Welcome to our comprehensive guide on resolving the bothersome ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR that occasionally plagues Google Chrome users. Delve into this article to discover effective solutions that will restore your browsing experience in no time.
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To fix the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR on Google Chrome, follow these steps:
1. Clear your browser cache. Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear browsing data. Make sure to select “Cached images and files” and click “Clear data”.
2. Update your browser. Go to Settings > About Chrome and check for any available updates. If there are updates, click “Relaunch” to apply them.
3. Disable browser extensions. Go to Settings > Extensions and toggle off any extensions that may be causing the error.
4. Check your date and time settings. Go to Settings > System > Date and time and ensure they are set correctly.
5. Disable your antivirus software temporarily. Some Internet Security programs can interfere with SSL connections.
If these steps don’t resolve the issue, it may be a problem with the website itself. Contact the website administrator for further assistance.
What the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR Means
ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR is an error message that indicates a problem with the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection between your browser and a website. This error can occur on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge.
To fix ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR, there are a few steps you can take. First, try clearing your browser cache by following these steps:
1. Open Chrome and click on the three dots in the top right corner.
2. Select “More tools” and then “Clear browsing data.”
3. Choose the time range and check the box next to “Cached images and files.”
4. Click “Clear data.”
If clearing the cache doesn’t resolve the issue, you can try disabling your antivirus or firewall temporarily, as they may be interfering with the SSL connection. Additionally, make sure your browser and operating system are up to date.
In some cases, the SSL certificate on the website may be invalid or expired. If this is the case, contact the website administrator to resolve the issue.
Common Causes of the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click on the three vertical dots in the top-right corner to open the menu.
- Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
- Scroll down and click on “Advanced” to expand the advanced settings.
- Under “Privacy and security,” click on “Clear browsing data.”
- Select the time range for which you want to clear the data.
- Check the boxes next to “Browsing history,” “Cookies and other site data,” and “Cached images and files.”
- Click on the “Clear data” button.
Method 2: Adjust Date and Time Settings
- Right-click on the Date and Time in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
- Select “Adjust date/time” from the pop-up menu.
- In the Date & Time settings window, make sure the “Set time automatically” toggle is turned on.
- If it is already turned on, toggle it off and then on again.
- Restart your computer and try accessing the website again.
Method 3: Disable Antivirus and Firewall Temporarily
- Open the antivirus software installed on your computer.
- Look for options related to “Real-time protection” or “Firewall.”
- Temporarily disable these features by toggling them off.
- Try accessing the website that was showing the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR.
- If the error is resolved, consider adding an exception or allowing the website through the antivirus or firewall settings.
- Remember to enable the antivirus and firewall features again once the issue is fixed.
Method 4: Check Browser Extensions
- Open Google Chrome.
- Type “chrome://extensions/” in the address bar and press Enter.
- Disable all the extensions by toggling the switch next to each extension.
- Restart Google Chrome.
- Try accessing the website again.
- If the error is resolved, re-enable the extensions one by one to identify the problematic extension.
- Consider removing or updating the problematic extension.
Method 5: Update Google Chrome
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click on the three vertical dots in the top-right corner to open the menu.
- Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
- Scroll down and click on “About Chrome” or “Help” in the left sidebar.
- Chrome will automatically check for updates and install them if available.
- Once the update is complete, restart Google Chrome.
- Try accessing the website again.
How to Fix the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR (7 Potential Solutions)
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of the browser window.
- Select More tools and then Clear browsing data.
- In the Clear browsing data window, choose the time range for which you want to clear the data.
- Check the box next to Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files.
- Click on the Clear data button to delete the selected browsing data.
2. Disable QUIC Protocol
- Type chrome://flags in the address bar and press Enter.
- Search for Experimental QUIC protocol using the search bar on the flags page.
- Click on the drop-down menu next to Experimental QUIC protocol and select Disabled.
- Restart Google Chrome for the changes to take effect.
3. Check Date and Time Settings
- Click on the system tray clock in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
- Select Adjust date/time or Date and time settings.
- Ensure that the Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically options are turned on.
- If the options are already enabled, disable them, wait for a few seconds, and then re-enable them.
4. Disable Antivirus or Firewall Temporarily
- Open the antivirus or firewall software installed on your computer.
- Find the option to temporarily disable the antivirus or firewall protection.
- Disable the antivirus or firewall for a specific duration or until the next system restart.
- Try accessing the website again to check if the SSL protocol error is resolved.
5. Update Google Chrome
- Click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of Google Chrome.
- Select Help and then About Google Chrome.
- Chrome will automatically check for updates and install them if any are available.
- Restart the browser after the update process completes.
6. Clear SSL State
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of the browser window.
- Select Settings and scroll down to click on Advanced.
- Under the Privacy and security section, click on Clear browsing data.
- In the Clear browsing data window, check the box next to Hosted app data and Content licenses.
