How to Fix HTTPS Compatibility 116/117 ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR with Chrome

If you are using Google Chrome as your web browser, you may have encountered an error message that says ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR when trying to access some websites. This error indicates that there is a problem with the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol, which is used to establish a secure connection between your browser and the web server.

In this article, we will explain what causes this error, how to troubleshoot it, and how to prevent it from happening again.

What Causes ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR?

The ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR can be caused by various factors, such as:

• Incorrect date and time settings on your computer or device
• Corrupted or outdated browser cache and site settings
• Invalid or expired SSL certificates on the web server
• Incompatible SSL protocols or cipher suites between your browser and the web server
• Interference from antivirus software, firewall, VPN, or proxy settings
• Malware infection or malicious modification of the hosts file

How to Troubleshoot ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR?

Depending on the cause of the error, there are different ways to troubleshoot it. Here are some common methods that you can try:

Solution 1: Adjust the Date and Time Settings

One of the most common reasons for the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR is having incorrect date and time settings on your computer or device. This can affect the validity of the SSL certificates and cause Chrome to reject the connection. To fix this, you need to sync your date and time settings with the online servers. Here are the steps for Windows and Mac users:

Windows

Step 1: Right-click the taskbar clock on the bottom right corner of the screen.

Step 2: Select Adjust date and time.

Step 3: Turn on the switches next to Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically to sync your PC’s date and time with the Microsoft servers.

Mac

Step 1: Open the System Preferences app.

Step 2: Select Date & Time.

Step 3: Select the Lock icon and enter your Mac’s admin password.

Step 4: Enable the checkboxes next to Set date and time automatically and Set time zone automatically using current location under the Date & Time and Time Zone tabs.

Step 5: That should prompt your Mac to fetch accurate date and time data from the Apple servers based on location.

After adjusting the date and time settings, reload the web page and see if the error is gone.

Solution 2: Clear the Browser Cache and Site Settings

Another possible reason for the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR is having corrupted or outdated browser cache and site settings. This can interfere with the SSL handshake process and cause Chrome to display the error message. To fix this, you need to clear the browser cache and site settings in Chrome. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Open Chrome.

Step 2: Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (PC) or Command + Shift + Backspace (Mac) to load Chrome’s Clear browsing data pop-up pane.

Step 3: Switch to the Advanced tab and select All Time on the Time range drop-down menu.

Step 4: Check the boxes next to the following:

• Cookies and other site data
• Cached images and files
• Site settings
• Hosted app data

Step 5: Select Clear data.

After clearing the browser cache and site settings, reload the web page and see if the error is gone.

Solution 3: Clear SSL State (Windows Only)

If you are using Windows, you can also try clearing your PC’s SSL state to fix any SSL-related issues. This can be done via the Internet Properties applet in Control Panel. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Open the Start menu (or press Ctrl + S) and type Internet Options. Then, select Open to load Internet Properties.

Step 2: Switch to the Content tab.

Step 3: Select Clear SSL Cache.

Step 4: Click OK.

After clearing your PC’s SSL state, reload the web page and see if the error is gone.

Solution 4: Tweak the Website URL

Sometimes, tweaking the website URL can also help resolve the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR. This can be done by adding or removing certain prefixes or suffixes in the URL. Here are some examples:

• If you are using https://example.com, try using http://example.com instead.
• If you are using http://example.com, try using https://example.com instead.
• If you are using www.example.com, try using example.com instead.
• If you are using example.com, try using www.example.com instead.

After tweaking the website URL, reload the web page and see if the error is gone.

Solution 5: Flush DNS Cache

Another possible solution for the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR is flushing your DNS cache. DNS (Domain Name System) is a service that translates domain names into IP addresses. Sometimes, your DNS cache may contain outdated or corrupted entries that can cause SSL errors. To fix this, you need to flush your DNS cache and force your computer or device to fetch fresh DNS data. Here are the steps for Windows and Mac users:

Windows

Step 1: Open the Start menu (or press Ctrl + S) and type Command Prompt. Then, right-click the result and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:

ipconfig /flushdns

Step 3: You should see a message that says Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.

Mac

Step 1: Open the Terminal app from the Applications folder or the Launchpad.

Step 2: In the Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter:

sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

Step 3: You may be prompted to enter your Mac’s admin password.

After flushing your DNS cache, reload the web page and see if the error is gone.

