How To Fix: This Site Can’t Provide A Secure Connection Error

Have you ever wanted to visit a website only to see an error message saying, This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection? It’s a frustrating experience and makes one wonder if the site is indeed safe to use.

This error often appears because of issues with your website’s SSL certificate, which is required for establishing a secure connection between the website and your browser. Without a secure connection, your data might be at risk, and the website can lose the trust of its visitors.

So, addressing this error is essential as it affects the security and reputation of a website. If your site can’t establish a secure connection, visitors may leave and not return. This will hurt your traffic and SEO rankings.

In this tutorial, we explore what this error means, and the common causes behind it. We also provide step-by-step fixes to get your site back on track. By the end, you’ll have the tools and knowledge to get your site back on track and secure.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Ensure your SSL certificate is valid and properly installed.
2. Keep your computer and server date and time settings accurate.
3. Clear your web browser cookies and cache to resolve connection issues.
4. Disable problematic browser extensions that might interfere with SSL.
5. Force HTTPS connections to ensure all traffic is secure.
6. Disable the QUIC protocol if it causes SSL connection problems.
7. Contact your hosting provider for support with persistent issues.

What does the This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection Error Mean?

When you see a message displaying the error This Site Cant Provide a Secure Connection, your website cannot establish a secure link with your browser. This usually happens when there is a problem with your SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate.

Now, what is an SSL certificate? An SSL certificate is like a digital passport for your website. It ensures that the data sent between your website and your visitors is encrypted and secure. When your SSL certificate works correctly, you see a padlock icon that tells you it is a secure site.

Previously, this padlock was next to your website’s URL in the browser. However, in the latest browser versions, you must click the tune icon for it to be visible.

The This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection error appears due to a variety of reasons, some of which are listed below:

• Outdated SSL Certificate: If your SSL certificate has expired, the browser won’t trust your site.
• Misconfigured SSL Certificate: Incorrect settings can prevent the SSL certificate from working properly.
• Missing SSL Certificate in Local Environment: If you’re developing locally, you might not have an SSL certificate setup.
• Incorrect Date and Time Settings: If the time and date on your computer or server are wrong, it can cause issues with the SSL certificate.
• Weak SSL Protocol or Cipher Suite: Using outdated security protocols can lead to this error.
• Firewall or Antivirus Blocking the Connection: Sometimes, security software can mistakenly block a secure connection.
• Browser Bugs or Outdated Version: An old or buggy browser can also be the culprit.
• Browser Extensions Gone Bad: Some browser extensions can interfere with secure connections.
• Mixed Content Issues: Your site can trigger this error if it has both secure (HTTPS) and non-secure (HTTP) content.

Moreover, you may encounter this error if you’ve got a DNS Settings-related issue. When this error occurs, visitors can’t access your site securely, which has several serious implications.

First, loss of trust is a significant concern. Visitors who see a warning that your site is not secure may feel uneasy about continuing to browse or interact with your site. This warning can lead to a negative perception of your brand. Trust is crucial for maintaining a loyal audience and converting visitors into customers.

Second, the error can lead to a poor user experience. If visitors find it difficult to access your site, they may leave and decide not to return. The inconvenience of being unable to access the information they need easily can drive them to find alternatives, and you risk potentially losing them as regular visitors or customers.

Finally, there’s the SEO impact. Search engines like Yahoo and Google prioritize secure websites in their rankings. If your site isn’t safe, it can hurt your search engine rankings, leading to reduced visibility and a drop in organic traffic.

This can significantly impact your site’s performance and overall online presence. Ensure your site is secure; this will maintain trust and user experience and support your SEO efforts, keeping your site competitive in search engine results.

Error Variations

When your website cannot provide a secure connection, the error message you see can vary depending on your web browser. Here are some common variations you might encounter:

• ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR
• ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH
• SSL Handshake Failed
• Your connection is not private
• SSL_ERROR_RX_RECORD_TOO_LONG
• The page cannot be displayed
• Can’t connect securely to this page
• Safari can’t find server
• Safari can’t establish a secure connection to the server
• This website may not be secure
• SSL Certificate Error
• The connection is not private
• Secure Connection Failed.
• SSL_ERROR_NO_CYPHER_OVERLAP
• Your connection is not secure

Each error message points to a problem with the SSL connection, but they might appear differently depending on the issue. Understanding these variations can help you diagnose and fix the problem more effectively.

