13 Fixes For ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT in Google Chrome

It can be very frustrating when you are trying to surf the web through a browser and it throws an error message stating “ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT” at you. Your websites do not load and it will test your patience. The following article will help you remain calm and fix this issue on your Google Chrome browser.

What is “ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT” on my browser?

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT message in the Safari browser

The ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT is one of the most common errors that come up while browsing on Google Chrome. If you see this message, your network connection took longer than usual to access a website. When you enter a domain name and open it, the browser “calls” for the website by sending a query to the website server.

If the server doesn’t send out a response within 30 seconds, the web browser stops the sent query from being responded to. When your connection times out, any form of media does not load till this issue is fixed.

What causes the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT?

The only reason that the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT message appears is when the network takes longer than 30 seconds. However, there are reasons why your perfectly good network takes this long to get into a website. 

  1. The network cables are loosely connected to the computer or the router.
  2. The System’s network adapters are outdated or corrupt.
  3. The network’s LAN settings are misconfigured.
  4. A VPN is active with a different IP address.
  5. The DNS prevents you from accessing the site.
  6. The Windows Firewall or your Antivirus stops you from accessing some parts of the internet.
  7. A few changes have been made to the system host files. 

These are the factors we’ll be working against in the following steps.

Steps to Fix the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Google Chrome

  1. Take a look at your Network Cables and Network Router
  2. Clear Google Chrome’s Browsing Data
  3. Download Updates for the Network Adapters Driver Software
  4. Check the LAN settings of the network
  5. Flush the Network DNS and reset the TCP/IP stack
  6. Change your network’s DNS server address
  7. Change the IP Address
  8. Turn off the Proxy settings
  9. Alter the Windows Hosts file to whitelist IP address
  10. Deactivate the Windows Firewall and the third-party Antivirus Software for a while
  11. Raise the allocated Memory
  12. Check the Maximum Execution Time
  13. Set the theme back to default

Fixing the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error message

Take a look at your Network Cables and Network Router

The cause for the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT could start from where you get your internet – The network router/modem or the cables. Using a LAN connection, you can face loose or damaged cables. The pin could be damaged or even the LAN port. Try changing these cables. 

Wireless network router


Since the router is also a suspect, reset it by pressing the tiny button on its back with the help of a pin, toothpick, or any other thin object that is not brittle. Once the connection is reset, check if the problem persists. 

If it does, get in touch with your internet provider. If they have server issues, you may receive no or slow internet. Check your internet speed if you are experiencing a very slow network. 

Clear Google Chrome’s Browsing Data

If the browser has corrupt data, this will interrupt the network connection and you’ll see the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Google Chrome. Here’s how to clear browsing data on the Chrome browser.

  1. Launch Google Chrome and click on the three-dots menu on the top-right part of the Google Chrome browser.
  2. Go into the Settings option to open the Chrome Settings tab.
Chrome Settings in the three-dots menu
  1. Scroll down and locate the Clear Browsing Data option in the Privacy and Security section.
Clear browsing data option in the Chrome Settings

You can also type in chrome://settings/clearBrowserData in the address bar and run it, by pressing Enter, in the first place.

  1. In the small dialog box, go into the Advanced tab and click on the Clear data button. 
Advanced tab in the Clear Browsing data dialog box

This will take some time to clear all stored data in the browser. This information will be saved again when you continue browsing.

Download Updates for the Network Adapters Driver Software

  1. Launch the Quick Link menu by right-clicking on the Start button or pressing Windows + X keys together. 
  2. Select Device manager from this pop-up menu and the Device Manager window will be opened. 
Device Manager option in the Quick Link menu
  1. Find the Network Adapters section and expand it by clicking on it with your pointer.
  2. Right-click on the Network Adapter driver that has to be updated to open a context menu. 
  3. In this menu, select Update driver to open the Network Adapter driver update wizard.
Update driver option for Network Adapter driver
  1. Click on the Search automatically for drivers option to make your computer find adequate drivers and install them, without you having to intervene.

Check the LAN settings of the network

  1. Launch the Windows Run utility by pressing your keyboard’s Windows and R keys. 
  2. In the input space, type in inetcpl.cpl and execute this command by clicking on Ok or pressing the Enter key.
Internet Properties window launch command in Run tool

This will open the Internet Properties tab. 

