How To Fix ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED Error

Whenever you visit a new website, whether it’s  static or dynamic, your web browser communicates with several servers to retrieve the content you want to see. However, these requests might not always succeed because of issues with intermediary servers. When this happens, you might encounter the ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED error.

The tunnel connection failed error usually appears in Google Chrome when your browser has trouble connecting to the internet. This can occur due to various things, such as incorrect network settings, issues with your proxy server, or problems with your domain name systems (DNS). Essentially, it means your browser cannot create a secure tunnel through the network to reach the website you’re trying to visit.

In this tutorial, we’ll show you some simple steps to troubleshoot and fix the ERR TUNNEL CONNECTION FAILED error, to get back online quickly. No matter whether the issue lies with your proxy settings, browser configuration, VPN, or DNS, we will help you identify the problem and resolve it quickly.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. The ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED error in Chrome usually occurs due to proxy or DNS issues.
2. You can resolve this error by checking and disabling proxy settings, resetting internet settings, or changing your DNS server.
3. Resetting Google Chrome to its default settings can also help and won’t affect your bookmarks or saved passwords.
4. Similar errors can appear in other browsers, but the troubleshooting steps are often the same.
5.  If one solution doesn’t work, try another until the issue is resolved.

What Does ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED Mean?

The NET::ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED error is a message you might see when you’re using Google Chrome, and it means that your browser is having  trouble establishing a secure connection to the website you’re trying to access. To better understand this, let’s think of your internet connection as a tunnel that your data travels through to reach its destination—the website.

Imagine you’re driving through a tunnel to get to a specific location. The tunnel represents the secure pathway your browser uses to reach the website. If there’s a blockage or something wrong inside the tunnel, your car (or, in this case, your data) can’t get through. This blockage could be caused for various reasons, like an obstacle in the tunnel or a problem with your car.

In the case of the ERR TUNNEL CONNECTION FAILED error, this blockage could be due to different issues. Let’s say your browser uses a proxy server (that’s a middleman between your computer and the internet) and that server isn’t working, the tunnel cannot be created. Alternatively, your browser might not establish a secure connection if there’s a problem with the Domain Name System (DNS).

Sometimes, incorrect network settings on your computer can also cause this error. Just as you need the right key to open a locked door, your browser needs the correct settings to establish a secure connection. If these settings are wrong, the connection fails, and you see the ERR TUNNEL CONNECTION FAILED error.

However, this error doesn’t necessarily mean there is a problem with your internet connection. You may still be able to access other websites (domain names) or use online applications without any issues. Essentially, the DNS or proxy server you’re using might be unable to resolve the domain name of the site you’re trying to visit. 

Furthermore, if you’re using a web browser other than Chrome, you can also experience issues that prevent them from loading a website. However, the ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED error message is unique to Google Chrome. Here is how it appears in Chrome:

In this case, the error message displayed by the browser doesn’t always directly reflect the root cause of the problem. Chrome’s ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED error might suggest that a website is down or has  moved to a new address. However, this is a general error message and may not accurately describe the issue.

Variations Of ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED

While the core issue of the error remains consistent, its appearance can vary depending on your browser, network configuration, and the specifics of the  web server you’re trying to reach. Below are some common variations of how this issue might present itself:

• ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED
• Secure connection through proxy server not available
• Proxy server connection fails in Google Chrome
• DNS Server Not Responding
• Browser unable to connect to the internet through a proxy
• 407 Proxy Authentication Required
• VPN tunnel cannot be established

Common Causes Of ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED

The issue behind the ERR TUNNEL CONNECTION FAILED error typically stems from problems with your browser’s proxy or DNS settings rather than your internet connection itself. Here are the primary causes:

Proxy Server Issues: If your browser is configured to use a proxy server and that server is either down, misconfigured, or not responding correctly, the  browser cannot establish a secure connection, leading to the error.

DNS Configuration Problems: The Domain Name System (DNS) translates domain names (like www.mywebsite.com) into IP addresses that computers can understand. If the DNS settings are incorrect or the DNS server is not working properly, it might be unable to resolve the domain, resulting in an error.

Misconfigured Browser Settings: Sometimes, incorrect or outdated settings in your browser can prevent it from creating the necessary secure tunnel for a connection. This might include incorrect proxy settings or other network-related configurations.

VPN or Security Software Interference: If you use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or certain security software, these might interfere with your connection, causing the browser to be unable to establish a tunnel to the website.

Usually, while the error suggests a connection issue, the underlying problem lies in how your browser’s network settings have been configured or because of your browser’s network settings or because of external services like a proxy or DNS server. Let’s explore possible solutions to remove the tunnel connection failed error.

How To Fix The ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED Error

Dealing with the NET::ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED error can be frustrating, but don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. These simple steps will help you troubleshoot the problem and return to browsing without interruptions.

Check & Disable Proxy Settings

One of the most common causes of this error is incorrect proxy settings. We often use proxies to add a layer of security or to access restricted content. However, if you don’t need to use a proxy, or if the one you’re using is causing problems, it’s best to disable it to avoid connection issues like the ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED error. Let’s start by checking these proxy settings on your Windows computer:

Open the Start menu and type Internet Options. Then, click on Internet Options from the search results.

Switch to the Connections tab and click on LAN settings.

When on the Local Area Network (LAN) Settings screen, check if you’re using a particular proxy server. If so, confirm the server details under the Proxy server.

