The error ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED stops you from using your browser while you are trying to surf the web. It most likely happens when something is wrong with the server. It could also occur due to browser cache issues. Sometimes it could mean that something more serious has gone wrong.

However, there are a couple of solutions for you to fix this issue. This guide will discuss what this issue is, its causes, and five possible ways to fix it.

What is ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED?

ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED occurs when you try to visit a website using Google Chrome or some other browser. Once it occurs, and an error message will show up on your screen. The error message differs depending on the browser you are using.

On Google Chrome, the error message reads;

“This site can’t be reached or This webpage is not available.” On Mozilla Firefox, “Firefox can’t establish a connection to the server at domain.com.”

On Microsoft Edge, “Make sure you’ve got the right web address: domain.com.”

Usually, this issue is not something serious. But sometimes something might be wrong. Once you get a message like this on your screen, you need to fix it immediately. To fix it, you need to check out the guide below.

What Causes this Error ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED 

This error may occur due to several reasons. And I have listed a couple of them below. They include:

• Incorrect firewall or server settings
• Malware attack
• An unexpected downtime
• Expired browser caches
• DNS issues

However, no matter what caused this issue, you should fix it by following the guide in the next section.

How to Fix this ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED Issue

The first thing you need to do when you encounter this issue is to rule out that the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error happened because of the contacted web server. First of all, you have to check if the website is just offline, displaying the Chrome 102 error instead of the usual messages like an HTTP 503 message. You can check the website’s status in two ways: the first way is to try and access other sites.

If you succeed without the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error message, it means that the issue is a server-side problem on the actual target page. A second method is to use the web tool Down For Everyone Or Just Me? To can use this tool by entering the web address of the non-functioning webpage and starting a quick check by clicking on “or just me?” to check the general functionality of the page. Wait for a few seconds. 

You will get a result saying: the website is offline (“down”) or online (“up”). Down for Everyone or Just Me does not just show the website’s status, but also a list of existing reviews and information about the respective hosting provider. 

Solution 1 – Restarting the router

This is an excellent solution for fixing various errors on the internet. Most times, restarting the network device that connects you to the internet may have low chances of success, but it is what to try. Since this solution only takes a few minutes, you should perform it first when this ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error message appears. 

• Step 1: – You should disconnect the power supply by unplugging the router from the power source. 
• Step 2: – Wait for about 30 seconds before reconnecting the plug. 
• Step 3: – Once the router boots up again, you should try accessing the target website again with your browser. If the connection problem continues, there must be another cause.

If, after trying these steps, you were not able to resolve the problem, you need to move down to the solutions below.

Solution 2 – Clearing Browser Cache

Just like other internet browsers, Chrome also stores a lot of information in the program’s cache. This information includes cookies, the history of visited websites, or static content like images or log-in data. All these are recorded in the cache in order to load the corresponding pages faster the next time you access them. However, you may encounter problems if these cache states are outdated. When this happens, they will no longer match the latest version of the contacted website.

A possible solution to fix the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error message in Chrome is clearing the Google Chrome’s browser cache. You can access the menu needed to achieve in two ways:

• Step 1: – Click on the three-point symbol in the browser’s menu bar and then select “more tools” and click on “delete browser data.” 
• Step 2: – Access the address chrome://settings/clearBrowserData on the Chrome address line.
• Step 3: – In both cases, you can go directly to the browser cache menu, where you can get rid of the cache files with a single click on the “DELETE DATA” button. Please ensure that all listed file categories, and the option “total time” (under “period”), are selected. If not, Chrome will not empty the entire cache. It will only empty certain files and the cache from the last couple of hours or days.
• Step 4: – After clearing the Chrome cache, some websites may take longer to build than usual. But you should have fixed the “ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED” error message on your Windows 10 computer.

If, after trying these steps, you were not able to resolve the problem, you need to move down to the solutions below.

Solution 3 – Check proxy settings and adjust them if necessary.

This is another effective way to fix this error. Proxy servers act as an intermediary between the browser and websites. And this means that they can filter cache data and communication. They can also as keep the IP address of the user secret from the contacted web server.

However, user reports show various cases in which a proxy server can cause issues like the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error message. For instance, the web server could block the proxy or its IP address and reject the connection. If you get a message like the Chrome 102 error, you should check your proxy settings and delete registered servers.

For this purpose, Chrome even has its entry in the browser options, saving you from searching for the corresponding menu in your system settings.  To perform this solution, follow the steps below.

• Step 1: – Access the Chromes settings by entering the following address in the search bar:
• chrome://settings/
• Step 2: – Click on “advanced” to open the complete menu. Under the “system,” you will find the entry “open proxy settings,” which takes you to your operating system’s corresponding menu.
• Step 3: – If you do not want to open the proxy settings via Chrome, you can also load them in the usual way.
• Step 4: – For Windows users, then click on “LAN settings” and uncheck the option “use proxy server for LAN.” For Mac users immediately land in the appropriate menu and only have to uncheck all selectable proxy protocols.

If, after trying these steps, you were not able to resolve the problem, you need to move down to the solutions below.

Solution 4 – Disable firewall and antivirus software temporarily.

Firewalls and antivirus software protect your system against malware. The filter network traffic and scan the system at regular intervals automatically block malicious pages or detect known malware. However, as crucial as this security software is, it is also problematic if it unjustly blocks pages or content and stops connections from being established.

To solve the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error message, you need to temporarily deactivate the firewall. If the project can be called up, you know what caused the connection issue and make corresponding changes to the program’s filter lists. Alternatively, you can use other security tools.

Solution 5 – Clearing DNS cache (DNS flush)

The operating system also collects information about browsing habits. For instance, the DNS cache contains temporary entries for all pages you have called up with your browser. If you are using Windows, you need to follow the steps below to clear the DNS cache.

• Step 1: – WinXP: Start a Run dialogue box and then type “cmd” and press the Enter button on your keyboard.
• Step 2: – For Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 users: Click on “Start” and type “Command” in the Start search field. Now, right-click the command prompt icon and select the option to “Run as Administrator.”
• Step 3: – In the open prompt, type “ipconfig /flushdns” (without the quotes).
• Step 4: – You should receive a message of your success as confirmation when the cache is cleared.
• Step 5: – Flushing the cache removes all the information stored in the cache, forcing the computer to find new DNS information.

Conclusion

You may encounter the error ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED while using your browser. This error usually occurs due to server issues or browser cache issues. You may be able to fix it by disabling the firewall or by clearing browser cache. This guy guide has given you the information required to fix this issue, and I believe you can now fix it.