If your WordPress website fails to load over a secure connection due to an fault such as ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR and then you lot're in the right place. In this article, we'll explain what this blazon of error means and walk you through the steps needed to fix it to become your site support and running!

This fault can exist acquired by diverse problems with your website server or your local computer, or even a combination of both. It's commonly experienced in Chrome, but it can vary based on the browser you're using.

  • What is a Secure Connection Anyway?
  • Taking Stock of Your Site
  • Solutions to ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR

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Check Out Our Video Guide to Fixing SSL Connection Errors

Google Chrome

In Google Chrome this error volition show as ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR and will say that the domain sent an invalid response.

This site can't provide a secure connexion.

ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR in Chrome
ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR in Chrome

Microsoft Edge

In Microsoft Edge, it will simply bear witness as "Can't connect securely to this page" (equally seen below). However, the next part of the error is what is helpful.

This might be because the site uses outdated or unsafe TLS security settings. If this keeps happening, try contacting the website'south owner.

ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR in Microsoft Edge
ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR in Microsoft Edge

Mozilla Firefox

In Mozilla Firefox ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR triggers a alert about the failed secure connection equally seen below.

Warning: Potential Security Chance Ahead

ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR in Firefox
ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR in Mozilla Firefox

Unlike Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, the Firefox mistake page offers a piffling more than information virtually possible courses of action should this type of error occur.

What is a Secure Connection Anyway?

If y'all're wondering what a webpage loading over secure connection is, then a little background information may exist helpful.

Y'all may take noticed that website addresses typically begin with HTTP or HTTPS. These are called protocols which are basically a prepare of rules for determining how spider web pages are transmitted from the server (where your website is located) to the browser. HTTPS is a secure protocol based on HTTP and is widely used equally it has a number of significant advantages including improved SEO and a high level of security.

A downside to using HTTPS is that in that location are strict rules in place that need to be adhered to before a secure webpage tin can exist displayed. This means that in that location's more that can potentially go wrong compared to not-secure HTTP connections.

Ane of these requirements needed to make a website piece of work with an HTTPS connectedness is that yous must have a valid SSL document installed and configured correctly. Invalid SSL certifications can cause problems preventing users from accessing websites. For example, the "Your Connection is Not Individual" error.

When your SSL certificate is working properly and then a padlock icon is displayed next to the website accost in the browser window. If yous click on the padlock a popup window displays a confirmation observe that the website has been loaded over a secure connection and whatsoever information sent to the server from your website (east.g. grade submissions) will as well be transmitted securely.

Secure connection
Secure connection

Most website visitors these days have come up to expect HTTPS connections over the entire site. Long gone are the days when the only secure pages on your site were express and specific areas such as the admin, login, and shopping cart.

Traditionally, information technology was deemed unnecessary (and overkill) to apply a secure connection site-wide in-part due to the prohibitive expense of SSL certificates. All that has changed now though with free SSL certificates existence readily available, so HTTPS has get standard practice.

Taking Stock of Your Site

Before nosotros take a look at some of the possible underlying root causes of ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR, it would exist useful for y'all to take a moment and recall any contempo changes that may have been made to your site.

Usually, once you take a secure connection up and running it'south pretty stable. And almost of the time, issues occur when something has been inverse either on the server side for existing websites, or when setting upwards your site for the first time. If the requested site does not be, you tin can expect to come across the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN mistake.

Have you recently inverse hosts or tried to install a new SSL certificate? This is the nigh common reason for this fault to occur.

Being aware of recent site changes may give yous a stiff indication of what could be causing the secure connection issue.

Solutions to ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR

Work through the solutions in the following sections one-past-one until your secure connexion error is fixed.

This type of mistake can occur locally, or on the server, and so some steps focus on your local figurer/browser settings, while other steps consider problems related to the server setup and how the SSL certificate has been configured.

Clear SSL State

The start thing to effort is clearing the SSL land in Chrome. The browser stores SSL certificates in a cache to speed up subsequent connections once an initial secure connection has been made to a website.

This is to optimize page load times equally otherwise, every HTTPS asking would require the SSL certificate to be downloaded and authenticated which wouldn't be bully for functioning.

When migrating a website to Kinsta, bug may arise when the DNS settings have been updated to indicate at Kinsta servers and the free SSL certificate from Allow'south Encrypt has been installed.

After the DNS settings accept propagated and the site is accessed in a browser a secure connection, the mistake tin sometimes exist displayed due to the browser cache storing an outdated version of the SSL certificate.

To fix this, try immigration the SSL country cache. In one case done restart your browser and effort connecting to your website again.

If you're using macOS see these instructions on how to delete an SSL certificate.

Verify SSL Document

A similar issue occurs when an SSL document is generated but the DNS settings haven't fully propagated all the same. In this case, the SSL document won't be associated with the correct domain at the time of creation.

If you're a Kinsta client, you can check if your SSL certificate is installed past visiting the MyKinsta dashboard and making sure there is a green checkmark next to the certificate settings.

SSL certificate properly installed
SSL certificate properly installed

You can also perform a site-broad scan with an online SSL checker tool to verify that there are no issues with your SSL document. This type of check is pretty reliable and bypasses your browser cache to determine if the certificate is valid.