  1. Open the Connections tab and select the LAN settings button, under the Local Area Network (LAN) settings section.
Connections tab in the Internet Properties window
  1. In the dialog box, check the Automatically detect settings checkbox and uncheck the use a proxy server for your LAN option.
The LAN settings dialog box

Flush the Network DNS and reset the TCP/IP stack

  1. Launch the Windows Command Prompt tool as the System Administrator, as we will make changes in the system. Search for cmd and select Run as Administrator.
Search result for command prompt
  1. Now, run the commands given below, in the following order, one after another. Press Enter to execute a command line.
  • netsh winsock reset
  • ipconfig /release
  • ipconfig /renew
  • ipconfig /flushdns
  • ipconfig /registerdns
  1. Close the Command Prompt window and restart your computer, after the processes are complete.

You should now not be able to see the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error on your browser. 

Change your network’s DNS server address

  1. Open the Windows Control Panel and go into the Network and Internet section.
  2. Here, select the Network and Sharing Center link at the top
  3. Click on the Change Adapter Settings option from the left panel.  
The Network and Sharing Center in the Control Panel
  1. Right-click on the active internet connection and select Properties from the context menu.
Context menu for the connected network in the Network Connections page
  1. Check the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) check box and choose Properties.
Internet Protocol Version 4 checkbox in the Network Properties window
  1. Under the General tab in the Internet Protocol version 4(TCP/IPv4) Properties window, you’ll notice that you can change the IP address and the DNS servers.
IPV 4 properties window with Google DNS
  1. Select the Use the following DNS server address radio button and enter this DNS server address: 8.8.8.8 & 8.8.4.4
  2. Click on Ok and then, Close when you are done. 

Change the IP Address

The network’s IP address can be changed easily with the help of VPN software. Once enabled, a different random IP address will be allocated to you. This will let you jump over firewalls and site blocks with ease.

You’ll be able to fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error with a different IP address. If you aren’t able to do so, you’ll have to turn it off immediately, as it could be hindering other running processes. 

Disable Proxy settings on Google Chrome

  1. Open the Chrome browser and launch the Settings tab, with the help of this line:

chrome://settings/

  1. Navigate to the System section and click on the Open proxy settings option.
  2. If you are a Windows user, select LAN settings and uncheck Use proxy server for LAN
  3. If you use Mac, un-select the proxy protocols.

Now, check if the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT issue is fixed.

Alter the Windows Hosts file to whitelist IP addresses

  1. Open the Notepad app, by searching for it and selecting Run as administrator in the search results.
  2. In the Notepad window, click on the File menu on the left side of the menu bar. 
  3. Select Open and go into this directory in the browse window:

C:/ Windows/ System32 /drivers /etc /hosts file

The Windows Hosts file with the directory
  1. Find the 

     # 127.0.0.1 localhost 

  # ::1            localhost line in the script and delete the IP address after it. 

  1. Save the file and close the window.

Deactivate the Windows Firewall and the third-party Antivirus Software for a while

Every system has a Windows Firewall and is recommended to have antivirus software for maximum security and protection from threats like malware attacks.

Since the internet is one of the biggest sources of viruses on your computer, the firewall and antivirus scan everything that is added to your computer from the internet. If some websites are considered shady, these websites are blocked by them automatically. 

Sometimes, these can be mistaken and they can add a good website to the block list. You cannot access these websites until they are whitelisted again. If you are trying to access one such site, there are chances for you to see the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error. 

Try disabling them and see if this fixes this issue. You can disable the Windows firewall in the Update & Security settings (Windows Settings application). If you can access your third-party antivirus in the task tray, you can disable it there for preset periods.

Preventing the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT issue on your browser

Since this issue can be recurring, some precautions should be taken to avoid it. These are what you have to do to avoid this error on your web browser. These steps must be done regularly to avoid seeing this error message.

  1. Run system scans regularly and ensures that every software is up to date, especially your antivirus.
  2. Refresh the DNS cache and keep changing your IP address.
  3. Clear the browser data with no exceptions.

Everything has to be done after you fix the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT issue