Fix Chrome ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR Secure Connection Failed (2025)

Updated: 11/29/2025

You type a secure site address in Chrome, hit Enter, and instead of the page loading you see ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR or a secure connection failed message. Other sites might work, which makes it feel random and frustrating. This error means Chrome could not complete the HTTPS handshake with the server because of a mismatch in certificates, protocols, or something on your device interfering with encrypted traffic.

Table of Contents

Method 1: Fix Date, Time, And SSL State On Your Device

Close all Chrome windows, wait a few seconds, then reopen Chrome and navigate to the same HTTPS site. If the date, time, and SSL state were the issue, the secure connection should now complete without ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR.

Method 2: Disable Interfering Antivirus, VPN, And QUIC Temporarily

In Chrome’s address bar type chrome://flags/#enable-quic and press Enter, then set the QUIC flag to Disabled if it is enabled. Relaunch Chrome when prompted and open the problem site again, as some middleboxes or networks do not handle QUIC traffic properly.

Warning: Any antivirus or firewall changes should be reversed after testing, long term protection is more important than temporarily avoiding an SSL error on a single site.

Method 3: Repair Network Configuration And Corrupted Browser Data

Create a new Chrome profile with no extensions, or install an alternate browser and try the same sites there. If SSL works in the new profile or different browser, your original Chrome profile is likely corrupted and may need a full reset or recreation.