Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsSome links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED means Chrome was not allowed to connect to the page, or the connection was blocked. It is not, by itself, a DNS-error diagnosis. Start by checking whether one site or every site fails, then work through the targeted fixes below.
What ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED means
Chrome uses this message when a page does not accept the connection or something between Chrome and the site blocks it. Google lists blocked connections, firewalls, antivirus software, modem or router problems, extensions, cookies, low device memory, and website downtime or maintenance among the possible causes. See Chrome’s network-error explanations at Google Chrome Help.
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To see Chrome’s built-in error-code list, enter chrome://network-errors/ in the address bar.
First identify whether the problem is local or site-specific
| What you observe | Most likely area to investigate | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Only one website refuses the connection | The website may be down, under maintenance, or blocking your connection. | Verify the address, reload it, and check the site again later. |
| Several unrelated websites refuse the connection | Your internet connection, router, firewall, antivirus, proxy, or Chrome installation. | Confirm Wi-Fi or Ethernet, restart network equipment, then test Chrome itself. |
Google recommends checking the internet connection when multiple websites fail and considering site availability or blocking when only one site fails (Chrome connection troubleshooting).
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Work through these fixes in order
1. Verify the URL and reload
- Check the spelling and domain in the address bar.
- Select Reload this page at the upper left of the Chrome window.
A mistyped address can look like a connection failure, while a temporary server problem may clear after a reload.
2. Check Wi-Fi or Ethernet and restart the router
- Confirm that the device is connected to Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Open another website. If several sites fail, power-cycle the modem and router according to the equipment manufacturer’s instructions.
- Try again after the network reconnects. Contact your internet-service provider if the connection still cannot reach multiple sites.
On public Wi-Fi, the network may require a captive-portal sign-in. Open http://example.com to trigger the sign-in page, complete the login, and then retry the original site (Google’s Chrome error guidance).
3. Restart Chrome completely
Close every Chrome window, then reopen the browser. On Windows, select the window’s Close button or choose More → Exit, then launch Chrome from the Start menu or desktop shortcut. On macOS, choose Chrome → Quit Google Chrome in the menu bar, then reopen it from Applications or the Dock. Google documents these steps at Chrome connection troubleshooting.
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- Choose More → New Incognito window. Shortcuts are
Ctrl+Shift+non Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS, or⌘+Shift+non Mac. - Open the same URL.
If it works in Incognito, exit Incognito and investigate extensions or browsing data. Incognito uses a separate session and removes its temporary cookies and site data when all Incognito windows are closed. Installed extensions can still be allowed in Incognito, so this test is useful but is not proof that every extension is disabled (Incognito instructions; connection troubleshooting).
5. Disable extensions one at a time
- Choose More → Extensions → Manage extensions.
- Turn extensions off, then retry the page.
- If the error disappears, turn extensions on individually until the failure returns; remove or reconfigure the extension that caused it.
Pay particular attention to VPN or proxy extensions. They operate at a lower network level and are not affected by ordinary extension site-data permission changes. Use Google’s extension guidance at Chrome Web Store Help.
6. Delete browsing data when the session or site data is damaged
Type Delete browsing data in the address bar and select the Delete browsing data action chip, or open Chrome’s privacy settings and choose the same command. Select the appropriate time range and categories, then delete the data. Depending on what you select, Chrome can remove cookies, site data, cached images and files, saved passwords, autofill data, and site settings. Review the category choices before confirming; Google’s details are at Delete browsing data in Chrome.
7. Update Chrome and relaunch
- Choose More → Help → About Google Chrome.
- Let Chrome check for updates. If Relaunch appears, select it.
- If Relaunch is absent, Google says Chrome is up to date.
Chrome normally applies updates after it is closed and reopened. Ordinary tabs and windows are restored after the restart; Incognito windows are not. The current version number appears beneath the Google Chrome heading on the About page, and Google does not publish one universal version number because releases vary by device and channel (Chrome update help).
Check firewall, antivirus, and proxy controls
Windows Firewall
- Open the Windows Security app and choose Firewall & network protection.
- Select the active profile: Domain network, Private network, or Public network.
- Use Allow an app through firewall to permit the required app rather than switching the firewall off.
Microsoft warns that disabling Windows Firewall makes the device more vulnerable. On organization-managed computers, policy may prevent you from changing these controls. See Microsoft’s Firewall and network protection guidance.
Antivirus HTTPS scanning
Some antivirus products include HTTPS protection or HTTPS scanning that can interfere with Chrome connections. Temporarily turn that feature off only as a controlled test, retry the page, and restore protection immediately afterward. If the refusal disappears, update or reconfigure the antivirus product or contact its vendor; do not leave web protection disabled (Chrome connection and security errors).
Managed proxies and HTTPS interception
Work or school proxies that inspect HTTPS traffic, including systems from Zscaler, Palo Alto Networks, or Fortinet, can produce certificate errors when their certificate is missing. Contact the administrator. Do not install an organization certificate yourself; Google specifically warns against doing so without administrator direction (Google Chrome Help).
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Reset Chrome settings as a broader repair
- Choose More → Settings → Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their original defaults, then Reset settings.
This changes the default search engine, homepage and startup tabs, New Tab page, pinned tabs, content settings, cookies and site data, extensions, and themes. Bookmarks and saved passwords are not deleted or changed, and the reset is not a complete profile reset: fonts and accessibility settings, for example, remain. Follow Google’s reset instructions.
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If the Settings menu is missing or will not open, Google’s documented remedy is to uninstall Chrome, download it again from Google, and reinstall it.
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Confirm your device meets Chrome’s current requirements
| Platform | Minimum listed requirement |
|---|---|
| Windows (Intel) | Windows 10 or later |
| Windows (ARM) | Windows 11 or later |
| Mac | macOS 13 Ventura or later |
| Linux | 64-bit Ubuntu 18.04+, Debian 10+, openSUSE 15.5+, or Fedora Linux 39+, with an SSE3-capable Intel Pentium 4-or-newer processor |
| Chromebook | Chrome updates through the Chromebook operating-system update process |
These are Google’s current requirements listed with its update guidance: Chrome system requirements and updates.
When the website—not Chrome—is refusing the connection
If only one domain fails after URL verification, a clean Incognito test, and a working internet connection, the site may be offline, under maintenance, or blocking your connection. There is no Chrome setting that can repair a server that is not accepting connections. Try again later or contact the site’s operator with the exact URL and error message.
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