ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED means your browser reached the server's address, but the server actively rejected the connection. Imagine knocking on a door and someone opens it just to slam it shut — that is a refused connection. This is different from no one answering at all (a timeout). The server is online, but it is not accepting your request.

Affected Models

Google Chrome
Microsoft Edge
Firefox
Safari
All major browsers
Windows
macOS
Linux

Common Causes

The website's server is down or undergoing maintenance
A firewall (on your computer or the server) is blocking the connection
The website is using a non-standard port and your browser is trying the wrong one
Your IP address has been blocked by the website's server
A proxy or VPN is routing your traffic in a way the server rejects

How to Fix It

Try visiting the website on a different device or using a different network (such as your phone's mobile data). If it works elsewhere, the issue is on your end.

This quickly tells you whether the server is down for everyone or just for you.
Restart your router and modem. Unplug both, wait 30 seconds, and plug them back in. Wait 2 minutes, then try again.

A router restart clears cached connections and often resolves temporary network issues.
Disable any proxy settings. In Chrome, go to Settings > System > Open your computer's proxy settings. Make sure 'Use a proxy server' is turned off.

A misconfigured proxy can cause all connections to be refused.
Temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus and test the connection. On Windows, go to Settings > Windows Security > Firewall & network protection and turn it off briefly.

Re-enable your firewall immediately after testing. If this fixes it, add the site as an exception.
Clear your browser's cache and cookies. In Chrome, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete, select 'All time', check Cookies and Cached images, and click Clear data.

Corrupted cached data can sometimes interfere with new connection attempts.

When to Call a Professional

If you are running a web server yourself and seeing this error, check that the server software (Apache, Nginx, IIS) is running and that no firewall rules are blocking port 80 or 443. For a website you are visiting, contact the site's support team if the problem persists.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between connection refused and connection timed out?

They are two different types of failure. Connection refused means the server received your request and said 'no'. Connection timed out means your request was sent but nothing responded — the server may be down or unreachable. Refused is usually faster to diagnose because the server is at least reachable.

Could my IP address be blocked?

Yes. Websites can block specific IP addresses — for example, if too many requests came from your address, or if your IP was flagged for suspicious activity. Try connecting through a VPN or restarting your router to get a new IP address from your ISP. If you are on a shared network (office, school), the whole network's IP may be blocked.

Does this mean the website is down?

It could mean the server is down, but not always. The server might be running but its web service (the part that serves web pages) has stopped. Or a specific port is blocked. Check a site like downdetector.com to see if others are reporting the same problem.