How To Fix ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE Error

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When you visit a website, your web browser checks if the connection is safe. If something goes wrong with the security settings, you may see an ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error in Google Chrome. This can be frustrating because it stops you from accessing a website. But don’t worry; you can fix it with some simple steps. 

This tutorial teaches you why this error happens and shows you step-by-step solutions to fix it. Whether it’s a problem with your browser settings, antivirus software, or the website’s SSL certificate, we help you find the best fix.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error happens when your browser and the website’s SSL/TLS version don’t match properly.
• Outdated browsers, incorrect SSL settings, security software, or server misconfigurations cause this issue.
• Update your browser to support the latest SSL and TLS versions.
• Clear browser cache and cookies to remove old or corrupted data that may be causing the error.
• Disable conflicting browser extensions, especially security or VPN-related ones, to fix SSL issues.
• Check and correct your system date and time to prevent SSL certificate mismatches.
• Temporarily disabling antivirus or firewall settings can help if security software is blocking SSL connections.
• Flush the DNS to resolve network-related SSL issues.
• Resetting Chrome settings to default removes misconfigurations that may interfere with SSL connections.
• Turning off TLS 1.3 in Chrome is a temporary workaround if a website doesn’t support the latest TLS version.
• For website owners, ensuring proper SSL installation, supporting TLS 1.2 and 1.3, and keeping server software updated prevents visitors from facing SSL errors.

What Does ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE Mean?

Before you understand the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error, you should know about the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security (TLS) and why it’s crucial. When you browse the internet, your personal information, like passwords and credit card details, must stay safe. That’s where SSL and TLS come in.

These security protocols encrypt data so hackers can’t steal it when it travels between your browser and a website’s server. When you visit a secure website, your web browser and its server must agree on a shared security protocol before they exchange information. This process ensures that everything you send or receive, such as login details or payment information, is encrypted and protected.

Without these protocols, websites would be vulnerable to cyberattacks, which makes it easy for hackers to steal sensitive information. That’s why SSL/TLS encryption is so important.

Now, what does ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE mean? This error occurs when your browser and the website you’re trying to visit can’t agree on a secure SSL/TLS version. This usually means one of two things:

1. Your browser is trying to use TLS 1.3, but the website only supports TLS 1.2 or outdated versions like TLS 1.0 or 1.1.
2. The website supports TLS 1.3, but your browser or antivirus software is blocking it because of incorrect Chrome TLS settings.

When this mismatch occurs, Chrome stops the connection to protect your data. Instead of loading the website, it shows the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error message as follows:

Source=Chromium

What Causes ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE?

This error can show up in different situations depending on various factors, including:

• Outdated Browser or SSL/TLS Settings: If your browser is old or doesn’t support the latest TLS versions, it may struggle to connect securely.
• Conflicting Browser Extensions: Some extensions, especially security or VPN-related ones, may interfere with how SSL connections work.
• Incorrect Date & Time Settings: If your system’s date and time are incorrect, your browser can reject SSL certificates as invalid.
• Antivirus or Firewall Interference: Some security programs can block SSL connections if they detect a mismatch in SSL versions.
• Corrupt Browser Cache & Cookies: Stored data in your browser can sometimes conflict with updated SSL settings, leading to connection errors.
• Server-Side SSL Issues: A website with an outdated or misconfigured SSL certificate shows visitors this error when they access it.

In the coming section, we show you simple and easy steps to fix this error and restore secure website access.

9 Ways to Fix ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE in Chrome

Now that you understand this error let’s discuss some troubleshooting steps to resolve the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE issue. Many of these solutions apply whether you’re trying to access a website or managing your own. However, the final troubleshooting step is specifically for website owners, so ensure you check if you’re dealing with this error on your site.

Update Your Chrome Browser 

One of the easiest ways to fix the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error is to update your Chrome browser. Browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari regularly update their security features, including support for the latest SSL and TLS versions. If you’re using an outdated browser, it may not recognize newer security protocols, causing SSL errors.

