Hosting Mautic QuickStart -50% with support in Spanish
24 hours and free training
Send up to 1,000,000 emails/year. Mautic support in Spanish 24 hours, 365 days
The err_ssl_protocol_error is an error that the Google Chrome browser shows and that means that there was an error when trying to make a secure connection to the domain that you are trying to access. In this article we will see what exactly is that SSL connection error and how we can fix it.
In Google Chrome this error will appear as shown in the following image:
What is the err_ssl_protocol_error error?
Surely you have already seen that the urls usually have https, this means that those domains are using a security.
Today SSL security certificates are a necessary part of any website. Thanks to the SSL security certificate, websites offer secure connection protection between the client and the server, allowing data to travel encrypted throughout the network.
If a website is accessed with a security certificate and the secure connection does not work, then this error code err_ssl_protocol_error will appear.
How to fix err_ssl_protocol_error?
The connection error could be at the server level or at the level of your local computer. In this article we focus mainly on possible solutions at the level of your computer.
The first cause that could be related to this error is that the content is in the cache of your browser. To clear the cache in Google Chrome you can access the following url:
chrome://settings/clearBrowserData
A screen similar to the following image will appear from where you can clear the cache data.
Another option is to browse in incognito mode or use another alternative browser to test the url where you get the error.
Check your system time and date
If the time and day do not correspond to the real one, this incorrect configuration of your system can cause SSL connection problems and generate the error err_ssl_protocol_error.
Make sure you have the correct date and time settings set on your device. You can locate the date and time settings in the control panel of your operating system.
It is possible that some extension of your browser is causing the problem. To rule out this option, try disabling these plugins.
In the case of Chrome you can do it directly with the following url:
chrome://extensions/
From this screen you can temporarily disable extensions or remove them completely.
Use a private network to test the url
If the site is blocked by your internet provider, or the site you are trying to access has temporarily blocked you, you may still get the err_ssl_protocol_error. However, you will be able to access the site through a .
When accessing from a VPN you have the possibility to change your location by masking your real location.
SSL State Cleanup
SSL Status caches SSL certificates from sites you’ve previously visited.
If, for example, your website has used a certificate with errors before, the browser may still remember the problem and show you the error err_ssl_protocol_error, even if it has already been fixed at the server level.
By clearing the SSL state you can solve this problem and also improve the performance of your browser.
If you use Windows, from Google Chrome you have a direct link to the system configuration.
- Go to the menu, the three vertical dots on the right side of your browser
- Locate Settings
- Advanced configuration
- Locate System
- Open your system proxy settings
- In the content tab you can clear the SSL state
If you are using Mac you can check the following
Clear DNS cache in Google Chrome
The domain name system () maintains an index of domain names with their respective IP addresses, similar to a contact list on your cell phone, matching names to numbers.
In this way, every time you consult a domain name, you will automatically obtain the IP through it, which will take you to the destination site.
The DNS cache stores information on the domain names that you have previously visited, thus speeding up the connection. However, if there were problems with SSL when you visited the domain, this cache will still store those problems. So it will be necessary to clean the DNS cache.
You can perform a cleanup by entering the following url:
chrome://net-internals/#dns
You will see a screen similar to the following image from where you can clear the DNS cache().
Temporarily disable your Antivirus and Firewall
Some antivirus do not allow you to access sites that they consider unsafe. In fact, there are several reasons why an antivirus may consider your site insecure and one of those factors is precisely problems with the SSL connection.
Disable QUIC protocol
QUIC (Quick UDP Internet Connection) is a transport protocol that improves speed and HTTP traffic. However, in some cases it could cause problems with some SSL certificates.
You can try temporarily disabling this protocol and check if you still get the err_ssl_protocol_error error.
From Google Chrome you can enter this url:
chrome://flags/#enable-quic
You will see a screen similar to the following image from where you can disable the default value for this functionality.
Delete host file
The host file is used in operating systems to block some IP addresses. If for some reason the site you are trying to access is blocked by your hosts file, deleting this file might fix the connection error err_ssl_protocol_error.
To locate the file depends on the operating system you use.
On Windows it is located in this path:
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
In the case of Mac you can locate it in the following path:
/etc
conclusion
As you have seen, you have to rule out what may be causing the err_ssl_protocol_error connection error. If even following all these steps the problem persists, you will need to contact your provider since it is possible that the problem comes from the server side.
Help us improve our content by sharing your opinion
WordPress technical support at and regular speaker at Meetups and WordCamps in America.
Facebook Comments
Disqus