Does the error “ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT” appear on Chrome? Let’s see together what it means and if it can be solved
If on our browser we see appear error “ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT” we don’t have to worry immediately, as in most cases this problem is caused by the website we were opening at the time. The “ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT” error occurs when the web server takes too long to load the contents of the site, sending the browser to time out (usually when more than 2 minutes pass from the request for the page).
Although most of the time this error is the fault of the site we tried to open, sometimes it can derive from a problem with our connection, especially if it shows up very often and on different sites (certainly working).
In the following guide, we will show you how to fix the “ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT” error on Chrome, in order to exclude any problems with our connection or on the settings on the browser at that precise moment. If the error persists even after making all the necessary adjustments, the problem is to be limited only to the server visited at that time.
READ ALSO -> If the PC is not connected to the internet, how to reset the network and web browsing
Modificare i DNS on Chrome
First, we can try to solve the “ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT” error by changing the DNS used on Chrome, using (instead of classic DNS) the secure DNS that can be selected directly from within the browser settings.
To proceed, press the menu with the three dots at the top right, click on the menu Settings press on the menu Privacy and security we open the menu Safety let’s scroll down the page to the section Use secure DNS and activate the switch next to it.
After activation we press on the item Con and select the preferred DNS provider (Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 o Google Public DNS); at the end of the changes, we restart the browser (closing it and reopening it) and try to access the web page that generated the error again.
If secure DNS was already active on our browser, let’s try to change the DNS service or turn off secure DNS momentarily, so as to be able to verify if the offending site resumes functioning correctly. After the test, make sure to restore the secure DNS, as often the problem with this type of DNS is only temporary.
Disable the proxy server
Another cause of the “ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT” error on Chrome is the presence of a proxy server configured on the system that prevents access to specific sites. If we have an active proxy on our computer we can disable it by opening the Start menu, typing Proxy settings opening the first item that appears in the search, and pressing the key Sets up present in the section Manual proxy configuration.
If there is any proxy, we disable the switch Usa server proxy and we delete the settings in the window. If we do not know how to disable the proxy on Windows or the browser, please read our guide on how to set up a proxy.
Disable the VPN connection
If a VPN connection is active on our computer, it could be responsible for the “ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT” error on Chrome, especially if the chosen VPN service adopts web page filtering systems or advertising filters. In this case, we can restore access to the site by opening the client app of the VPN service in use and interrupting the VPN connection; for safety, we recommend that you close the client app completely, so as to prevent any automatic reconnections.
In case the VPN connection is configured directly inside Windows, we can quickly deactivate it by opening the menu Settings by clicking on the menu VPN, and turning off the switch next to the active VPN at that precise moment.
Check antivirus and firewall
Antivirus and firewall may also be responsible for the “ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT” error on Chrome, particularly if we are using a security suite equipped with web page control and automatic blocking of suspicious Internet connections.
To proceed, we press the icon of the third-party antivirus or firewall in use at that time and disable the functions relating to monitoring web pages, VPN connections, or the firewall, thus leaving only the “simple” antivirus (the resident scan module, never to be deactivated). After disabling the superfluous modules we try to access the blocked site to see if the error still appears.
Restore the network connection
If all the previous tricks have not worked we can proceed with restoring the network connection directly from the Windows 10 or Windows 11 menus, so as to exclude once and for all problems on our connection.
To restore the connection on Windows 11, right-click on the Start menu, press the menu Settings to click on the menu Network and Internet let’s get to the menu Advanced network settings click on Network reset, and finally press the button Reset.
To restore the connection on Windows 10 let’s take the path Settings -> Network and Internet -> Statuswe press on the item Network reset and press the button Reset to start the procedure for restoring the connections on the computer.
Conclusions
Error “ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT” su Chrome it almost certainly appears due to a server-side problem and hardly concerns our browser, our PC, and our connection. However, if the site we were trying to open is perfectly accessible from another browser, from another PC, from a phone or tablet, we can try the methods seen in this guide to try to restore access to the site that generates the problem; in most cases, it is VPN connections and proxies that are responsible but let’s not underestimate the impact that DNS servers and security suites can have.
If we have other connection problems on your computer we suggest you read our guides on how to fix the “Cannot connect to this network” error or what to do if the DNS is not responding.