How to fix “ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT”. Step-by-Step Guide

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How to fix “ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT”. Step-by-Step Guide






How to Fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT: A Simple Guide

Learn the common causes of the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error, including internet connectivity issues, proxy settings, firewalls, or hosting problems. Follow step-by-step solutions like resetting your router, disabling proxies, clearing the browser cache, and using commands such as ipconfig /flushdns to troubleshoot efficiently. Website owners can address server-side issues by deactivating plugins or scripts. Use our free chatbot for help with resolving technical issues.

Key Takeaways:

  • Cause of ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT: Typically occurs due to issues with your internet connection, incorrect proxy settings, firewall interference, or hosting server problems.
  • Recommended Solutions: Check your internet connection, disable proxies, temporarily disable firewalls or antivirus, and clear your browser cache. For quick solutions, tools like EaseUS DriverHandy can help scan and fix PC driver issues. For website owners, deactivate new scripts or themes to resolve potential server-side issues.
  • Technical Tools: Use commands like ipconfig /flushdns and netsh winsock reset to renew your DNS cache and connections.

By following these recommendations, you can troubleshoot and resolve the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error swiftly and without causing further issues.

Step-by-Step Guide on Fixing the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT Error

The ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error is one of the common issues that can prevent you from accessing a website. Fortunately, this can usually be resolved with a few technical tweaks. Below is a detailed, step-by-step guide to fixing this error across different operating systems and scenarios.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

Before diving into complicated fixes, it’s essential to check whether your internet service is stable. Sometimes, the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT issue is just due to poor connectivity.

  • Windows and macOS Network Troubleshooting:
    • On Windows, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Network Troubleshooter.
    • On macOS, head over to System Preferences > Network and click on Assist me.
  • Check Your Router: Restart your modem or router. Simply disconnect the power supply, wait for 30 seconds, and then reconnect. Often, this fixes any connection inconsistencies.
  • Run Internet Speed Test: Try a quick speed test to check if your connection speed is adequate. If your speed is far slower than expected, that might be the underlying cause.

2. Disable Any Proxy Server Settings or VPN

Sometimes, incorrect proxy settings or conflicts from VPNs can cause this error. Ensure you’re not using a proxy or VPN that interferes with your connection.

  • On Windows:
    1. Open Control Panel > Network and Internet > Internet Options.
    2. Click on the Connections tab and then hit LAN Settings.
    3. Uncheck any proxy settings.
  • On macOS:
    1. Head to System Preferences > Network.
    2. Click on Advanced at the bottom of the window.
    3. Go to the Proxies tab and uncheck any proxy settings boxes.

    If you frequently use VPNs, consider switching to a reliable option like NordVPN to avoid conflicts that may cause connection errors.

Expert Tip:

If after disabling the proxy or VPN, you’re still facing issues, try switching to a different Wi-Fi network to rule out network-specific problems.

3. Disable Firewall and Antivirus Software (Temporarily)

Firewalls and antivirus programs can sometimes block your connection mistakenly. As a quick test, temporarily disabling these features might reveal the core issue.

  • On Windows:
    1. Open Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall.
    2. Click on Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
    3. Disable the firewall and check if the connection improves.
  • On macOS:
    1. Navigate to System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
    2. Click on Firewall and select Turn Off Firewall.

Expert Note:

Never leave your firewall or antivirus disabled for long periods. If these fix the issue, update or reconfigure the problematic app to avoid opening yourself up to security risks.

4. Check and Edit Your HOSTS File

A wrongly configured hosts file can block specific websites on your machine. Removing or correcting harmful entries in this file often resolves the error.

  • On Windows:
    1. Open Notepad as an administrator.
    2. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\.
    3. Open the hosts file and delete any entries that are blocking the IP you’re trying to reach.
    4. Save the file.
  • On macOS:
    1. Open Terminal, and use this command to access the hosts file: 
      sudo nano /private/etc/hosts
    2. Remove or comment out unchecked changes by adding a # in front of any problematic lines.

Expert Insight:

Anecdote: During one of my early troubleshooting days, a misconfigured hosts file blocked ALL secure (https) sites from loading. It wasn’t until I realized that I had manually edited the file for a local development project that I traced the issue. Always double-check your hosts file before resorting to more complex solutions.

5. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

Cached data can sometimes become corrupt and cause connection issues. Clearing your browser’s cache and cookies ensures that you’re loading fresh assets from the website’s server.

  • For Chrome Users:
    1. Open Settings > Privacy and Security and click Clear browsing data.
    2. Ensure Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data are checked.
    3. Clear data from All Time.

Alternatively, you can simply type chrome://settings/privacy in your browser’s address bar and click Clear browsing data.

6. Check for Slow Internet Connection

Even after clearing your cache, connection slowness could be at fault. Run another internet speed test and compare the results with your expected subscription speed.

7. Flush DNS Cache and Renew IP

Refreshing your DNS cache often fixes issues related to outdated or misconfigured DNS entries.

  • On Windows:
    1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
    2. Run the following commands one after the other: 
      ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh winsock reset
    3. Restart your computer.

8. Deactivate New Scripts or Plugins (For Website Owners)

If you recently added new scripts or plugins to your website and you suspect it might be causing the error, disable them and check again.

  • For WordPress Users:
    • Disable recent plugins or scripts and see if the site becomes accessible again.
    • Ensure you have a backup before deactivating any plugins to prevent data loss.

Visit WordPress support for more details on plugin management.

9. Temporarily Activate Default WordPress Theme

Sometimes, WordPress themes might conflict with other elements in your site and cause the site not to load.

  • For WordPress Admins:
    1. Log into your WordPress Admin Dashboard and switch to a default theme (such as Twenty Twenty).
    2. If you cannot access the admin page, you can change the theme via phpMyAdmin in your hosting control panel by updating the active theme manually in the wp_options table.

10. Upgrade Your Hosting Plan

Occasionally, the issue resides with server overload. If you run a website on shared hosting, another site might be hogging server resources, causing a timeout.

  • Advice: Contact your hosting provider or consider upgrading your hosting to a more powerful plan such as a VPS (Virtual Private Server) for your website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT?
A: This error occurs when your browser fails to establish a connection with the target website. It typically indicates a network issue either on your end or the server you’re attempting to reach.

Q: Does clearing my cache fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT?
A: Yes, clearing your cache can resolve the error if the issue stems from corrupt or outdated cached data.

Q: Will disabling the firewall harm my system?
A: Temporarily disabling your firewall can be useful for diagnosing connection issues. However, keeping it disabled long-term exposes your system to security threats, so only disable it temporarily.

Q: Can VPNs cause ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT errors?
A: Yes. Incorrect VPN configurations or limitations on the VPN server may block certain sites or delay connections, resulting in timeouts.

Q: How do I fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT on a mobile browser?
A: Begin by clearing your mobile browser’s cache and ensuring your internet connection is stable. If the issue persists, try switching to another network like mobile data or restarting your phone.

By following these steps, you should be able to diagnose and resolve the majority of ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT errors on your device or website.

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