Actually, let’s call ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR a most commonly seen error on Google Chrome & not specific to WordPress site. But as we always do, our guides are more focused towards WordPress users.
If you are one of Google Chrome lovers like Us :), you must have come around this error at least once in a while. ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR or SSL CONNECTION ERROR on Google Chrome is quite easy to resolve but daunting at times.
Fixing ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR error
Most of the time this error occurs due to some server problems, but not everyone is a server administrator right? In this guide, We will aim at resolving ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR in a non-techy / simpler way. One of the below solutions should help resolve your issue, so please re-launch your browser and test your site after following each solution.
1. Set correct system date / time
SSL protocol have much to deal with your system date /time settings, please go to your system settings > date & time and make sure to adjust time zone and choose to automatically set the time.
2. Clear cache and cookies would help resolve ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR
Please clear all cache and cookie data from your Google Chrome browser via More tools > clear browsing data option from top right corner of your Chrome browser. This will also remove any stale / cached data of sites you use.
3. Disable browser extensions
Who don’t love browser extensions?. Extensions make our lives much easier but some of them may go beyond and interrupt your communication with sites. Navigate to More tools > Extensions on Google Chrome and try disabling any extensions that would modify or interrupt network, communication, HTTPS / SSL requests. Try re-launching your browser & see if ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR is gone.
4. Disable QUIC Protocol
Copy/paste chrome://flags/#enable-quic onto your Chrome address bar and press enter, if the Experimental QUIC protocol feature is set to default or enabled, please change it to disabled. Scroll to bottom of page and click on relaunch browser.
5. Clear SSL state of your computer
To make HTTPS perform better & avoid repetitive load, SSL certificates are cached & stored on your first visit to a site to improve performance of further communication with the same site. Clearing SSL state once in a while would be helpful.
- Please go to Start Menu > Control Panel > Network & Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
- Click on Internet Options & Internet Properties window will show up.
- Click on Content tab within the Internet Properties window and click on Clear SSL State button.
- Re-launch your browser & test your site.
6. Check your internet security and privacy level
If you have set your security level too high, it might be blocking you from visiting a particular site.
- Please go to Start Menu > Control Panel > Network & Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
- Click on Internet Options & Internet Properties window will show up.
- Click on Security tab
- Make sure the security level is set to Medium & click on OK
If none of the above resolved ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR, please try disabling your Windows Firewall, Antivirus program, etc., for a moment to examine if any of them are blocking the access. Also, clear all cache on your WordPress admin / CDN dashboard.
BONUS: Need help installing free SSL certificate for your WordPress site?. Feel free to use our “WP Encryption” WordPress SSL plugin to install free SSL certificate like a Pro!.