How To Fix Err_SSL_Protocol_Error On Google

We all use the internet browser, whether you are a CEO or a housewife. Everyone is using one. There are several internet browsers out there like Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer and Google Chrome.

No matter which browser you are using, you might have faced “ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR” or “this site can’t provide a secure connection” at least once in your lifetime. And have wondered what this error is and how to fix it. If these questions have come to your mind, this article is for you. We will help you in fixing this error.

Contents In The Article

• • • What is SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR?
  • • Why does ERR SSL PROTOCOL ERROR occur?
  • • How to fix PROTOCOL ERROR?
  • • Conclusion.

What is SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR?

If you don’t know what is ssl_protocol_error, don’t worry you are not alone. All of us have come across this error once in a while. Unlike the old times, the internet nowadays is more secure as personal and sensitive data is being transferred. Websites need SLL certificates to work with an HTTPS connection.

The HTTPS guarantees a secure connection through certificate exchange. So if any SSL-protected website is accessed with any browser and the secure connection does not work, then the net::err_ssl_protocol_error occurs, just like it happens in “connection is not private error”.

Why does ERR SSL PROTOCOL ERROR occur?

You are here because you are facing this dreading err SSL protocol error on your browser and, believe me, I know how frustrating it can be. Some browsers will typically explain the connection failure. But the problem is that the explanations are general and won’t bring you much closer to the actual problem.

One thing we are sure about is that this error is that it occurs because there is a problem on the server side or the browser side. If the error is on the user’s browser side, then some of the reasons are listed below:

• • 1. The browser’s Cache and Cookies need to be cleared.
    2. There are bad or corrupted extensions/plugins installed on the browser.
    3. The Date and Time of your device are not correct.
    4. The HOSTS file is corrupted.
    5. The Antivirus or firewall is blocking your connection.
    6. QUIC protocol may be blocking the connection.
    7. The SSL state of your system.
    8. The Internet security of your system is at a high level.

How to fix PROTOCOL ERROR?

Now that you know that there isn’t a specific reason for protocol error just that there is no general solution as well. First, you can try the universal “Trick” that a lot of us use when we are facing any error. You can try restarting your router. Reconnecting to the internet often eliminates errors. But if the error message still appears, then you can try some of our tested solutions. You will have to try them one by one as we don’t know which one is causing the error.

Solution 1: Clear your browser Cache and Cookies

Google Chrome

• • • Press Shift+Ctrl+Delete on your keyboard.

Google Chrome Cache setting will come up on your screen just like shown below.

• • • Put a tick on the Cookies and cache boxes.
    • Then press the clear button.

Mozilla Firefox

• • • Click on the Action button in the top right corner.
    • In the Settings menu, click on Privacy and security.
    • Then scroll down to the Cookies and site data and click on the clear data.
    • In the Clear data, menu click on the boxes next to Cookies and site data and Cached web content. 
    • Click on Clear to start deleting the data.

Microsoft Edge

• • • Click on the Hub icon in the top right corner of the screen.
    • From there, select the History tab and click on the Clear icon hyperlink.
    • Once you have reached the Clear browsing data tab, select the boxes next to Cookies and saved website data and Cached data and file.
    • Now click on clear and wait till the process is finished.

Now the err_ssl_protocol_error should be gone but if does not, then move on to the next solution.

Solution 2: Disable the Extensions or Add-in on your browser

Google Chrome

A corrupted extension can cause errors on your browser, disable them by following the instructions:

• • • Click on the three dots on the top left side of your browser.

There will appear an option for more tools, Click on it and you will find extensions.

• • • One by one, either remove an extension or disable it by pressing the blue toggle icon.
    • Every time you remove or disable an extension, reload your page to see if the error is gone.

Mozilla Firefox

On Mozilla Firefox you have Add-ons. These are just like Google Chrome extensions but the process to disable them is different. Following are the steps you need to follow.

• • • Click on the Menu button in the top right corner.
    • There you will see Add-on and themes. Click on Extensions.
    • One by one, either disable or remove the extension.
    • Every time, reload the page to see which extension was causing the error.

Microsoft Edge

The new version of Microsoft Edge runs similar to Google Chrome, so the process of disabling the extension is also similar.