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We recommend using the SSL check tool from Qualys SSL Labs which is the ane nosotros use internally at Kinsta.

SSL Server Test
SSL Server Exam

Simply enter your domain into the Hostname field and click on the Submit button. Once the scan is consummate a report is displayed with the results of the SSL certificate checks. If all is well you should run into something like this:

SSL Report Qualys
SSL Study Qualys

Y'all tin can observe more in-depth data on how to check your SSL certificate is working properly hither.

Bank check the System Time and Appointment

If the SSL certificate is valid and clearing SSL state doesn't work, then it'south time to expect at your local computer to identify the source of your ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR.

(Suggested reading: if you're using legacy TLS versions, you might want to prevent ERR_SSL_OBSOLETE_VERSION Notifications in Chrome).

Beginning, check whether the operating organisation time and date are set correctly otherwise your SSL certificate may have problems beingness authenticated.

This is because SSL certificates have a stock-still death date and, if your current system time and date aren't right, and so information technology may disharmonize with the authentication process.

A valid time and date is always assumed when a secure connection is made, which is why information technology's important to make sure the correct value is retrieved from your local system.

To cheque the time and date in Windows 10, press the Windows Primal + X keys and select System from the popup context menu. This will bring up the Settings window.

In the Observe a setting text box, start typing "time" and select Change the engagement and time from the dropdown options. So, in the Appointment and fourth dimension settings window check the time and date are right earlier continuing.

Date and time preferences in Windows 10
Date and fourth dimension preferences in Windows 10

On macOS, click the Apple tree icon in the top left corner of the screen and select System Preferences from the drop-downward menu, and select Engagement and Time from the listing.

System preferences in macOS
Arrangement preferences in macOS

You'll then be able to update your system fourth dimension as necessary.

Clear Browser Enshroud and Cookies

You can too try deleting your browser cache if information technology's been a while since information technology was last cleared. We recommend that you also delete browser cookies too, just bear in mind that whatsoever sites you're currently logged into will require you to log in over again the next time you visit them.

Disable Browser Extensions

If y'all take multiple browser extensions enabled, so this could potentially be the source of the fault. Temporarily disable browser extensions 1-by-one to see if there's one causing issues with HTTPS requests.

To disable Chrome extensions, click the iii dots icon located towards the peak correct of the browser window and select More Tools > Extensions from the popup carte du jour.

Chrome extensions window
Chrome extensions window

Toggle all the enabled browser extensions one at a time to disable them, accessing your site in-between each one. If an extension appears to be causing the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR result, then either remove it or leave it disabled until you tin can discover out more data on the nature of the fault.

If no update is available to prepare the effect, it'southward probably best to remove the extension completely.

Update Browsers to Latest Version

The concluding browser-related footstep is to update Chrome to its latest version.

Running older versions of a browser increases the chances that you'll experience secure connection problems such as ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR.

New and updated security features are always added to modern browsers and bugs are fixed on a regular footing and keeping things upwards-to-appointment is a best practice y'all should follow.

The Chrome browser makes this easier as it checks for updates automatically every fourth dimension you launch the software. Even so, if you continue browser tabs always open, then you should call up to restart
the browser from time to time to trigger update checks.

Update Your Operating System

Keeping your operating system up-to-date is important also, especially if it's been some fourth dimension since the terminal update.

If you have automated updates turned on for Windows x, then you don't demand to worry near this so much. Only not all operating systems apply updates automatically and then it's worth checking if there are any bachelor for your Operating Organisation.

On macOS click the apple tree icon and select Almost This Mac which will open a tabbed window:

About this Mac
Near this Mac

If a system update is available you'll see a Software Update button. Click this to install the latest updates. You lot can also check for macOS updates via the App Shop only like you would for whatsoever other app.

If you're faced with a lengthy operating system update, you might want to only reboot your figurer earlier running it as a quick workaround. This is much quicker than installing full operating arrangement updates and could potentially solve the secure connexion upshot.

Temporarily Disable Antivirus and Firewall

It's very of import to have an antivirus and firewall software agile on your organization. These tools do a dandy job of protecting yous from all sorts of online security issues.

Equally part of this protection, your antivirus software usually checks for problems with HTTPS connections to make sure nothing unexpected is happening. Sometimes, though, the software might incorrectly block a secure connection when it shouldn't.

To check this isn't the case, temporarily disable it and check your website once again. If necessary, disable your firewall as well and check your website again.

Remember to always re-actuate your antivirus software and firewall equally soon as possible as y'all don't want to leave your system unprotected.

Check Server Log for Error Messages

If you lot've reached this stage and all the same haven't resolved the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR issue, things might be a bit more complicated than what nosotros thought in the kickoff.

To help place general website issues, including connexion errors, it can often assistance to check your server log and take a look at recent activity. This may well give more insight into what's causing the issue.

Server log
Server log

If Everything Else Fails

If you lot still can't find what's causing the issue so it's time to allow the states know. We're here to help every bit always!

We'll demand to look deeper into what'south causing the issue so please contact back up with every bit much relevant data as possible to get this effect resolved apace.


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