How to fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error

You have entered the website address into a browser when you suddenly get the error message ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT. What does this mean and how should you solve the problem?

Keep reading this article if this is your case to know the solution of the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in your browser or web page.

Let’s look at some ways to fix the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT. First of all, we are going to review the methods to fix the problem if you are getting the error while trying to load the site.

check tor internet connection

A browser often recommends that the connection be checked first to fix the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error. Poor connectivity can make it difficult for a website to open on a computer in time.

Here are the network troubleshooting guides for and in case you need them.

If problems persist, it’s best to switch networks or reboot the relevant devices if you have access to them.

Disable any VPN or proxy server settings

Another common solution that browsers recommend is to check your proxy server settings.

A proxy server works as an intermediary between a computer and the website you are visiting. Its purpose is to protect the user’s IP address, control which sites can be accessed and cache data from it to improve page loading speed.

That said, proxy servers can cause the website you want to access to be unintentionally blocked, causing the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error.

To check if these servers are the cause of the problem, reset your proxy settings. For Windows 10 users, press the operating system logo key and navigate to the Control Panel. Select Network and Internet > Internet Options.

in the window of Properties: Internetopen the tab connections -> LAN settings. Make sure to uncheck all proxy settings, like this:

Those using macOS can open System Preferences > Network and click on Advanced. in the tab proxiesuncheck each box and click To accept.

Open the site to see if the error has disappeared. If it has and you need to use a proxy server for everyday tasks, consider reconfiguring your settings or changing providers.

The ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error can also occur for those using a service. In that case, we suggest you change the VPN protocol. Your internet service provider or firewall may have blocked the one you’re using. Alternatively, try temporarily disabling the app.

Clear browsing data

Web browser data includes cache files, saved logins, and cookies.

Although they are great for optimizing your browsing experience, they can slow down your browser’s performance, causing timeout errors. Therefore, it is better to remove them periodically.

The method to clear browser data depends on the application. Google Chrome browser users can follow these steps:

go to three point menu from the top right. Choose More tools > Clear browsing data.
Go to the tab Advanced configuration and mark all cache files, from the browsing history until the hosted application data. Set the time range to Since ever.
click on Delete data. At this point all your browsing data should be removed from Google Chrome.

If you’re not a Google Chrome user, read this article on other major browsers.

Change DNS servers

A DNS server converts domain names to IP addresses to help the browser locate the website you want to visit.

Your Internet service provider usually has its own DNS servers in your connection settings. However, they may not provide the best performance.

For this reason, many people prefer to switch to third-party DNS servers from or , which are free and reliable for the average user.

If you think the DNS servers are the problem, consider replacing them. The following tutorials show how to change a network’s DNS settings using Google Public DNS IP addresses as an example.

For Windows 10 users, follow these steps:

Open the Dashboard > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. Go to the section Change adapter settings at the top left.
Right-click on the current connection and select Properties.
Choose if you want to use addresses IPv4 either IPv6 for DNS configuration. Then go to Properties.
Replace the IP addresses with the following:

For IPv4, use 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.8.4
For IPv6, use 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844

It should look like this:

click on To accept and restart the browser.

Those using macOS can follow these steps:

Open System Preferences > Advanced.
in the tab click on the sign Plus from the section DNS servers. Write the IP addresses one by one. press To accept.

Flush DNS and renew IP address

Flushing DNS means resetting the DNS caches that your computer has saved.

The DNS cache stores information about the IP addresses of websites you visit. In this way, the computer does not have to translate the domain name to the IP address from the beginning every time you open the site.

However, just like browser data, the DNS cache may be stale. The IP addresses may be old, thus causing problems when trying to open the site.

Those using Windows 10 can flush DNS via Command Prompt. Press the keys of the windows logo Y R to activate the command Run. then write “cmd” in the dialog and press To accept.

in the window of symbol of the systemtype the following and press enter:

ipconfig /flushdns

If the process is successful, a message like the one below will be displayed:

So, insert the following lines to fix the network problem and renew the IP address. Make sure you press enter every time you add a new command:

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

Once you’re done, restart your computer and open your browser to see if the commands were successful.

For macOS users, open the app Terminal and insert the following command:

dscacheutil -flushcache

Temporarily disable firewall or antivirus software

Firewalls and antivirus software can keep a computer safe from unauthorized people. However, they can unintentionally confuse secure sites with insecure ones, which can cause ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT.

To see if your firewall or antivirus program is working properly, try temporarily disabling it.

Windows 10 users using the operating system’s built-in firewall can go to Setting -> Update and security -> windows security. Then select Firewall and network protection. Select the network you use and deactivate the firewall.

macOS users can go to System Preferences, Security and Privacy. On the Firewall tab, click Disable Firewall.

Those using a third-party application can refer to the documentation for the software. Some antivirus programs also allow you to submit a false positive form if you think the application shouldn’t be blocking a particular web page.

Check the hosts file

The file hosts maps all connections between IP addresses and their corresponding domain names. Every time you visit a website, your computer will check this document to see which IP address matches the site’s domain.

Sometimes the hosts file may have accidentally blocked a certain IP address or URL, making the site inaccessible. Therefore, it is good to check if the document has blacklisted the website you want to open.

Windows 10 users will need a text editor like Notepad to view the Windows hosts file. In the search box on the taskbar, type the name of the app and right-click. Choose Execute as an administrator.

In the top left menu, go to File -> Open and insert the following path in the bar filename.

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\

Then select hosts.

The file will display a list of blocked websites below the last line starting with the sign “#”. Delete them and press Ctrl + S to save the changes.

macOS users can open the Terminalinsert this line and press enter:

sudo nano /private/etc/hosts

Delete the list of sites that are below the line “::1”.

Update your computer’s network adapter drivers

Drivers for a network adapter allow a computer to connect to the local area network so that it can use the Internet. If the device is outdated or improperly installed, you may experience issues leading to the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error.

Here’s how to check if a computer’s network adapters are functional in Windows 10:

Make sure you’re logged in as an administrator to be able to configure the settings. Then go to Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Device Manager.
in the window of Device administratorright-click the network device and select update driver.
In the update wizard, choose Search for drivers automatically. It will check if the network adapter is up to date and update the application if it is not.
Restart your computer and open your browser to see if the error persists.

For macOS users, regular software updates usually include one for network adapter drivers.

Fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT at website and server level

The next section will show ways to fix errors like ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT if the problem occurs on your web page.

Disable any new script

If the error occurs after you have modified the web script, the new code may be the cause of the problem. Some new features may be misconfigured or use an excessive amount of resources, creating performance issues.

In this case, consider removing the new code. First, create a backup and then revert the changes you’ve made to see if the site becomes accessible.

Check the maximum execution time

The maximum execution time is the total duration that a PHP script can have on a website. This is usually pre-configured by the hosting provider, with a typical timeout value being 30 seconds.

If the script runs for longer than the defined period, the site will not be able to communicate with the browser,…