- Click on the Clear data button to clear the SSL state.
7. Reset Chrome Settings
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of the browser window.
- Select Settings and scroll down to click on Advanced.
- Scroll down further and click on Restore settings to their original defaults under the Reset and clean up section.
- Click on the Reset settings button to reset Chrome to its default settings.
- Restart Google Chrome for the changes to take effect.
Clear Your Browser Cache and SSL State
To clear your browser cache and SSL state in Google Chrome and fix the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR, follow these steps:
1. Open Google Chrome and click on the three dots in the top right corner.
2. Select “Settings” from the menu.
3. Scroll down and click on “Privacy and security” in the left sidebar.
4. Click on “Clear browsing data” under the “Privacy and security” section.
5. In the popup window, select “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and other site data.”
6. Choose the time range for which you want to clear the data and click on “Clear data.”
To clear the SSL state:
1. In the Chrome address bar, type “chrome://settings/certificates” and press Enter.
2. Under the “Authorities” tab, click on “Clear browsing data.”
3. Check the box next to “Cached images and files” and click on “Clear data.”
These steps will clear your browser cache and SSL state, resolving the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR on Google Chrome.
Check Your System Clock
To fix ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR on Google Chrome, one possible solution is to check your system clock.
This error occurs when there is a problem with the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection, which is used to establish a secure connection between your browser and the website.
In some cases, an incorrect system clock can cause this error. Your system clock should be set to the correct date, time, and time zone.
To check your system clock on Microsoft Edge, follow these steps:
1. Click on the clock in the bottom right corner of your taskbar.
2. Click on “Date and time settings.”
3. Make sure the toggle switch under “Set time automatically” is turned on.
4. If it’s already turned on, toggle it off and then on again to refresh the time.
By ensuring your system clock is accurate, you may be able to resolve the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR and regain access to secure websites.
Disable Third-Party Browser Extensions And Antivirus Software
To fix the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR on Google Chrome, it is recommended to disable third-party browser extensions and antivirus software. These can sometimes interfere with the SSL connection and cause the error message to appear.
To disable third-party browser extensions, follow these steps:
1. Click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of Chrome.
2. Go to “More tools” and select “Extensions”.
3. Disable any extensions that you suspect may be causing the error.
To disable antivirus software, follow these steps:
1. Open your antivirus software.
2. Look for an option to temporarily disable or turn off the protection.
3. Disable the protection and check if the error persists.
By disabling these third-party extensions and antivirus software, you can troubleshoot and determine if they are the cause of the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR. If the error still persists, further investigation may be needed to identify other potential causes.
Check Your SSL Certificate
To check your SSL certificate and fix the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR on Google Chrome, follow these steps:
1. Open Google Chrome and type “chrome://settings” in the address bar.
2. Scroll down and click on “Advanced” to expand the advanced settings.
3. Under “Privacy and security,” click on “Security.”
4. Click on “View certificates” to see the SSL certificates for websites.
5. Look for any certificates that are marked as invalid or expired.
6. If you find any invalid certificates, click on them and then click “Remove.”
7. Close and reopen Google Chrome to apply the changes.
If you continue to experience the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR, try clearing your browser cache and cookies. You can do this by going to “chrome://settings/clearBrowserData” in the address bar and selecting the appropriate options.
Disable the QUIC Protocol
To disable the QUIC Protocol and fix ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR on Google Chrome, follow these steps:
1. Open Google Chrome and type “chrome://flags” in the address bar.
2. Press Enter to access the Chrome Experiments page.
3. In the search bar, type “Experimental QUIC protocol”.
4. Locate the “Experimental QUIC protocol” option and click on the drop-down menu.
5. Select “Disabled” from the options.
6. Restart Google Chrome for the changes to take effect.
Disabling the QUIC Protocol can help resolve SSL connection errors caused by an unsupported or invalid response.
Enable All SSL/TLS Versions
To enable all SSL/TLS versions and fix the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR on Google Chrome, follow these steps:
1. Open Google Chrome and type “chrome://flags” in the address bar.
2. Press Enter to access the Chrome Experiments page.
3. In the search bar, type “ssl” to quickly find the relevant settings.
4. Look for the “Minimum SSL/TLS version supported” option and click on the drop-down menu.
5. Select “Enable all” to allow Chrome to use all SSL/TLS versions.
6. Restart Google Chrome for the changes to take effect.
By enabling all SSL/TLS versions, you can resolve the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR and ensure a secure connection while browsing websites. This method can also be used to fix similar SSL connection errors in other browsers like Mozilla Firefox.
Change Your Internet Security and Privacy Level
To change your internet security and privacy level and fix the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR on Google Chrome, follow these steps:
1. Open Google Chrome and click on the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
2. Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
3. Scroll down and click on “Privacy and security” in the left sidebar.
4. Under the “Security” section, click on “Security level” to adjust your security settings.
5. Choose a higher security level to increase protection or a lower level for more flexibility.
6. Additionally, you can clear your browsing data by clicking on “Clear browsing data” and selecting the appropriate options.