However, if your browser is regularly updated, this ensures it can securely connect to websites without issues. Also, updates fix bugs and improve speed & security. Below are the instructions on how you can check and update your Chrome browser: 

Open Chrome and navigate to ⋮  (at top-right) → Help → About Google Chrome.

Chrome will automatically check for available updates. If an update is available, it will start downloading.

Once the update is installed, click Relaunch to restart Chrome and apply the changes.

However, if Chrome is already updated, you’ll see a message saying, Chrome is up to date.

After updating your browser, try revisiting the website. If the error is gone, the issue was caused by an outdated browser. If you still see the error, move on to the next solution.

Clear Browser Cache & Cookies

Your web browser saves small data files – cookies and cache – to speed up website loading and retain your preferences. While this helps improve browsing speed, sometimes old or corrupted cache and cookies can cause errors, including ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE.

When your browser saves outdated SSL certificates or incorrect security settings, it may struggle to connect securely to a website. This can lead to SSL-related errors. Here, clearing your browser’s cache and cookies removes old data and forces your browser to download fresh information from the website, which can resolve the SSL error.

Here’s how to clear cache and cookies in Chrome:

Open Chrome browser. Go to ⋮  (at top-right) → Settings → Privacy and security. Click Delete browsing data.

Choose Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files (optionally, you can keep Browsing history checked). Select All time as the time range. Click Delete data, then restart Chrome.

Disable Conflicting Chrome Extensions

Browser extensions are used to add extra features to your browser. For example, they can block ads, manage passwords, improve security, or add productivity tools like taking notes and checking grammar. They also help customize your web browser to meet specific needs without installing additional software.

However, some extensions can interfere with SSL connections and cause the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error. This happens when an extension blocks or modifies SSL certificates, preventing a secure connection between your browser and the website. 

If you still see this error, a conflicting extension could be the cause. In this case, disabling extensions can help you find out if one of them is creating the problem. We have already covered this, and you can find details at the following link:

– How to Disable Browser Extensions in Chrome and Edge

After disabling extensions, refresh the website. If the error disappears, one of the extensions was causing the issue. You can enable them individually to find the exact extension responsible. When you identify the problematic extension, delete it from your browser and look for an alternative to keep your work going. However, if disabling extensions doesn’t fix the error, move on to the next solution.

Reset Chrome Settings

If the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error persists, your Chrome settings could be the cause. Over time, changes in browser configurations, installed extensions, or custom settings may interfere with SSL connections, leading to this issue. Resetting Chrome will restore it to its default state and remove potential conflicts.

Remember, a reset will not delete your bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history. However, it will restore default search engine settings, disable extensions, and clear any temporary configurations. This process eliminates any settings that may disrupt the SSL connection, potentially resolving the error. For step-by-step instructions on how to reset Chrome, follow this guide:

– Reset Chrome Browser Settings

Check & Correct System Date & Time 

Your computer’s date and time might not seem important, but if not correct, they can cause the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error. This happens because SSL certificates have expiration dates, and your browser compares your system’s date and time with the certificate’s validity period.

If your computer’s clock is not set correctly, your browser may think the SSL certificate has expired or is invalid, blocking access to the website. To fix this, ensure your date and time settings are correct.

Here’s how to do it on Windows: Click the Start menu and select Settings (or press Win + I on your keyboard). Click Time & Language in the Settings window.

Under Date & time, toggle Set time automatically to ON. Also, toggle Set time zone automatically to ON to avoid time zone mismatches. 

If the automatic setting doesn’t work, click Change under Set the date and time manually. Adjust the date and time, then click Change once more. Ensure you’ve selected the correct Time zone. Next, scroll down and click Sync Now under Synchronize your clock to update your clock with Microsoft’s time servers.

After fixing the date and time, close and reopen your browser, then refresh the website where you saw the SSL error. If the web page loads correctly, the issue was caused by your incorrect system time. If the error is still there, try the next solution.

Temporarily Disable Antivirus or Firewall

Sometimes, your computer’s firewall or antivirus software may interfere with your internet connection, leading to the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error. 

This issue is particularly common with Kaspersky if you’ve activated its inspect SSL traffic feature, as it modifies SSL certificates to scan encrypted connections. Other antivirus programs may have similar functions that can cause SSL-related errors. 

