How To Fix ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT Error

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According to Stat Counter Global Stats, Google Chrome is the most popular web browser due to its user-friendly interface and speed. However, you may still face some issues while using it. One of the problems includes seeing the ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT error message.

Encountering the ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT error can be frustrating, especially when attempting to access a secure website. This error message often appears in Google Chrome and indicates an issue with the SSL certificate used by the website.

These certificates are essential for establishing a secure connection between your website and the browser, ensuring that any data exchanged remains private and secure.

In this tutorial, we’ll explore the importance of SSL certificates and guide you through the steps to resolve the ERR BAD SSL CLIENT AUTH CERT error. By the end, you will understand what causes this error and how to fix it, so you can get back to browsing securely and smoothly.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Regularly update Google Chrome to avoid security issues.
2. Ensure your device’s date and time are correct to validate SSL certificates.
3. Vacate your web browser cache and cookies to resolve potential conflicts.
4. Disable conflicting browser extensions that might interfere with SSL.
5. Keep your operating system updated for enhanced security and performance.
6. Disable the QUIC protocol in Chrome if it causes errors.
7. Temporarily turn off antivirus software’s SSL/TLS filtering to troubleshoot.
8. As a website owner, verify SSL certificate configuration and client authentication settings.
9. Ensure the SSL certificate chain is complete and correct.
10. Renew expired SSL certificates promptly.
11. Regularly update your server software to maintain security and functionality.

What Is The ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT Error?

The ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT error message typically occurs in Google Chrome. It signifies that the browser cannot authenticate the SSL client certificate provided by the website or the user.

This error often arises when a website requires a valid client certificate for establishing a secure connection, but the one presented by the browser is invalid, expired, or not recognized by the server. To understand the ERR BAD SSL CLIENT AUTH CERT error in Chrome, you should learn how SSL works.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a security protocol that is commonly used. It is designed to establish an encrypted connection between a server and a client. This connection is typically between a web server (such as a website) and a web browser or between a mail server and a mail client (like Outlook). The main function of an SSL is to ensure that all information exchanged between the web server and browsers remains confidential and unaltered. Here’s a high-level overview of how SSL works:

1. Handshake Process: The browser connects to the web server and requests a secure connection. The server responds with its SSL certificate which holds the server’s public key.
2. Certificate Verification: The browser checks the certificate against a list of trusted Certificate Authorities (CAs). If trusted, the browser proceeds.
3. Session Key Creation: The browser and server create a unique session key using the server’s public key for encryption. This session key is used for the duration of the session.
4. Encrypted Data Transfer: All data transferred between the browser and server is encrypted utilizing this session key, ensuring data privacy and integrity.

This encryption ensures that any information exchanged, like passwords and credit card numbers, remains private and secure. Therefore, as a website owner, it’s essential to secure your website with an SSL certificate, whether you have a blog or an online store.

There’s also a TLS (Transport Layer Security) protocol, which is an updated version of SSL. It is a more secure and efficient protocol created to provide privacy and data integrity between two communicating applications. Although TLS is an evolution of SSL, the terms are often used interchangeably. Key improvements of TLS over SSL include enhanced security and performance.

When the ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT error occurs, it usually indicates issues such as an invalid or expired SSL certificate, incorrect server configuration, or conflicts with your browser’s settings. Here’s a detailed look into why this error happens:

• Invalid Certificate: The client certificate presented by the browser might be invalid or not recognized by the server. This can occur if the certificate is self-signed or may be issued by an untrusted certificate authority (CA).
• Expired Certificate: If the client certificate has expired, the server will reject it, causing the error.
• Certificate Revocation: Sometimes, the issuing CA revokes certificates. If a certificate has been revoked and the server checks for revocation, it will result in an error.
• Missing Certificate: The error can also occur if the browser does not have a client certificate to present when the server requires one.
• Configuration Issues: Misconfigurations on the server or the client’s side can also lead to this error. For instance, incorrect SSL/TLS settings or policies might prevent the proper use of client certificates.

When you try to visit a website, Chrome checks whether the required website has installed an SSL certificate. If your web browser can’t provide a secure connection, it will return the ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT error.

