Loading...The most common reason you will see the “Your connection is not private” error in Chrome is that the browser couldn’t verify the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) security certificate of the website you are trying to reach.
However, this is not the only reason you might see this error. Sometimes, it directs you to check your computer and browser processes. Generally, the reasons for “Your connection is not private” might be categorized as SSL-related and non-SSL-related.
Let’s walk through the most common scenarios and possible solutions.
Issues with SSL certificate
The website you are trying to access has problems with the SSL certificate installed. In this case, Chrome typically displays a specific error code that points out a particular reason, such as ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID or ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID.
The best you can do is inform the website owner about a security warning and the error code so they can check their SSL certificate and quickly solve the error to establish a secure connection.
Also, before proceeding with machine/browser checks, you can determine whether the issue is indeed with the SSL certificate. We recommend checking the status of the certificate/domain using online SSL checkers, like https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/ or https://www.sslshopper.com/ssl-checker.html.
Issues with Chrome or your computer
There might be various reasons on your end why the “Your connection is not private” error appeared. Below are some steps you can do yourself to solve the issue:
- Reload the page
The error could appear due to a temporary issue with the website. - Check if your device is connected to a public Wi-Fi.
Public Wi-Fis aren’t considered safe, so your Windows Defender firewall may block your connection.
To check: Go to “Settings”> “Network & Internet” settings, then click on “Change connection” properties. Adjust if needed.
- Check the date and time set on your computer.
Please make sure the date and time on your computer are correct. If they are set incorrectly, SSL verification errors might occur.
To check: Right-click on the bottom right corner where the time and date are displayed > “Adjust date/time.” If the date and time are incorrect, change them.
- Try accessing the website in Incognito mode.
Browsing in Incognito mode is considered more private because cookies, browsing history, or any information entered are not saved on the device.
To open the Incognito mode: Click on vertical dots in the upper right corner and click on the “New Incognito window”. Also, you can use the Ctrl+Shift+N keyboard shortcut.
- Clear Your browsing data.
Clearing browsing history, cache, and cookies is recommended since these might cause SSL errors.
To clear browsing data: Whilst in Chrome, go to “Settings” > “Privacy and security” > “Delete browsing data.”
- Check your antivirus software.
Antivirus software and firewalls may block SSL connections. Try disabling the antivirus and/or firewall but remember to enable it once you finish browsing. - Check for Chrome updates.
If your device’s operating system is outdated, there might be a risk that it doesn’t authenticate websites and SSL certificates correctly.
To check your system updates: Click on “Start” > “Settings” > “Update & Security” > “Windows Update,” select “Check for updates,” and install pending updates if such are available.
- Update your operating system.
Select Start Settings Windows Update > select Check for Windows updates.
If any updates are available for you, select Download & install. Your device will download and install the updates. If prompted to do so, restart your device to apply the updates.
As a last resort, if you believe that the website you wish to access is 100% trustworthy, you can bypass the error on Chrome by clicking the “Advanced” button on the error page. Please proceed with caution and remember not to leave any personal information or perform transactions on the website since your connection, unfortunately, is not secure.
A reminder that commands in different operating systems may vary or may not be available at all.
