If reloading the website, relaunching Chrome, or restarting your PC or Mac didn’t help, then working your way through the list of troubleshooting tips below should sort things out.
1. Check Website Status
1. Check Website Status
To rule out potential server-side issues, you must check the website’s status by running its URL through an online tool such as Downdetector or CurrentlyDown. If you receive a message indicating that the site is down for everyone, you must wait it out until the website comes back online. You could also notify the webmaster via email or social media to speed things up.
2. Clear DNS Cache
2. Clear DNS Cache
If the site is up for everyone else but not you, an obsolete DNS (Domain Name System) cache is the likely reason behind the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error. Deleting it should force your computer to update the website’s IP (Internet Protocol) address, which may have changed since the last time you accessed it. DNS cache-related issues can also result in the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG and ERR_CACHE_MISS errors in Chrome.
Clear DNS Cache in Windows
Clear DNS Cache in macOS
3. Change DNS Servers
3. Change DNS Servers
Spotty and unreliable DNS servers on the PC and Mac can also prevent Chrome from connecting to specific websites. To rule that out, you must switch to a popular public DNS service such as Google DNS.
Change DNS Servers on Windows
Change DNS Servers on macOS
4. Clear Chrome Cache
4. Clear Chrome Cache
An outdated Chrome cache can lead to data mismatches and, subsequently, site loading issues. If the DNS-related fixes didn’t help, you should try clearing it. Start by deleting the cache just for the site that displays the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error. In case that doesn’t fix the problem or the same error keeps appearing on multiple websites, go ahead and clear the entire browser cache.
Clear Cache for One Site Only
Clear the Full Browser Cache
5. Renew DHCP Lease
5. Renew DHCP Lease
If none of the fixes above helped, you must renew the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) lease on your computer. That involves requesting a fresh IP address from the network’s router.
Renew DHCP Lease on Windows
ipconfig /releaseipconfig /renew
Renew DHCP Lease on Mac
6. Disable VPN and Proxy Servers
6. Disable VPN and Proxy Servers
Do you use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) on your PC or Mac? It’s the best way to protect your privacy on the internet. However, VPNs also introduce connectivity-related issues, so disable yours and check if that helps. Additionally, you should disable any active proxy servers. Here’s how to check for and deactivate proxy servers on the PC and Mac.
7. Add Chrome to Firewall
7. Add Chrome to Firewall
Another ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error-related fix involves adding Google Chrome as an exception to the Windows or the macOS firewall—if it already isn’t.
Add Chrome to Firewall on Windows
Add Chrome to Firewall on macOS
8. Check Chrome Extensions
8. Check Chrome Extensions
Extensions help improve Chrome, but unoptimized add-ons also introduce connectivity issues. Identify and remove them.
9. Run Cleanup Tool (Windows Only)
9. Run Cleanup Tool (Windows Only)
The PC version of Google Chrome comes with a built-in tool that can identify and remove malicious extensions, browser hijackers, and other harmful software from your computer. If Chrome shows signs of performance-related issues besides displaying the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED message, you should try using it.
10. Reset Chrome
10. Reset Chrome
Do you still keep running into the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error in Chrome? Resetting the web browser should revert any corrupt configurations preventing it from working correctly.
Google Chrome: Connection Accepted
Google Chrome: Connection Accepted
The pointers above should’ve helped you resolve the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error in Google Chrome. Fixes such as resetting the DNS cache or renewing the DHCP lease work almost all the time, so don’t forget to run through them quickly should the problem recur. Just make it a point to check for server-side issues beforehand.
