Google Chrome is one of the best Internet browsers in the world.
However, in Chrome, you can come across “ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR.” This blocks you from accessing the websites you wish to.
Usually, this error goes away after refreshing the page. But in some cases, it occurs as a more persistent error.
This guide will provide you all the best solutions that can help you fix this problem easily on your own.
Ways to Fix ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR
The main problem with this error is that it is impossible to figure out the exact source of it. Because of this, there is simply more than one way to fix it.
It depends on what is causing the problem.
Therefore, the only way to proceed is by a trial and error method. Try the solutions in a sequential order to fix this browser error as quickly as possible.
Solution 1: Set the Date and Time
In most cases, ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR occurs because of incorrect date and time settings on your computer.
So the most direct way to fix this error is to check whether the date and time on your system is accurate or not.
If you find out that it is not accurate, then follow the simple steps below to adjust the date and time on your Windows computer:
- Locate the date and clock display on the taskbar in the bottom-right corner of your screen
- Right-click on it and then click on Adjust date/time
- If you are connected to the internet, switch on the Set the time automatically option, which will set the time and date accurately using the Web
- If you wish to manually change the date and time, then switch off the Set the time automatically option and then click on the Change button under the Change date and time option
- Finally, manually set the date and time and then click on Change to save
After successfully changing the date and time on your computer, try loading the website again.
If this solution solves the problem, the website will load without any errors.
Solution 2: Clear Your Browsing Data
If your date and time is accurate, then the problem could be in your browser’s browsing data.
Therefore, the next best way to solve the problem is by clearing out your browsing data. Follow the simple steps below to do so:
- Launch the Google Chrome browser on your computer
- Click on the Customize and control Google Chrome option in the top-right corner of the browser
- Click on Settings from the pop-up list of options
- Scroll down the Settings page and then click on Advanced to expand the settings
- Under the Privacy and security title, locate and click on Clear browsing data
- Select the Advanced option and then set the Time range to All time
- Mark the boxes next to the data categories you want to delete, like Browsing history, Download history, Cookies and other site data, etc.
- Finally, click on Clear data to clean your browser data and then click on Ok, got it to continue
After clearing your browser data, try loading the website. If there was a problem in your browser data, this should solve it. The website should load without showing any errors.
However, if you still face the error message, proceed to the next solution.
Solution 3: Clear your SSL State
If clearing your browser data did not fix the error, then the next solution is to clear your SSL state.
Whenever you visit a website online, your browser saves a digital copy of that website’s SSL Certificate in your computer’s memory.
The ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR error also occurs if there is a problem with these SSL Certificates stored in your computer.
Follow the simple instructions below to clear your SSL State and fix this error:
- Launch the Google Chrome browser on your computer
- Click on the Customize and control Google Chrome option in the top-right corner of the browser
- Click on Settings from the pop-up list of options
- Scroll down the Settings page and then click on Advanced to expand the settings
- Now scroll down further and locate and click on Open proxy settings under the System tab to open Internet properties
- In the Internet properties window, click on the Content Then click on the Clear SSL state button
- Finally, click on OK to safely exit
After the process is complete, close the settings tab and try loading the website again. If this solution works, your website will load without any error messages.
However, if you still encounter the error, then proceed to the next solution.
Solution 4: Disable QUIC Protocol in Google Chrome
If nothing is working for you, then maybe the only way to fix the error is by disabling the QUIC protocol in your Google Chrome browser.
Follow the simple instructions below to safely disable the QUIC protocol:
- Launch the Google Chrome browser on your computer
- In the address bar, copy and paste chrome://flags/#enable-quic and then press Enter
- Google Chrome will redirect you to the Flag settings page
- Now, scroll down and locate Experimental QUIC Protocol
- Change its settings from Default to Disabled
After changing the QUIC Protocol settings, try loading that website again.
If nothing else works, this should definitely fix the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR on your Windows 10 computer.
Conclusion: ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR
“This site can’t provide a secure connection – ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR” is a browser error. It prevents you from loading the website that you wish to.
This error mostly occurs due to issues in the SSL Certificate of the website.
In most cases, the browser cannot identify the SSL Certificate if the date and time on the computer is inaccurate. If that is the issue, this is a simple problem to fix.
However, if that’s not the case, then this error can occur due to anything from browser data to the SSL State of the website.
Try basic things first, like disabling the Windows Firewall and antivirus software. Then load the website to see if it works.
If it is more complicated than that, then you may have to clear the SSL State of the website. Maybe even disable the QUIC protocol in your Chrome browser.
You can try all the solutions present in this guide to fix this error easily on your own. Every solution has been presented in a simple step-by-step manner.
