How to fix ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR in Google Chrome

What is ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR

ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR is a browser problem that pops when there is difficulty in validating the SSL certificate on websites that you are trying to visit. SSL certificate is something a website owner acquires for money to merge from HTTP to HTTPS domain type for ensuring better security of data transmitted. You can clearly see if a website you visit has this certificate by looking at the icon before the domain name. If the certificate there is present, you will see an icon that looks like a gray or green lock. In most cases, your browser will write “This site can’t provide a secure connection” exactly when the SSL certificate failed to undergo validation. While there is no single reason for why this occurs, it is usually the conflict issue that got prompted by something. The list of culprits behind it can range from conflicting extensions, firewalls of third-party antimalware that blocks access to websites, over cached SSL state, and even incorrect time & date set on your PC – yes, that can be possible too! Below, you will find a list of solutions that might potentially work. Try each one of them until the issue gets finally resolved.

1. Set date & time to update automatically

Let’s start things off by making sure your system is set to the right time and date. Incorrect time and date parameters may cause the error to occur, as the server may reject data packets due to an incorrect time stamp. We recommend you check it using the following steps:

1. Press Windows key + I buttons and navigate to Time & language.
2. Then go to Date & time and enable the Set time automatically option.

If this does not solve the issue or your time and date were already set running correctly, move down to trying other solutions below.

2. Disable third-party antivirus

If you have a third-party antivirus installed on your PC, try to turn if off and check whether you can visit the page(s) again. Antimalware software is often equipped with its own firewall that can make access to certain websites harder or totally unreachable. In case everything works as it should after disabling the antivirus, then you have found the problem. If you plan to visit the website on a regular basis and do not want to be annoyed by the error, you should try and add the website to the antivirus whitelist. Otherwise, you may consider trying another less conflicting antivirus. Our advice is MalwareBytes – a trusted and talented group of experts constantly maintaining their software to combat both minor and global threats. It is now available for Windows 11 as well. You can download it now using the link below and try a 14-day trial of the ultimate antimalware experience for free.

Malwarebytes main window

Malwarebytes settings

Malwarebytes scan results

3. Disable Chrome Extensions

Some third-party extensions can be the reason for connection troubles with certain websites. We advise you to try and disable them for short time to check the difference. It would also be a good idea to clean up your browser from suspicious extensions – if you have many installed. You can do it using the following steps:

1. Open Chrome and click on the three-dot icon in the top right corner.
2. Hover your mouse over More tools and select Extensions.
3. Disable all the third-party extensions by clicking on the blue toggle.

If this helped, then it means one of the extensions you disabled was guilty. Try enabling each one by one while simultaneously checking how it affects the connection. This way, you will find the culprit.

4. Clear browser data

ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR can also be caused by overstuffed browser data like cache. Some browser elements memorized by Chrome after browsing various pages may cause conflicts while opening certain pages. Clearing up your browser data may not only resolve this issue but also increase browser performance and free up some space. Perform it via the instructions below:

1. Click on the three-dot icon in the top right corner, as we did above.
2. Go to More tools and choose Clear browsing data….
3. At the top, choose a time range. To delete everything, select All time.
4. Check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
5. Then click on Clear data.

Restart your browser and try to open the website again.

5. Disable QUIC protocol

A conflict if the server hosting the website is not properly configured to handle traffic from QUIC, which is a transport layer experimental network. Below, we will find out if it is enabled and turn it off in case it is.

1. Open your browser and copy-paste this chrome://flags/#enable-quic into the search line.
2. Then set Experimental QUIC protocol to being Disabled.

6. Clear Your SSL State

Many forums and guides also report clearing the so-called SSL State may help sort out the problem. This action will simply clear out the SSL cache that can in some cases hinder connection. It is easy to do with these steps below:

1. Type Internet Options into the search field next to Start Menu and open them up.
2. Then navigate to Content and click on Clear SSL state.

With this successfully done, you can now try to open the problematic website or websites again.

7. Enable all SLL/TLS Versions

This is the final step you can try on our list. Although we think the six methods above should already be enough to resolve ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR, we still decided to include this last one here. Visiting an SSL-enabled website means SSL/TLS protocols get engaged to communicate with servers. Quite rarely, but it may still sometimes be possible that the SSL/TLS version of the website you are attempting to open is no longer compatible with your browser version. Chrome does not permit old SSL/TLS protocols to operate by default as old protocols may be more susceptible to various breaches. While it is not recommended to adjust SLL/TLS settings for permanent use, you can still do it without being afraid of something. Here is how:

1. Open Internet Options as we already did before and navigate to Advanced.
2. Scroll down the list and make sure you have all TLS and SLL versions selected in checkboxes.
3. Click Apply to save changes.

After doing this, reboot your browser and try to open the webpage one time again. If you do not need to visit that website again, we recommend you put the settings back to how they were by default – due to security reasons we talked up above.

Summary

We hope you are satisfied with the results and no longer subject to facing the same error again. If there is anything else making your PC experience somehow uncomfortable or incomplete, feel free to browse the problem on our website for relevant instructions.