Let’s explore how it appears on Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.

Google Chrome

Chrome provides a message saying, “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” (as seen below) because a domain name uses an unsupported protocol. It also provides the error code and a button to show a brief but exact error-related description.

Microsoft Edge

Like Chrome, Edge also shows an error message with an error code indicating that the domain you’re trying to visit uses an unsupported protocol. However, it doesn’t provide any further details.

Mozilla Firefox

Unlike Chrome and Edge, Firefox shows a “Secure Connection Failed” message with a detailed error description and a possible solution. Furthermore, you can click the Try again button to reload the page.

Now, you know what the “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” error means, why it occurs, and its variations. It’s time to dive into the step-by-step fixes.

How to Resolve “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” Error

There are numerous solutions to fix this error. Let’s start with the basic ones.

Check SSL Certificate Expiry

When you see the “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” error, one of the first things to check is whether your SSL certificate has expired. An expired SSL certificate is like an ID card past its expiration date – it’s no longer valid, and browsers won’t trust it.

To check this, open your WordPress website in a browser. Then, click on the tune icon next to your site’s URL.

Click on the padlock icon.

Next, hit the Certificate is valid.

Now, you will see a screen showing certificate-related information, including the validity period.

If your SSL certificate has expired, you should renew it for your website to fix the issue. If it’s not expired, you may have some problems with its configuration.

Reconfigure SSL Certificate

Sometimes, even if your SSL certificate isn’t expired, it might not be set up correctly. Misconfigurations can cause the “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” error. Here’s how to ensure your SSL certificate is installed and configured properly:

First, check your hosting provider’s documentation/tutorials. Different hosting providers have various methods for installing SSL certificates. Look for a step-by-step guide in your hosting provider’s documentation.

If you’re hosting your site on Hosted, then you should go through the following steps:

1. Get into your cPanel account and head for the Security > SSL/TLS.

Scroll down and locate the Manage SSL sites option in the bottom-right corner. Click on it.

2. Upload your SSL certificate files (Certificate, Private Key, and Certificate Authority Bundle) in the respective fields. You can also browse certificate files. Once you have populated the required fields, click the Install Certificate button.

3. After installing the SSL certificate, you can verify it by visiting your website. If the padlock icon appears, it indicates a secure connection.

Alternatively, you can use various SSL tools to check for configuration issues. These tools check for common problems and provide suggestions to resolve them. Here are a few you can use:

SSL Labs’ SSL Test: Visit SSL Labs, enter your hostname, and click Submit to start the test. This tool will provide a detailed report on your SSL configuration, including any issues and how to fix them. If all is well, then you should get an A or A+ score as follows:

Why No Padlock: Visit Why No Padlock, enter your website URL, and click Test Page to run the test. This tool helps identify mixed content issues and other SSL problems. You should pass this test if all is ok.

SSL Checker: Visit SSL Checker, enter your server hostname, and click Check SSL to check your certificate. It will verify the installation and configuration of your SSL certificate. If everything is configured correctly, you will see green check marks (see below).

Once you install and reconfigure an SSL certificate for your website, you should be able to access the website. Otherwise, move to the next solution.

Correct Date and Time Settings

Did you know that incorrect date and time settings can cause the “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” error? It might sound surprising, but your computer and server need to have the correct date and time for SSL certificates to work properly.

SSL certificates have specific start and end dates. If your computer’s date and time are wrong, it might think the SSL certificate is expired or not yet valid. This mismatch can lead to an SSL error, making it impossible to create a secure connection.

Here’s how you can check and update the date and time settings on your computer (using Windows OS) and server:

Type “change date and time” on the Windows search bar and click on Change the date and time option.

