when each extension that y'all desire to keep was last updated. Ideally, it should have been updated within the terminal three months. Anything longer than that could be a sign that the extension is existence neglected past its developers. If possible, you'll desire to remove those extensions and supplant them with newer alternatives.

Of course, new (and fully updated) extensions can still sometimes cause problems. If you suspect that this is the example, begin by disabling all of your attached extensions. If the site you've been trying to access loads after doing this, you'll know that at to the lowest degree i of them is at fault. You lot can then reactivate one extension at a time, until you've honed in on the problem software.

9. Reinstall the Chrome Browser

Every bit with any other application, Chrome itself is never going to be completely bug-free. Your installation of the browser tin incorporate diverse issues, peculiarly if it hasn't been updated in a while. What'southward more, problems between your browser and operating system are surprisingly common.

As a consequence, sometimes the only solution is to completely reinstall Chrome. Y'all can practice this by removing the current installation from your device. You lot can and so download the most contempo version of the browser by visiting the official Chrome website.

What to Do If None of These Solutions Work

If none of the solutions we've walked you through fixes the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED message, it'south usually a sign that something more serious has gone wrong on the server-side (in other words, with the website itself).

Unfortunately, in this scenario, the simply affair yous tin do is be patient. Information technology'due south likely that the website'southward owners are working hard to resolve whatever bug, and information technology will resume business organisation every bit usual before too long.

If accessing the site is a matter of urgency, you could effort reaching out to its owners directly. There are numerous ways to practice this, although social media and email are particularly effective – and unlikely to be afflicted by whatever website reanimation.

Explicate the problem yous're facing, and mention that yous've tried several solutions to no avail. Hopefully, the team behind the website should get back to you and discuss the best course of action. You may even exist doing them a favor, if you happen to make them aware of an consequence they didn't know was preventing access to their site.

If you're a Kinsta client and it's your own WordPress site that is having the problems, feel free to attain out to our support team. Nosotros are hither to help 24/seven.
Browser errors are never fun. 😩 Here are a few tips on how to fix the stubborn ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error. Click to Tweet

Summary

Although connexion errors are endlessly frustrating, information technology's important to remember that they can often exist fixed. Your beginning port of call should always be to check whether the issue lies with the web page itself. If the problem is with your own connection, on the other hand, you lot'll need to put in a little piece of work to get things dorsum upwardly and running.

To effort and resolve the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED bulletin, y'all can:

  1. Check to see whether the page itself has gone downwards.
  2. Restart your router.
  3. Clear your browser'south cache.
  4. Assess your proxy settings and conform them every bit needed.
  5. Temporarily disable antivirus and firewall software.
  6. Affluent your DNS enshroud.
  7. Change your DNS accost.
  8. Disable any outdated Chrome extensions.
  9. Reinstall your Chrome browser.

Do you have any more than questions most this particular error message, or is at that place another commonly-encountered problem that you'd like united states of america to explore? Permit usa know in the comments department beneath!


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