ERR_CONNECTION_RESET — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

ERR_CONNECTION_RESET means a connection was started between your browser and the server, but then abruptly cut off before anything could load. Imagine someone answering a phone call and then immediately hanging up without saying anything. The connection was made, but it was reset — forcibly closed — before any data was exchanged.

Affected Models

Google Chrome
Microsoft Edge
Firefox
All major browsers
Windows
macOS
Android

Common Causes

Your antivirus or firewall interrupted the connection mid-handshake
Your internet connection dropped momentarily while the page was loading
The website's server sent a TCP reset packet due to an internal error
A misconfigured proxy or VPN is interfering with the connection
Your network adapter settings or TCP/IP stack have a software glitch

How to Fix It

Refresh the page with Ctrl+F5 (a hard refresh). This forces Chrome to make a completely fresh connection instead of using cached data.

A one-off reset is often just a fluke. A hard refresh usually fixes it.
Disable any VPN or proxy you are using and reload the page. VPNs and proxies sit between you and the server and can reset connections unexpectedly.

If the page loads without the VPN, the VPN client is the source of the problem.
Temporarily disable your antivirus real-time protection and reload the page. Some antivirus tools scan web traffic and can accidentally reset connections.

Re-enable your antivirus right after testing. If this fixes it, look for a web-shield exclusion setting.
Reset your network settings. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run: netsh winsock reset, then netsh int tcp reset. Restart your computer.

This repairs the underlying network communication layer without affecting your other files or settings.
Update your network adapter driver. Open Device Manager (press Windows+X and select it), expand Network Adapters, right-click your adapter, and choose 'Update driver'.

An outdated or buggy network driver can cause erratic connection behavior including resets.

When to Call a Professional

If the error happens consistently on all websites, your TCP/IP network stack may need resetting. A tech-savvy friend or IT professional can run the necessary repair commands. If it only happens on one specific site, contact that site's support team.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a reset and a refused connection?

A refused connection means the server denied your request before a connection was established. A reset connection means the connection started successfully, but then was forcibly closed. Reset errors often happen because something in the middle — like your antivirus or a proxy — interrupted the ongoing communication.

Can my antivirus really cause this?

Yes — this is actually one of the most common causes. Many antivirus programs include a 'web shield' that scans traffic as it passes through. If the shield cannot properly inspect the traffic (especially on HTTPS sites), it may reset the connection. Check your antivirus settings for a web traffic scanning option and try disabling it.

The error only happens on one website. Is the site broken?

It could be. If only one site triggers this error, the problem may be on the server side — the server may be misconfigured or overloaded. Try the site on a different device or network to confirm. If it fails everywhere, contact the website's support team.