Make sure the Set time automatically is turned on and you are in the correct time zone. If it’s off, turn it on or click Change to set the date and time manually. If required, click Sync now to synchronize with an Internet time server.

If you ensure your computer and server have the correct date and time settings, you can prevent the “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” error and visit your website successfully.

Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

When you access a site, your browser stores some data in its cache and cookies to make future visits faster and more convenient, this process is called browser caching. However, if this stored data becomes outdated or corrupted, it can interfere with your browser’s ability to establish a secure connection. Clearing the cache and cookies removes this outdated data and forces the browser to fetch fresh data from the website.

Here’s how you can clear the cache and cookies in various browsers on Windows:

Google Chrome

Press Ctrl + Shift + Del to get a screen popped up. Switch to the Basic tab. Choose a time range and tick mark the two boxes named Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data. Lastly, click Delete data to clear cache and cookies in Chrome.

Mozilla Firefox

Press Ctrl + Shift + Del to directly open the following window on Firefox. Now check mark Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages. Finally, click Clear.

Microsoft Edge

Like Chrome and Firefox, press Ctrl + Shift + Del to open the Delete browsing data window. Once opened, choose a time range. Check the Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files options and click Clear now to clear the browser cache and cookies.

By clearing your browser’s cache and cookies, you can resolve the “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” error and ensure that your browser is loading the most up-to-date information from your website. This straightforward step can often fix the issue and restore access to your site.

Important: If clearing the browser cache and cookies doesn’t work, try updating your web browser to the latest version or reinstalling it.

Disable Browser Extension

Web browser extensions are small software that add extra features to your browser. While many are helpful, some can interfere with your browser’s ability to establish a secure connection.

This interference can be due to outdated extensions, conflicts between extensions, or extensions that block essential security protocols.

Here’s how you can identify and disable problematic extensions in different browsers:

Google Chrome

To identify and disable faulty extensions, open Chrome. Click the three dots in the upper-right corner. Go to Extensions > Manage Extensions.

You’ll see a list of all installed extensions. Toggle the switch next to an extension to disable it.

After disabling each extension, check if the error is resolved. If it is, you’ve found the culprit. Otherwise, enable it and disable the next extension to see if that is causing the SSL error. Once you find the culprit, remove it by clicking Remove.

Mozilla Firefox

Open Firefox and press Ctrl + Shift + A to reach the Extensions page. Click the blue toggle switch to disable every extension.

Check your site after disabling each extension to identify the one causing the issue. Once you recognize the faulty extension, remove it by clicking the three dots next to it and selecting Remove.

Microsoft Edge

Open Edge, press Ctrl + Shift + A, and Select Extensions from the pop-up window.

On the next screen, ensure you’re in the My Extensions area, where you’ll see a list of all installed extensions. Toggle the switch to disable each browser extension.

Test your site after disabling each extension to find the problematic one. Once you identify the faulty extension, remove it by clicking the Remove button (located under the extension’s name).

Important! We recommend you disable ad-blocker extensions first because they usually cause SSL errors.

Force an HTTPS Connection

Sometimes, your website might still show the “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” error because it’s not being forced to use HTTPS. What does this mean? If your website allows connections over HTTP (which is not secure) plus HTTPS (a secure connection), visitors might still access the HTTP version, leading to security warnings. By forcing HTTPS, you ensure that all visitors are directed to a secure version of your website, preventing the secure connection error.

To fix it, go to cPanel > Domains.

Turn the toggle on to enable force HTTPS redirects.

This should let you access your website. Otherwise, try the next method.

Important: You can also enable Force HTTPS redirects by editing the .htaccess file on the Apache server and conf.d on the Nginx server.

Turn off the QUIC Protocol Support

If any of the previous solutions didn’t work, you might be encountering this error due to QUIC Protocol Support.

QUIC (Quick UDP Internet Connections), developed by Google, is a protocol that improves web performance and security. While it speeds up internet connections, it can occasionally interfere with SSL connections, especially if the server or client doesn’t fully support it.

If your browser or server has trouble with QUIC, it might lead to SSL connection issues, resulting in the “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” error. Disabling QUIC can help ensure that your connections rely on the more widely supported protocols like TCP and HTTP/2.

