Fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT in Google Chrome

Fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT in ChromeThere are a number of reasons as to why you are seeing the error message when visiting a website through Google Chrome, such as outdated chrome, corrupted files, DNS not responding, bad proxy configuration or connection might be blocked from hosts file itself, etc.

Fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT in Google Chrome

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT: This web page is not available error means that your internet connection is limited. Well, there are few simple troubleshooting steps that are going to solve this problem easily, so without wasting any time let’s see how to Fix Err Connection Timed Out Issue in Google Chrome.

Fix Err Connection Timed Out Issue in Google Chrome

Before making any changes to your system make sure to create a system restore point.

Method 1: Clear Chrome Browsing Data

To clear the entire browsing history, follow the below steps:

1. Open Google Chrome and press Ctrl + H to open history.

Google Chrome will open up

2. Next, click Clear browsing data from the left panel.

clear browsing data

3. Make sure the “beginning of time” is selected under Obliterate the following items from.

4. Also, checkmark the following:

  • Browsing history
  • Cookies and other site data
  • Cached images and files

Clear browsing data dialog box will open up

5. Now click Clear data and wait for it to finish.

6. Close your browser and restart your PC.

Method 2: Change Cryptographic Services Settings

Important Disclaimer: This method seems to fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error, however, users are reporting that they are losing their admin privileges across all accounts shortly after following the below steps. You will no longer be able to get into Services, Device Manager, Registry, etc. So please carry out the below instructions at your own risk.

Lost Admin Privileges

1. Press Windows Key + R then type services.msc and hit Enter.

Type services.msc in the Run box and hit Enter

2. Find Cryptographic Services on the list. Then right-click on it and select Properties.

Right-click on Cryptographic Services and select Properties

3. Under the Cryptographic Services Properties window switch to the Log on tab.

4. Now select “Local System account” under Log on as and checkmark “Allow service to interact with desktop“.

Select Local System account & checkmark Allow service to interact with desktop

5. Click Apply followed by OK to save changes.

6. Next, right-click on Cryptographic Services and select Restart. 

Method 3: Edit the Windows Hosts file

1. Press Windows Key + Q then type Notepad and right-click on it to select Run as administrator.

Right click on Notepad and select ‘Run as administrator’ from the context menu

2. A prompt will appear. Select Yes to continue.

A prompt will appear. Select Yes to continue

3. Now click on File from the Notepad menu then select Open.

Select File option from the Notepad Menu and then click on 'Open'

4. Now browse to the following location:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

To open the hosts file, browse to C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc

5. If you can’t see the hosts file yet, select ‘All Files’ from the drop-down as shown below.

hosts files edit

6. Then select the hosts file and click on the Open button.

Select the hosts file and then click on Open

7. Delete everything after the last # sign.

delete everything after #

8. From Notepad menu go to File > Save or press Ctrl+S to save the changes.

9. Close Notepad and reboot your PC to save changes.

Method 4: Flush/Renew DNS & IP

1. Press Windows Key + X then select Command Prompt (Admin).

command prompt admin

2. In the cmd type the following and hit enter after each one:

ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh winsock reset

ipconfig settings

3. Restart your PC to apply changes and see if you’re able to Fix Err Connection Timed Out error in Chrome. 

Method 5: Disable Proxy

1. Press Windows Key + R then type “inetcpl.cpl” and hit enter to open Internet Properties.

inetcpl.cpl to open internet properties

2. Next, switch to the Connections tab and click on the LAN settings button.

Lan settings in internet properties window

3. UncheckUse a Proxy Server for your LAN” and make sure “Automatically detect settings” is checked.

Uncheck Use a Proxy Server for your LAN

4. Click Apply followed by OK and reboot your PC.

If you’re unable to change proxy settings then perform the following steps to fix the issue.

Method 6: Use Google DNS

Sometimes invalid or incorrect DNS can also cause the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT in Chrome. So the best way to fix this issue is to switch to OpenDNS or Google DNS on Windows PC. So without any further ado, let’s see how to switch to Google DNS in Windows 10 in order to fix Err Connection Timed Out error in Google Chrome.

Switch to OpenDNS or Google DNS | Fix Unable to connect to the proxy server in Windows 10

Click Ok and restart your PC and see if you’re able to Fix Err Connection Timed Out Issue in Google Chrome.

Method 7: Delete your Default folder

Note: Deleting the Default folder will delete all your chrome data and personalization. If you don’t want to delete the default folder then rename it and copy it somewhere safe.

1. Press Windows key + R and copy the following into the dialog box:

%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\

Chrome user data folder rename

2. Locate the Default Folder then right-click on it and select Delete. 

Note: Make sure you copy the Default somewhere safe before deleting as this will delete your data from Chrome. 

Backup Default folder in Chrome User Data and then delete this folder

3. Reboot your PC and open Chrome to see if you’re able to Fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error. 

Method 8: Use Chrome Cleanup Tool

The official Google Chrome Cleanup Tool helps in scanning and removing software’s that may cause the problem with chrome such as crashes, unusual startup pages or toolbars, unexpected ads you can’t get rid of, or otherwise changing your browsing experience.

Google Chrome Cleanup Tool | Fix Slow Page Loading In Google Chrome

Method 9: Reset Chrome

To restore Google Chrome to its default settings follow the below steps:

1. Click on three dots icon available at the top right corner.

Open Google Chrome then click on the three vertical dots

2. Click on the Settings button from the menu opens up.

Click on the Settings button from the menu

3. Scroll down at the bottom of the Settings page and click Advanced.

Scroll down then click on the Advanced link at the bottom of the page

4. As soon as you click on Advanced, from the left-hand side click on “Reset and clean up“.

5. Now under Reset and clean up tab, click on Restore settings to their original defaults.

A Reset and Clean up option will also be available on the bottom of the screen. Click on Restore Settings to their original defaults option under the Reset and clean up option.

6. Below dialog box will open up which will give you all the details about what restoring Chrome settings will do.

Note: Before proceeding read the given information carefully as after that it may lead to loss of some important information or data.

This would open a pop window again asking if you want to Reset, so click on Reset to continue

7. After making sure that you want to restore Chrome to its original settings, click on the Reset settings button.

Method 10: Scan for Malware

Malware might also be the reason for ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT  error in Chrome. In case you are experiencing this issue regularly, then you need to scan your system using the updated Anti-Malware or Antivirus software Like Microsoft Security Essential (which is a free & official Antivirus program by Microsoft). Otherwise, if you have third-party Antivirus or Malware scanners, you can also use them to remove malware programs from your system.

Scan your System for Viruses

That’s it you have successfully Fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT Error in Google Chrome but if you still have any queries regarding this post feel free to ask them in the comment section.

8 thoughts on “Fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT in Google Chrome”

  1. I did all of them and none of them worked till I got to Method 6 where you delete the “default” folder. Now I am working properly and still working after 20 minutes. Yay

  2. Avatar photo
    Peter Robinson

    Since I got a new PC I get this every day, but after I have been using the PC for a while it goes and the connection is like lightning. Done all the ‘fixes’ except the first – I don’t seem to have a ‘hosts’ file. It’s extremely annoying while it goes on. Google should be working to patch this glitch.

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