Chrome ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED means Chrome tried to connect to the website but the server actively refused the request. Think of it like knocking on a door and having someone slam it shut from the inside. This can mean the website is down, your network has a problem, or a firewall is blocking the connection.

Affected Models

Google Chrome on Windows
Google Chrome on Mac
Google Chrome on Linux
Google Chrome on Android

Common Causes

The website's server is down or temporarily offline
Your firewall or antivirus software is blocking the connection
A VPN or proxy is routing traffic incorrectly
Your DNS settings are outdated or pointing to a wrong address
Chrome's saved cache has a stale or incorrect address for the site

How to Fix It

Check if the website is down for everyone. Go to downdetector.com or isitdownrightnow.com and search for the site.

If the site is down for everyone, just wait. There is nothing you can do on your end.
Restart your router. Unplug it, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Wait for it to fully reconnect before trying again.

A stuck connection in your router is a surprisingly common cause of this error.
Flush your DNS cache. On Windows, open Command Prompt and type: ipconfig /flushdns then press Enter.

Your computer caches DNS lookups. Flushing it forces a fresh lookup for the site's address.
Disable your VPN or proxy if you have one active, then try loading the page again.

VPNs sometimes route traffic through servers that have been blocked by certain websites.
Temporarily disable your antivirus or firewall and try again. If it loads, add the site to your software's allow list.

Security software can sometimes block legitimate sites by mistake. Re-enable your protection after testing.

When to Call a Professional

If this error only appears on one site, that site is likely down — no action needed on your end. If this happens on many sites, your internet provider may have a DNS or routing issue. Call your ISP if restarting your router and flushing DNS does not help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED dangerous?

No — it is not harmful to your computer. It simply means Chrome could not establish a connection to a server. Your data is not at risk from this error. It is a connectivity problem, not a security threat.

Why does ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED only happen on one website?

That usually means the specific server for that site refused your connection. The site may be temporarily down, under maintenance, or blocking traffic from your region. Try again later or check if it works through a VPN in a different country.

Can changing my DNS settings fix this?

Yes, sometimes. Your Internet Service Provider's default DNS can have issues. Try switching to Google's public DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare's DNS (1.1.1.1). You can change DNS in your Windows network settings or router settings.