Check if your security software is the cause by temporarily disabling your firewall or antivirus. If the error disappears, it confirms that the software affects the SSL connection. 

However, turning off your firewall permanently is not a secure solution. Instead, use this information to adjust antivirus or firewall software settings. If the issue persists, consider switching to a different security tool that does not interfere with SSL connections.

Flush DNS Cache

Chrome relies on the Domain Name System (DNS) to find the IP address linked to a domain name. To speed up this process, your computer stores DNS results in a cache. However, if the cache becomes corrupted or outdated, it can lead to errors like ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE.

One way to fix this issue is by flushing the DNS cache, which clears stored entries and forces your PC to retrieve fresh DNS records. Here’s how you can do this on Windows:

Open Windows Command Prompt by pressing WIN + R, typing cmd, and clicking Enter. Then, type the command ipconfig /flushdns and click Enter.

This will clear the DNS cache and may help resolve connection issues.

Disable TLS 1.3 in Chrome

Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a protocol that helps keep websites secure by encrypting data. TLS 1.3 is enabled by default on Chrome 70 and higher, which improves website security and speed.

However, in some cases, TLS 1.3 can cause conflicts with certain websites, leading to the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error. This usually happens when a website’s SSL certificate or server doesn’t fully support TLS 1.3. Therefore, as a temporary workaround, you can disable TLS 1.3 in Chrome to see if it resolves the issue. Here’s how to do it:

Open Google Chrome on your computer. In the address bar, type: chrome://flags

Then, click Enter to open Chrome’s experimental features page. 

Next, in Search flags at the top, type: TLS 1.3

This will highlight the TLS 1.3 setting. 

Click the dropdown menu next to TLS 1.3 Early Data entry and choose Disabled from the options. 

Then, click Relaunch at the bottom to restart Chrome with the new settings. 

If the error disappears, it means there was a compatibility problem between Chrome’s TLS settings and your site’s SSL certificate.

Here, you may wonder, if TLS 1.3 is disabled, what TLS version is being used? Remember, when you disable TLS 1.3, Chrome will no longer use the latest TLS version for secure connections. Instead, it will automatically rely on older versions like TLS 1.2 (if enabled).

If it’s not, how do you enable TLS 1.2 in Chrome? Below are step-by-step instructions to enable TLS 1.2 Chrome settings (Windows only):

Press Win + R, type inetcpl.cpl, and press OK to open Internet Properties.

Go to Advanced. Scroll down to Security. Check the box for Use TLS 1.2 (ensure it is enabled). Click Apply, and then click OK to save the settings.

After that, restart Chrome for changes to take effect.

IMPORTANT:

Since TLS 1.3 provides better security, you should enable it again once the website updates its SSL settings. Also, if disabling TLS 1.3 doesn’t resolve the error, turn it back on by repeating the steps and selecting Default or Enabled (whatever option it was before) in the dropdown menu.

Run an SSL Diagnostic (For Website Owners)

If you see the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error on your website, there may be an issue with your SSL certificate installation or server configuration. This error often occurs when a website’s server uses outdated TLS versions that Chrome no longer supports.

One common cause is a server configured to use TLS 1.1, which was deprecated in 2021. For a secure connection, Chrome now requires at least TLS 1.2 or TLS 1.3. If your server only supports older TLS versions, you may see this SSL error when you access your website.

To check your SSL and TLS settings, you can use the Qualys SSL Labs Diagnostic Tool. This free tool scans your website and provides a detailed report on your SSL configuration, including the TLS versions your server supports.

When reviewing the scan results, pay close attention to the TLS version support section. If your website’s server does not support TLS 1.3 (or at least TLS 1.2), enable it to ensure compatibility with modern browsers.

If the tool flags any issues, such as outdated protocols or misconfigured SSL settings, take the necessary steps to fix them. You may need to update your server settings or work with your hosting provider to enable TLS 1.3.

IMPORTANT:

If you use a hosting provider, check their documentation to confirm whether they already support TLS 1.3, as many modern hosts, including Hosted®, do.

FAQS

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