Causes Of The ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT Error

Understanding the causes of the ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT error can help you fix it more effectively. Here are the common reasons why this error might occur:

• Invalid or Expired SSL Certificate: If a website’s SSL certificate is no longer valid or has expired, your browser will reject the connection.
• Unsynchronized Date and Time Settings: Incorrect date and time settings on your device can prevent SSL certificates from being validated properly.
• Third-Party Software Interference: Antivirus programs or firewalls sometimes interfere with SSL certificate verification.
• Outdated Browser or Operating System: Running an old version of your browser or OS can lead to compatibility issues with SSL/TLS protocols.
• Corrupt Browser Cache: Sometimes, your browser’s cache can hold outdated or corrupt data, causing SSL certificate errors.
• Protocol Settings Issues: Incorrect or conflicting SSL/TLS protocol settings in your browser can cause this error.

Understanding these causes can help you pinpoint and resolve the ERR BAD SSL CLIENT AUTH CERT error quickly, ensuring a secure browsing experience. Now, let’s explore different methods to fix the bad ssl client auth cert error.

How To Resolve ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT As A Website Visitor?

As a website visitor, you can follow various methods to remove a bad SSL client auth cert error. Let’s start with the easy ones and go onto more advanced solutions.

Update Google Chrome Browser

Using the most updated version of Google Chrome is essential for maintaining a secure and smooth browsing experience, as updates often include security patches and improvements that can fix errors like ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT. And, err bad ssl client auth cert isn’t the only one. You may encounter various other errors like:

• ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE
• ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID
• ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID
• ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
• ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR
• This site can’t provide a secure connection.

Therefore, using the latest version of the browser is important. So, how do you check if you’re using the newest version of your browser? Here are the steps:

Open your Chrome browser window. Go to ⋮ → Settings.  Page down and click on About Chrome in the left-hand menu. Chrome will routinely check for updates and install them automatically if they are available.

Once the Chrome updates are installed, restart your browser to apply the changes. Keeping Chrome updated helps ensure you have the latest security features and bug fixes, reducing the chances of encountering SSL errors.

Sync Device’s Date & Time

SSL certificates have a validity period, and if your device’s date and time are incorrect, the certificate might appear invalid. Therefore, having the correct date and time on your device is crucial for SSL certificates to be validated properly. Incorrect date/time settings can lead to errors like ERR BAD SSL CLIENT AUTH CERT.

If this is the case with you, you need to synchronize the date and time on your device. To do this on Windows, click on the Start menu and select Settings (represented by a gear icon).

Click on Time & Language, then Date & Time. Toggle on the options for Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically. Alternatively, you can smash the Change button to set the correct date and time manually.

If you click the Change button in the previous step, you’ll be welcomed with another window to set a date and time and save the changes.

After that click the Sync now button; this will help ensure that your device shows the same date and time as Microsoft servers.

Lastly, return to the browser and see if the error is resolved. If so, you’re good to go. Otherwise, move to the next solution.

Clear Browser Cache & Cookies

Browser data, such as cache and cookies, are important in improving web browsing speed and experience by storing website resources and user preferences. However, sometimes this data can become outdated or corrupted, leading to conflicts and errors when accessing websites.

For instance, if a website updates its SSL certificate, the browser might still hold the old certificate in its cache, causing SSL-related errors like ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT.

Similarly, cookies can become corrupted or outdated, leading to authentication issues or incorrect website behavior. Clearing cache and cookies regularly can help resolve these conflicts, ensuring a smoother and error-free browsing experience.

To clear or remove cache and cookies data in Google Chrome, launch your Chrome browser. Then, access settings by navigating to ⋮ (at the top-right corner)  → Settings.

Scroll down to click on Privacy and security. Then, click on Delete browsing data.

After that pick a time range (e.g., last 24 hours, all time). Next, check the boxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. Optionally, you can also select Browsing history. Lastly, click Delete data to remove the data for the selected items.

As we mentioned earlier, the bad SSL client auth cert error is common when using Chrome. However, if you’re an Edge user, refer to the following section to clear your cache and cookies. How to Clear Cache and Cookies in Edge

After clearing browser data, return to the web page and see if the error persists.

