Google Chrome displays an ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error message when a website doesn’t respond to a request to connect to it. Although that sounds like a server-side issue (and it very well could be), many reasons such as an outdated DNS cache and conflicting network settings can also trigger the error. Discover how to fix err_connection_refused error in Google Chrome
If reloading the website, restarting Chrome, or restarting your PC or Mac didn’t help, then working through the list of troubleshooting tips below should get things sorted out.
1. Check website status
To rule out potential server-side issues, you should check the status of the web page by running its URL through an online tool like or .
If you receive a message that the site is not available to everyone, you must wait until the website is back online. You can also notify the webmaster via email or social media to speed things up.
2. Clear DNS cache
If the site is available to everyone else, but not to you, an outdated DNS (Domain Name System) cache is the likely and easiest reason to know How to fix err_connection_refused error in Google Chrome. Removing it should force your computer to update the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the website, which may have changed since the last time you accessed it.
DNS cache related issues can also cause DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG and ERR_CACHE_MISS errors in Chrome.
Clear DNS cache in Windows
1. Press Windows + X to open the power user menu. Then select Windows PowerShell (Admin) .
2. Type the following in an elevated Windows PowerShell console:
Clear-DnsClientCache
3. Press Get in and exit Windows PowerShell.
Clear the DNS cache on macOS
1. Press Command + Space to open Spotlight Search. Then write terminal and press Enter .
2. Copy and paste the following command into the Terminal console and press Get in :
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
3. Type your administrator password and touch enter again to run the command. Keep exiting Terminal.
3. Change DNS servers
Spotty and unreliable DNS servers on PC and Mac can also prevent Chrome from connecting to specific websites. To rule it out, you need to switch to a popular public DNS service like Google DNS.
Change DNS servers in Windows
1. Open the menu Start and select Setting .
2. Select Network and Internet .
3. Switch to the side tabs of Wifi either Ethernet .
4. Choose your network connection.
5. in IP configuration select Edit .
6. Set Edit IP settings in Manual and turn the switch on iPv4 .
7. Type the following DNS addresses in the fields favorite Y alternate DNS :
8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4
8. Select Save .
Change DNS servers on macOS
1. Open the menu Manzana and select System preferences .
2. Select Net .
3. Choose Wifi either Ethernet and select Advanced .
4. Switch to tab .
5. Add the following DNS servers:
8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4
6. Select To accept later Apply .
4. Clear Chrome cache
An outdated Chrome cache can lead to data discrepancies and later site loading issues. If DNS-related fixes didn’t help, you should try deleting it.
Start by clearing the cache just for the site that is showing the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error. In case that doesn’t fix the problem or the same error keeps appearing on multiple websites, go ahead and clear the entire browser cache.
Clear cache for one site only
1. Try to load the website. Then select the icon Information in the address bar.
2. Select Site Settings .
3. Select Delete data .
1. Open the menu of Chrome and point to More tools > Clear browsing data .
2. Switch to tab Advanced .
3. Set Range of time in all the time .
4. Check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files .
5. Select Delete data .
5. Renew the DHCP lease
If none of the above fixes helped, you need to renew the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) lease on your computer. That involves requesting a new IP address from the network router.
Renew the DHCP lease in Windows
1. Open an elevated Windows PowerShell console.
2. Run the following two commands in the following order:
- ipconfig / release
- ipconfig /renew
3. Exit Windows PowerShell.
Renew DHCP Lease on Mac
1. Open the menu Manzana and select System preferences .
2. Select Net .
3. Choose Wifi either Ethernet and select Advanced .
4. Switch to tab TCP / IP .
5. Select Renew DHCP Lease .
6. Select To accept .
7. Exit System Preferences.
6. Disable proxy and VPN servers
Do you use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) on your PC or Mac? It is the best way to protect your privacy on the Internet. However, VPNs also have issues related to connectivity, so disable yours and see if that helps.
Also, you must disable any active proxy servers. Here’s how to check and disable proxy servers on PC and Mac.
7. Add Chrome to the firewall
Another ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED related bug fix involves adding Google Chrome as an exception to the Windows or macOS firewall, if it isn’t already.
Add Chrome to the firewall on Windows
1. Open the app Setting .
2. Select Update and security .
3. Switch to the side tab windows security .
4. Select Firewall and network protection .
5. Select Allow an app through the firewall .
6. If you don’t see Google Chrome in the list of applications, select change settings followed by Allow another app .
7. Select Review and choose the file chrome.exe from the following location:
C: \ Program files \ Google \ Chrome \ App
8. Select Add and then To accept .
Add Chrome to the firewall on macOS
1. Open System preferences .
2. Select security and privacy .
3. Switch to tab firewall .
4. Select Click on the padlock to make changes and choose firewall options .
5. Select the icon Plus and choose Google Chrome .
6. Select Add and then To accept .
8. Check Chrome Extensions
Extensions help improve Chrome, but unoptimized add-ons also introduce connectivity issues. Identify them and remove them.
1. Open the menu of Chrome . Then point More tools and select Extensions .
2. Deactivate each active extension.
3. If that ends up fixing the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error, re-enable the extensions one by one until you find the plugin causing the problem. Once it does, remove it and find an alternative extension.
9. Run the cleanup tool (Windows only)
The PC version of Google Chrome comes with a built-in tool that can identify and remove malicious extensions, browser hijackers, and other harmful software from your computer. If Chrome shows signs of performance-related issues in addition to displaying the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED message, you should try using it.
1. Open the menu of Chrome and select Setting .
2. Go to Advanced > reset and clean .
3. Select clean computer > Search .
That should prompt Chrome to search for and remove harmful software from your computer.
10. Reset Chrome
Still encountering ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error in Chrome? Resetting the web browser should reverse any corrupted settings that are preventing it from working properly.
1. Open the menu of Chrome and select Setting .
2. Go to Advanced > reset and clean (PC) / Restore (Mac).
3. Select Reset settings to their original defaults > reset settings .
Once Chrome finishes restarting, sign in to the browser and turn the extensions back on. Then try to use it. It is likely that you will not encounter the error again.
Google Chrome: connection accepted
The above pointers should have helped you resolve the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error in Google Chrome. Solutions like resetting the DNS cache or renewing the DHCP lease work almost every time, so be sure to run them quickly if the problem recurs. Just be sure to check for server-side issues beforehand.
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