• • • On your home page, click on the Action button in the top right corner.
    • From that context menu click on Extensions.
    • There you will see the list of extensions, you can one by one disable them to see which one is causing the problem.
    • Remember to refresh the page after disabling each extension.

Solution 3: Check Your System Time And Date

If the date and time on your system are incorrect, you will most probably face SSL Error message the reason behind it is that when we visit a website, the verification of the SSL certificate is done. If the date of your system is incorrect, the certificate will not be verified and you will face the problem.

• • • Go to the Setting/Control Panel of your system.
    • Select Time and Language.
    • There, go to the Change option and correct your Date and Time.
    • To further avoid this error, turn on the set date and time automatically from the toggle icon.
    • There, go to the Change option and correct your Date and Time.
    • To further avoid this error, turn on the set date and time automatically from the toggle icon.

Solution 4: Delete or Reset HOSTS files to the default

There is a chance that some programs can change the hosts’ file which may cause the err_ssl_protocol_error. But you can easily fix this by either deleting the file or resetting it to the default.

• • • Press the Windows key and R at the same time to open the Run program.
    • Specify the directory in which the hosts’ file is located by writing this 

            C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

• • • By clicking OK, you will reach the destination file where you can Select and delete or edit the hosts’ file.

Solution 5: Disable your Antivirus or Firewall

If your err_ssl_protocol_error is still not gone, then you can use this solution to check if it works. The Antivirus and Firewall may be protecting you from insecure connections, but sometimes they stand in the way of a secure connection, which may be causing the SSL Error.

You can easily fix it by disabling your antivirus and firewall.

• • • Open Control Panel on your system.
    • Then go to System and security there. You will find the Windows defender firewall click on it.
    • Now go to Customize setting, once you are there turn off the windows defender firewall.

Solution 6: Disable the QUIC Protocol

QUIC is the abbreviation for Quick UDP internet connections. They help in creating secure connections with the server. Browser like Google Chrome uses QUIC protocol and sometimes it conflicts with the SSL protocol and displays the ERR SSL error message.

To get rid of it follow these steps:

• • • Go to the address bar of your browser and type   chrome://flags/#enable-quic 
    • Check the QUIC protocol on top of the screen and Disable it.
    • Once you are done, Refresh your browser to check if this was the cause of your error.

Solution 7: Clear the SSL state of the system

Your Browser sometimes downloads the SSL certificates of websites. This can cause the Err_ssl_protocol_error because the certificate might be outdated and cause the problem. You can clear your computer’s SSL state to solve the problem by following the instructions given below:

• • • Open the Setting/Control Panel of your system.
    • Then move to Network Sharing, over there click on Internet Options.

• • • When you will click on internet options, a new window will open, over there click on the Content tab.

• • • Click on the Clear SSL State tab and press ok.
    • Refresh your browser and see if this resolves the error.

Solution 8: Fix your Internet Privacy Level

If the SSL Connection Error is still there, then you can try solving it by putting your privacy level on medium. A high level of privacy might cause the blocking of the website. Follow the steps to change your internet privacy level:

• • • Go to Settings/Control Panel of your system. Click on Internet options.
    • Then go to the Security tab and see if the slider is on high, Slide it to medium, and press OK.
    • Now go to your browser and reload the page to see if the net::err_ssl_protocol_error is gone.

Solution 9: Activate all SSL/TSL versions

This is your Last Resort, which means that once you have tried all the above solutions and the network protocol error is still there, then you can use this method. You can change the SSL/TSL protocol setting by:

• • • Click on the three dots on the top right corner of Google Chrome and click on settings.
    • There, go to Advanced Setting and search for Proxy Setting.
    • Click on the Advanced tab and scroll down to the Security section.
    • Check all the boxes of SSL/TSL versions and click apply.
    • Now reload your browser to see if the net::err_ssl_protocol_error is gone.

Conclusion

In this article, we have mentioned the most common causes of SSL_Protocol_Error and the best ways to resolve them. If you are still seeing the error, then it might be because the SSL certificate of the website needs to be updated. This can only be done by the website owner. You can try reloading the website some other time and see if the error disappears.