Solved: “Your Connection is Not Private” Error in Google Chrome

Experiencing “Your connection is not private” error on Google Chrome?  This error usually means Chrome browser cannot establish a secure connection to the website, due to issues with the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate. SSL certificates are critical for encrypting data exchanged between the website and the user, ensuring security and privacy. Expired, misconfigured, or untrusted SSL certificates, incorrect system date and time settings, or interference from network configurations are some of the common reasons behind this error. This article explores a few effective methods to fix Your Connection is Not Private error to ensure secure and uninterrupted browsing experience.

Your connection is not private chrome

Your Connection is Not Private or NET:: ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID error usually occur because of the SSL error. SSL (secure sockets layer) is used by Websites to keep all the information you enter on their pages private and secure.

• Invalid or Expired SSL Certificate: The website’s certificate is outdated or improperly configured.
• Incorrect Date and Time Settings: SSL certificates depend on accurate system time for validation.
• Outdated Browser or OS: Using outdated versions of Chrome or Windows can trigger SSL issues.
• Interference from Security Software: Antivirus programs may block legitimate SSL certificates.
• Public Wi-Fi Networks: Unsecure or misconfigured public networks can disrupt SSL connections.

Check Your System’s Date and Time Settings

SSL certificates rely on accurate system time. If your system clock is incorrect, Chrome may fail to verify the certificate.

• Right-click on the clock in the taskbar and select Adjust date/time.
• Turn on Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically.
• Restart Chrome and check if the error persists.

If automatic settings don’t work, manually set the date and time to match your region.

Clear Chrome’s Cache and Cookies

Again Corrupt or outdated browser data can lead to SSL errors. Clearing the cache and cookies often resolves the issue sometimes.

• Open Chrome and go to the three-dot menu > Settings.
• Navigate to Privacy and Security > Clear browsing data.
• Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
• Click Clear data and restart Chrome.

Use Chrome’s Incognito Mode

Incognito Mode disables extensions and uses fresh browsing data, which can help bypass SSL errors caused by cached data or problematic extensions.

• Press Ctrl + Shift + N to open an Incognito window.
• Visit the website and check if the error persists.

Note: If the error disappears, one of your extensions might be causing the problem.

Disable Problematic Extensions

Browser extensions, especially those related to security or ad-blocking, can interfere with SSL certificates.

• Open Chrome and go to the three-dot menu > More tools > Extensions.
• Disable all extensions by toggling the switch off.
• Restart Chrome and check the website.
• Re-enable extensions one by one to identify the problematic ones.

Disable Your Antivirus or Firewall Temporarily

Some antivirus or firewall programs interfere with SSL certificates, blocking secure connections. Temporarily disabling these tools can help diagnose the issue.

• Open your antivirus program.
• Look for a Web Protection or SSL Scanning feature and disable it.
• Restart Chrome and try accessing the website again.

If the issue is resolved, adjust your antivirus settings to whitelist Chrome or trusted websites.

Clear SSL Certificate Cache

• Press Windows + R type “inetcpl.cpl” and click ok,
• This will open Internet Properties.
• Switch to the Content tab,
• Then click on Clear SSL state Now click Apply followed by OK.
• Reboot your PC to take effect the changes,
• Now open Chrome browser and check there are no more errors.

Update Google Chrome

Running an outdated version of Chrome can lead to compatibility issues with SSL certificates.

• Open Chrome and go to the three-dot menu > Settings.
• Click About Chrome in the left-hand menu.
• Chrome will automatically check for updates. If updates are available, install them.
• Restart the browser and check if the error is resolved.

Flush DNS and Renew IP

Network issues can also cause SSL errors. Resetting your DNS and IP settings can fix this.

• Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt as Administrator.
• Type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
  • ipconfig /flushdns
  • ipconfig /renew
• Restart your PC and check Chrome again.

Again Public Wi-Fi or misconfigured networks can block secure connections. Switching to a private, secure network or using a VPN might resolve the issue.

Expired SSL Certificates: In some cases, the owner of the website forgot to renew the SSL certificate, you will get this error when visiting it. In this case, there is nothing you can do to get rid of it, except notify to website owner, as well as bypass it by clicking on the “Proceed” link.

Invalid SSL Certificate Setup: If the website owner sets up an SSL certificate in the wrong way, there is no way to access the HTTPS version correctly. Subsequently, you always get this error every time you access that website.

Firewall Error: Windows firewall blocked some websites for invalid certificates or SSL errors. In this case, you need to avoid open this type of site, and if it’s important, to disable your firewall and open it.

Fix For Android Or iOS Device

Basically, if the “Your connection is not private” error is appearing in your mobile devices, such as an Android or iOS smartphone or tablet, then it’s caused by the above causes.

The first thing to do is check and make sure the date & time on your mobile device is correct. If you have recently installed any new security software, I would recommend disabling them.

If you can visit the same HTTPS website with other browsers on your mobile devices, such as Firefox or Opera – then something just happened to your Google Chrome browser. You should try to remove all cookies, history, and cached files from your browser.

To remove all these files, go to Settings > Privacy > Clear Browsing Data > choose what you want to remove and then click on the “Clear Browsing Data” button. Sometimes, this method is worked with the desktop version too.