Delete Conflicting Browser Extensions

If you’re using the latest Chrome, have the correct date and time on your device, and have cleared cache and cookies but are still facing the error, your Chrome extensions might be conflicting. Now, you may be thinking about how extensions can cause conflicts.

Let’s give an example. Imagine you have an extension that enhances online shopping experiences by modifying the web page layout and blocking ads. If this extension injects scripts that accidentally block critical SSL/TLS headers or manipulate secure elements of the web page, it can cause Chrome to fail the client certificate authentication process, resulting in the ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT error.

To prevent such conflicts, you can update extensions to ensure all extensions are updated, as software developers frequently release updates to fix bugs and enhance compatibility. You can also check permissions to review the permissions requested by each extension and disable any that request unnecessary access to security-related settings.

If the extensions are updated and have correct permissions, then you may need to deactivate all extensions temporarily to see if the error resolves. To do this: Open Chrome browser and head over to ⋮ → Extensions → Manage Extensions.

Toggle off all extensions to see if the error resolves.

After that, re-enable each extension individually and refresh your page to see if the error persists. This will help you identify which extension causes the error. Once identified, click Remove to delete the problematic extension.

Update Your Device

Keeping your operating system (OS) updated is essential for several reasons. Regular updates provide important security patches that protect your device from vulnerabilities and cyber threats. These updates can improve system stability and performance by fixing bugs and enhancing existing features.

Moreover, updates can introduce new functionalities and compatibility improvements, ensuring that your device can run the latest applications smoothly and can resolve errors like ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT. To keep your device updated, you can follow the below instructions:

Click on the Start menu, then on the gear icon to open the Settings menu. Then, click on Update & Security.

In the Windows Update section, click on the Check for updates button.

Windows will search for available updates and download them automatically.

After the download is complete, it will start installing automatically.

You may need to restart your computer to complete the installation process.

Additional Tips

Instead of checking and installing updates when you face an error, it’s better if your device is set to receive updates automatically. This setting is usually in the same Update & Security → Windows Update menu under Advanced options.

Occasionally, it might be necessary to manually download and install updates, particularly if automatic updates are not working as expected. You can visit the Microsoft Update Catalog website to find specific updates.

Disable QUIC Protocol

The QUIC protocol is a newer technology designed to make browsing faster and more secure. However, it can sometimes cause errors like BAD SSL CLIENT AUTH CERT in Google Chrome due to conflicts with SSL certificates.

Here are the steps to disable QUIC protocol in Chrome’s Experimental Settings:

Write chrome://flags/ in the address bar and press Enter. In the search bar at the top, type quic to find the setting. Then, click on the dropdown menu next to Experimental QUIC protocol and select Disabled. Lastly, click the Relaunch button at the bottom to restart Chrome with the new settings.

After disabling the QUIC protocol, return to your browser and see if the error still appears. If the problem persists, consider deactivating antivirus software.

Temporarily Turn Off Antivirus Software

Avast Antivirus includes a feature that filters SSL/TLS traffic to protect users from threats. However, this feature can cause issues with secure connections, leading to errors such as ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT. In this case, disabling SSL/TLS filtering can help resolve these issues.

Here’s how to identify and disable this feature in Avast Antivirus:

Click the Avast antivirus icon in the system tray or find Avast in your Start menu and open it.

In the Avast user interface, click on the Menu button in the upper-right corner.

Then, select Settings from the dropdown menu.

In the Settings menu, click on Protection in the left-hand panel. Then, choose Core Shields from the options. Scroll down to the Configure shield settings section and click on Web Shield.

In the Web Shield settings, look for the option labeled Enable HTTPS scanning. Uncheck this box to disable SSL/TLS filtering.

Now, close the Avast settings window. Then restart your web browser to apply the changes and check if the SSL/TLS-related error persists.

If disabling HTTPS scanning resolves the issue, consider keeping it off, or searching for a less intrusive security solution. If the problem continues, you may need to move to the last solution you can try as a website visitor.