To fix this, open Google Chrome. In the browser’s address bar, write chrome://flags and press Enter. Now, type “quic” in the search box to find the Experimental QUIC protocol setting. Click the dropdown menu next to it and select Disabled. Lastly, restart Chrome to apply the changes.

The process is the same for Microsoft Edge users. However, you’ll type the edge://flags URL in your browser.

Unlike Chrome and Edge, Firefox does not support QUIC by default. If you have an extension or configuration that enables it, you can disable it by removing the extension or resetting the configuration.

Change Your DNS Settings

If the “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” error is still coming up, you might have issues with your DNS settings.

What is DNS? DNS stands for Domain Name System. It’s like the internet’s phonebook. When you type a website’s address (like www.example.com) into your browser, the DNS translates that address into an IP address that computers use to identify each other on the network. This process helps your browser find and connect to the right website.

So, if your DNS settings are incorrect or outdated, your browser might have trouble connecting securely to a website, leading to the error message.

To fix DNS settings for secure connections, open the Windows Control Panel and go to Network and Internet.

Click on Network and Sharing Center.

Click Change adapter settings on the left side.

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

Check mark the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and hit the Properties button.

Ensure you’re on the General tab. Select Use the following DNS server addresses option and populate the correct DNS IP addresses. For instance, if you want to use Google’s public DNS, you can enter “8.8.8.8” and “8.8.4.4”. Then, press OK to save the changes.

Finally, restart your computer to apply changes.

Important: Using a reliable DNS service can help ensure a secure connection.

Disable IPv6

If any of the previous solutions don’t work, you should try disabling IPv6, which is the latest version of the Internet Protocol (IP), designed to replace IPv4.

However, some websites and networks may still have issues with IPv6, causing connection problems. Disabling IPv6 can help your computer use IPv4 instead, which might resolve the SSL connection error.

To disable it on Windows, you need to go through similar steps to those you used in the previous solution:

1. Navigate to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
2. Click Change adapter settings on the left.
3. Right-click on your functional network connection and select Properties.
4. In the Networking tab, locate the Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) option. Uncheck the box next to it to disable IPv6. Lastly, click OK to save the changes.

Restart your computer and revisit your website to see if the error persists.

If All Failed

Sometimes, the “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” error can be driven by server issues you cannot fix without assistance. In such cases, it’s best to contact your hosting provider for support. We explain when to reach out and the information to provide to get the help you need quickly.

• SSL Certificate Issues: If you’ve tried renewing and reconfiguring your SSL certificate but are still facing issues, your web hosting provider can help ensure everything is set up correctly.
• Server Configuration Problems: Sometimes, server settings should be adjusted to support secure connections, and your hosting provider has the access and expertise to make these changes.
• Persistent Errors: If you’ve tried all troubleshooting steps and still see the “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” error, there can be a deeper issue that requires professional attention.
• Server Downtime: If your website is frequently down or experiencing connectivity issues, your hosting provider can check for server-side problems.

When you contact your hosting provider, ensure you give them as much information as possible to help them diagnose and fix the problem quickly. Here’s what you should include:

• Tell them what error you are getting.
• Mention if the error appears on all devices and browsers or just specific ones.
• List the troubleshooting steps you’ve already tried.
• Mention if you’ve disabled QUIC protocol support or forced HTTPS connections.
• Provide any specific error messages or codes you’ve encountered.
• Give the information about your SSL certificate, such as its type (e.g., self-signed, Let’s Encrypt, commercial), expiration date, and any recent changes or renewals.
• Mention your hosting plan (e.g., shared hosting, VPS, dedicated server).
• Include details about your server configuration (e.g., Apache, Nginx, PHP version).

If you provide detailed information and describe the problem, your hosting provider can diagnose and fix the issue efficiently and keep your website secure and accessible.

FAQs

Other Blogs of Interest:

– How To Fix ERR_CONNECTION_RESET

– How To Fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Error

– How to Fix 502 Bad Gateway Error in WordPress

– How To Fix ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR

– How To Fix NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID Error