Skip to content
FixingBook
Sign In
Verifiedbeginnerest. 15 minutes

Fix ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED in Google Chrome

Resolve connection refused errors in Google Chrome by resetting network settings and checking firewalls.

ChromeNetworkError

Confirmed working on: Windows 10 · Windows 11

Before you begin

Match the environmentUse this guide only for Windows 10, Windows 11 or a clearly compatible setup.
Protect recoveryBack up important data and save encryption or account recovery keys before changing system state.
Know when to stopMake one change at a time and stop if the result differs from what the guide describes.

Problem overview

Google Chrome displays the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error when your browser attempts to connect to a website but the connection is actively blocked or rejected. This prevents the page from loading completely.

Common causes

  • Misconfigured network settings or corrupt DNS cache
  • A VPN or proxy server rejecting the connection
  • Windows Firewall blocking Google Chrome
  • The target website server is temporarily down

Solution 1: Flush DNS and reset network

Flushing your DNS cache and resetting the TCP/IP stack often resolves connection errors.

  1. Press the Windows key, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
  2. Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
  3. Type netsh winsock reset and press Enter.
  4. Type netsh int ip reset and press Enter.
  5. Restart your computer and check Chrome.
Expert Tip

If the site still won’t load, try accessing it on a mobile device on the same Wi-Fi network to see if the site itself is down.

Solution 2: Disable VPN or proxy server

Incorrect proxy settings or an active VPN can block browser traffic.

  1. Open Settings by pressing Win + I.
  2. Navigate to Network & internet > Proxy.
  3. Under Manual proxy setup, turn off Use a proxy server.
  4. Disconnect any active VPN applications you have running.
  5. Restart Chrome and test the connection.

Solution 3: Check Windows Firewall

Ensure your firewall is not blocking Chrome from accessing the internet.

  1. Open the Start menu, type firewall.cpl, and press Enter to open Windows Defender Firewall.
  2. Click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall on the left.
  3. Click Change settings (requires administrator privileges).
  4. Find Google Chrome in the list and ensure both Private and Public checkboxes are ticked.
  5. Click OK to save the changes.

Confirm the result

  1. Repeat the exact action that originally triggered the problem.
  2. Confirm the original error or symptom is gone and no new warning has appeared.
  3. If the guide changed a driver, service, package, or system setting, restart once and test again.
  4. If the result is worse or unexpected, stop. Reverse only the last change using its documented restore option; if none is documented, use your backup or qualified support.

Questions about this fix

Does ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED mean the site is down?

It can mean the site's server is down, but often it's a local network configuration issue.

Will flushing DNS delete my history?

No, flushing DNS only resets network address cache, keeping your browsing history intact.

Did this fix work for you?

Weighted Consensus Protocol

Consensus0%
Required100% (Weight 3)
Contributors0
Verified By YouNo
Your Weight--

Did this solution resolve your issue?

Confirming if this works strengthens verification statistics on the registry.

Sign In to VerifySign in required to verify

FixingTeam10,000 rep

Official Project Maintainers

The core engineering and moderation team behind FixingBook. We curate, verify, and maintain the standards of the troubleshooting ledger.

Spotted something outdated? Suggest an edit. Maintainers review submissions within 48 hours.
Share:XReddit

Discussion (0)

No comments yet. Share your experience or verify if this fixed your issue!

Join the Discussion