By default, your internet connection is typically set up to detect proxy settings automatically. If this option is currently turned off, you might want to try enabling it temporarily; to do this, check the Automatically detect settings option:

Once you enable automatic proxy configuration, return to the browser and see if the error is resolved. If the ERR TUNNEL CONNECTION FAILED error persists, try to disable the proxy’s manual setup and automatic configuration, which means you will browse the web without a proxy.

If it was caused by proxy settings, following these steps should resolve the error. If the problem persists, you can try additional methods to get things working smoothly again.

Check Virtual Private Network (VPN) Connection

If you’re using a VPN, it might be causing the NET::ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED error. VPNs are great for privacy and accessing content from different regions. However, if they’re not configured correctly, they can interfere with your connection.

First, ensure your VPN is set up properly and connected to a stable server. If this doesn’t resolve the error, then go through the following steps to disconnect a VPN and then reconnect it:

1. Open your VPN app.
2. Disconnect from the current server.
3. Wait a few seconds, then reconnect.

If the error prevails, disconnect from the VPN and try loading the website again. Sometimes, the VPN might be the cause, and accessing the site without it can resolve the issue.

Reset Internet Settings

Sometimes, the ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED error can be triggered by issues with your internet settings. These settings control how your computer connects to the internet, and if something isn’t right, it can cause connection problems like ERR TUNNEL CONNECTION FAILED error. In this case, you need to reset the settings.

Here, you might have two questions. First, ‘How does this cause tunnel connection failed error’, and ‘What does resetting mean?’ If your IP address or DNS cache is outdated or corrupted, it might prevent your browser from reaching the website, leading to this error.

And “resetting the internet settings” means restoring your network configurations to their default state. This process can fix issues related to your internet connection by resetting settings associated with your IP address, DNS, and other network parameters.

When you reset these settings, your device will reconfigure itself to obtain IP addresses and flush the local DNS cache, which can resolve problems caused by incorrect or corrupted settings. This is particularly useful if you’ve manually changed settings or network-related errors, such as connection issues or slow browsing, are caused by outdated or misconfigured settings.

Here’s how to reset internet settings:

Open the Windows Command Prompt by typing cmd in the Start Menu and selecting Run as administrator.

Now, type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each of them.

IPCONFIG /FLUSHDNS
NBTSTAT –R
NETSH INT IP RESET
NETSH WINSOCK RESET

Here are the commands, along with their purposes:

1. IPCONFIG /FLUSHDNS: This clears the DNS cache, forcing the system to request new DNS information for websites and other network resources.
2. NBTSTAT –R: Flushes and reloads the NetBIOS name cache and re-registers all NetBIOS names with the network.
3. NETSH INT IP RESET: It resets the TCP/IP stack to its default state; this can resolve issues related to IP configuration and connectivity.
4. NETSH WINSOCK RESET: Resets the Winsock catalog to its default state, which can fix issues related to network connectivity caused by corrupted Winsock settings.

After the last command – NETSH WINSOCK RESET – restart your web browser to see if the NET::ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED error has disappeared. If so, you’re good to go and browse the web. Otherwise, your DNS configuration might be the source of this error.

Change DNS Server

Your Domain Name System, also called DNS, plays a vital role in connecting you to websites by translating domain names into IP addresses. However, a problematic DNS server can delay or fail the process that resolves a domain name, leading to connection errors.

If you’ve reached this solution, switching to a public DNS like Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS can improve speed and reliability, reducing the chances of encountering ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED error.

Now, the point is, why switch to public DNS servers? Public DNS services like Google DNS and Cloudflare DNS are widely used because they are fast, secure, and reliable. They are maintained by large organizations that focus on performance and privacy.

When you use these public DNS servers, you improve browsing speed and can reduce errors caused by DNS problems. Here are the simple, straightforward steps to configure DNS settings in Windows:

Navigate to Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center. Next, click on Change adapter settings on the left-hand side.

Right-click on the active network connection that you’re using and select Properties.

Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Select Use the following DNS server addresses. Then, provide the preferred and alternate DNS server addresses. For this tutorial, we’re using Cloudflare DNS; however, you can find Google DNS server addresses below:

• For Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
• For Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1.

Lastly, click OK to save the changes.

Important: If you’re using IPv6, then double-click on Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6). The remaining steps are the same, but you should provide Cloudflare DNS IPv6 addresses. Similarly, if you want to use Google DNS IPv6 addresses, visit Google’s public DNS addresses docs to get IPv6 addresses. Furthermore, if you’re already using a public DNS server, try switching to the default server. We’ve seen some instances where switching to the default server (provided by your Internet Service Provider) solves the problem.

Reset Chrome Settings

If you’re still experiencing the ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED error, resetting Chrome to its default settings might help. If you do this, it won’t delete your bookmarks or saved passwords, but it will remove extensions, clear your browser cache, and reset any custom settings you’ve made. Here are the instructions for resetting Chrome to its default settings:

Open Chrome and click on the three dots in the upper-right corner. Go to Settings.

Page down then click Reset settings in the left sidebar. After that, select Restore settings to their original defaults.

 Confirm by clicking Reset settings.

If the error persists, consider reinstalling Chrome completely. If the issue persists, you can try switching temporarily to another browser (like Edge or Firefox) to see if this also returns a connection error. If the error remains, you could have issues with your proxy or DNS settings. In this case, you need to refer to the corresponding sections in this tutorial and see if you’ve correctly followed the instructions.

FAQs

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