Clear Certificates In Google Chrome

If any of the previous solutions didn’t work for you, then you may try clearing certificates in your browser. For this tutorial, let’s learn how to clear certificates in Chrome, which involves accessing the browser’s security settings to manage and remove stored certificates. This process can help fix issues related to SSL/TLS errors or outdated certificates.

To fix this, go to ⋮ → Settings → Privacy and security → Security.

In the Security section, scroll down and click on Manage certificates.

In the Certificate window, you will see different tabs such as “Personal”, “Other People”, “Intermediate Certification Authorities”, etc. To delete a certificate, select the appropriate tab, choose your certificate, and click the Remove button.

If prompted, confirm that you want to delete the certificate. Now, close and reopen Google Chrome to apply the changes.

Important: Before deleting certificates, consider exporting and saving important ones, especially if you need them later. Moreover, periodically review and manage your certificates to ensure they are updated and relevant.

How To Fix The ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT Error As A Website Owner

Previously, we’ve learned how to resolve the err bad ssl client auth cert error as a site visitor. In this section, we’ll take you through the various methods you can use to get rid of the ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT error as a website owner.

Verify SSL Certificate Configuration

Having a valid SSL certificate correctly installed is crucial for securing your website and avoiding errors like ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT. When an SSL certificate is not properly installed, it can lead to trust issues between your server and your visitors’ browsers, resulting in various SSL errors.

These errors not only disrupt the user experience but also reduce trust in your website. By ensuring proper installation of your SSL certificate, you facilitate secure data transmission and reinforce user trust, thereby enhancing the overall security and reliability of your site.

Here are the steps to check SSL certificate configuration:

Log in to your web hosting account. Navigate to the SSL/TLS settings section. Ensure that your SSL certificate is active and correctly assigned to your domain.

If you’re a Hosted user, you can do it by going to cPanel → Security → SSL/TLS Status. The green lock shows that the SSL is correctly installed and active to this particular domain name.

However, you may click View Certificate to SSL certificate-related details, including domains, issuer, and expiration.

Furthermore, you can also use various online tools to scan your website for SSL configuration issues. For this tutorial, we’ll use SSL Labs’ SSL Test. Provide your hostname (domain name) and click Submit.

It may take a few moments depending on your internet speed to show results. If everything is correctly configured and installed, you’ll get an A or A+ overall rating with other details.

If any issues are found, update or reinstall your SSL certificate following your hosting provider’s instructions.

Check Client Authentication Settings

To address issues related to client authentication, start by accessing your server’s SSL/TLS settings to inspect the requirements for client certificates. If your server mandates client certificates, clients without valid certificates may encounter errors.

If client certificates are required and causing issues, you have two options: either disable the requirement for client certificates or ensure that every client has a valid and proper certificate. This approach will help in preventing connection errors and ensuring smooth server-client communication.

Ensure Correct SSL Certificate Chain

An SSL certificate chain, also known as a certificate hierarchy, is a series of certificates that link your website’s SSL certificate to a trusted root certificate authority (CA). This chain ensures that the SSL certificate is verified by a trusted source, maintaining secure connections for your users.

In this case, you should verify that your server, intermediate, and root certificates are correctly installed and chained. You can also use an SSL checker tool to review your certificate installation. If problems are detected, reconfigure your SSL setup properly. And, if the SSL has expired, you need to renew it to secure your website.

Update Server Software

If you have no issues with your SSL, you may need to update the web server software. Why is it important to do so? Keeping your server software updated is essential for maintaining security and performance. Outdated software has vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit, leading to errors like ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT.

Here’s how you can check and update server software:

1. Access Server Control Panel: Log in to your hosting control panel or server management interface.
2. Check for Updates: Look for updates for your web server software (e.g., Apache, Nginx).
3. Apply Updates: Follow the instructions to install any available updates.
4. Restart Server: Restart your server to apply the updates and ensure all changes take effect.

Regularly updating your server software helps protect your website and ensures a smooth, error-free user experience.

FAQs

Other Related Tutorials & Blogs:

– How To Fix ERR_FILE_NOT_FOUND Error In Google Chrome

– How To Fix ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED In Chrome

– How To Fix ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR

– How To Fix ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE in Google Chrome

– How to Fix ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS Error