7. Restart your browser for the changes to take effect.
By adjusting your security level and clearing your browsing data, you can resolve the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR and improve your internet security and privacy.
What is err_ssl_protocol_error?
ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR is a common error that occurs when there is an issue with the SSL connection between your browser and the website you are trying to access. This error can be caused by various reasons, such as an unsupported protocol or an invalid response from the website.
To fix ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR on Google Chrome, there are a few methods you can try:
1. Clear your browser cache and cookies. This can help resolve any issues with stored website data that may be causing the error.
2. Disable any browser extensions or plugins that could be interfering with the SSL connection. Sometimes, these extensions can conflict with the website’s security settings.
3. Check your system clock. An incorrect date or time on your computer can cause SSL errors. Make sure your system clock is set correctly.
4. Try accessing the website in an incognito or private browsing window. This can help determine if the issue is related to your browser settings or extensions.
If none of these methods work, it may be worth contacting the website administrator or checking their support resources for further assistance.
What makes this SSL connection error so pervasive?
The SSL connection error, also known as ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR, is a common issue that many users encounter while browsing the web. It occurs when there is a problem with the SSL/TLS handshake, which is the process that establishes a secure connection between your browser and the website you are trying to access.
There are several reasons why this error can occur. It could be due to outdated or incompatible SSL/TLS protocols, incorrect system date and time settings, or issues with the website’s SSL certificate.
To fix this error, there are a few steps you can take:
1. Check your internet connection: Make sure you have a stable and reliable internet connection.
2. Clear your browsing data: Clear your browser’s cache, cookies, and other temporary files.
3. Update your browser: Make sure you are using the latest version of Google Chrome or any other browser you are using.
4. Check your system date and time: Ensure that your computer’s date and time settings are correct.
5. Disable antivirus or firewall: Temporarily disable any antivirus or firewall software that may be blocking the SSL connection.
Everything You Need to Know About err_ssl_protocol_error on Google Chrome
If you’re encountering the err_ssl_protocol_error on Google Chrome, there are a few ways you can try to fix it.
First, check if the issue is specific to Chrome by trying to access the same website on a different browser like Mozilla Firefox. If the error occurs on multiple browsers, it could be a problem with the website itself.
Next, clear your browser’s cache and cookies. Sometimes, outdated or corrupted website data can cause connection issues. To do this, go to the Chrome settings, navigate to the “Privacy and security” section, and click on “Clear browsing data.”
If clearing the cache doesn’t work, try disabling any extensions or plugins that might be interfering with the SSL connection. You can do this by going to the Chrome settings, selecting “Extensions,” and turning off any extensions that might be causing the problem.
If none of these solutions work, it’s possible that the website you’re trying to access has an SSL error. In this case, there isn’t much you can do on your end, as the issue is on the website’s side. Contact the website administrator or try accessing the website at a later time.
Correct the Date and Time on your system
To correct the Date and Time on your system, follow these steps:
1. Click on the Date and Time display on your taskbar.
2. Select “Adjust date/time” from the drop-down menu.
3. In the Date & Time settings window, ensure that the toggle switch under “Set time automatically” is turned on. This will synchronize your system’s time with the internet time server.
4. If the toggle switch is already on, try turning it off and then on again to refresh the connection.
5. Additionally, make sure the time zone is correctly set for your location.
6. After making any changes, close the settings window and restart your computer.
Correcting the Date and Time on your system can help resolve ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR and other connection issues in Google Chrome.
Clear your SSL State
To clear your SSL state and fix the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR on Google Chrome, follow these steps:
1. Open Google Chrome and click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
2. Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
3. Scroll down and click on “Privacy and security” in the left sidebar.
4. Click on “Security” and then on “Clear browsing data.”
5. In the pop-up window, select “Advanced” and make sure the “Browsing history” and “Cookies and other site data” options are checked.
6. Click on “Clear data” to clear your SSL state.
If you’re using Mozilla Firefox and encountering the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR, follow similar steps to clear your SSL state.
Clearing your SSL state can help resolve connection issues and SSL errors on both Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. If you continue to experience problems, it may be worth checking if the site you’re trying to access has any known SSL issues or contacting their support for further assistance.

Aiden Brose is a passionate and dedicated technology writer and expert, currently contributing his expertise and knowledge to helptechportal.com. With a background in computer science and a keen interest in emerging technologies, Aiden has spent years exploring and researching the digital world. His insatiable curiosity and knack for making complex concepts easy to understand have led him to become a trusted voice in the tech community.
Aiden’s work spans a wide range of topics, including software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and the ever-evolving landscape of consumer electronics. He is dedicated to helping his readers stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends, while also providing practical advice and valuable insights.