Solution 6: Deactivate Virtual Private Network

If you are using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service to access the internet, it may also cause the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR in Chrome. This is because some VPNs may use outdated or incompatible SSL protocols or cipher suites that can interfere with the SSL connection. To fix this, you need to deactivate your VPN service and try accessing the website without it. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Open your VPN app or software and disconnect from the VPN server.

Step 2: Close your VPN app or software completely.

Step 3: Reload the web page and see if the error is gone.

If you still want to use a VPN service, you may want to switch to a different VPN provider or server that supports modern and secure SSL protocols and cipher suites.

Solution 7: Set Up Automatic Proxy

Another possible reason for the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR is having incorrect or outdated proxy settings in Chrome. A proxy server is an intermediary server that acts as a gateway between your browser and the web server. Sometimes, your proxy settings may be misconfigured or corrupted, which can prevent Chrome from establishing a secure SSL connection. To fix this, you need to set up automatic proxy detection in Chrome. Here are the steps for Windows and Mac users:

Windows

Step 1: Open Chrome.

Step 2: Click the Chrome menu icon on the top right corner of the screen and select Settings.

Step 3: Scroll down and click Advanced.

Step 4: Under System, click Open proxy settings.

Step 5: The Internet Properties dialog box will appear.

Step 6: Switch to the Connections tab.

Step 7: Click LAN settings.

Step 8: Check the box next to Automatically detect settings and uncheck any other boxes under Proxy server.

Step 9: Click OK.

Mac

Step 1: Open Chrome.

Step 2: Click the Chrome menu icon on the top left corner of the screen and select Preferences.

Step 3: Scroll down and click Advanced.

Step 4: Under System, click Open proxy settings.

Step 5: The Network dialog box will appear.

Step 6: Select your active network connection from the list on the left pane.

Step 7: Click Advanced.

Step 8: Switch to the Proxies tab.

Step 9: Check the box next to Auto Proxy Discovery and uncheck any other boxes under Select a protocol to configure.

Step 10: Click OK.

After setting up automatic proxy detection, reload the web page and see if the error is gone.

Solution 8: Disable Chrome Extensions

Some Chrome extensions may also cause the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR by interfering with the SSL connection or modifying the website content or behavior. To fix this, you need to disable all your Chrome extensions and see if that resolves the error. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Open Chrome.

Step 2: Click the Chrome menu icon on the top right corner of the screen and select More tools > Extensions.

Step 3: On the Extensions page, toggle off all your extensions one by one until you find the culprit that causes the error.

Step 4: Alternatively, you can use Chrome’s incognito mode to access the website without any extensions enabled.

After disabling all your Chrome extensions, reload the web page and see if the error is gone.

Solution 9: Disable QUIC Protocol

QUIC (Quick UDP Internet Connections) is an experimental protocol that aims to improve web performance by reducing latency and congestion over UDP (User Datagram Protocol). However, some websites may not support QUIC or have compatibility issues with it, which can result in SSL errors in Chrome. To fix this, you need to disable QUIC in Chrome’s flags settings. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Open Chrome.

Step 2: In the address bar, type below then press Enter.:

chrome://flags/#enable-quic

Step 3: Continuing the [Method 9: Disable QUIC Protocol] mentioned above:

Step 4: On the drop-down menu next to Experimental QUIC protocol, select Disabled.

Step 5: Click Relaunch to restart Chrome and apply the changes.

After disabling QUIC in Chrome’s flags settings, reload the web page and see if the error is gone.

How to Prevent ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR?

To prevent the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR from happening again, you can take some preventive measures, such as:

• Keep your computer or device’s date and time settings accurate and synced with the online servers.
• Keep your Chrome browser updated to the latest version and clear its cache and site settings regularly.
• Avoid visiting websites that have invalid or expired SSL certificates or use outdated or incompatible SSL protocols or cipher suites.
• Use a reputable antivirus software, firewall, VPN, or proxy service that does not interfere with the SSL connection or modify the website content or behavior.
• Scan your computer or device for malware infection or malicious modification of the hosts file and remove any threats found.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQ) related to the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR in Chrome:

Question: What is SSL?

Answer: SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a security protocol that encrypts the data exchanged between your browser and the web server. It ensures that your online activities are protected from eavesdropping, tampering, or impersonation by hackers or third parties. SSL uses digital certificates to verify the identity of the web server and establish a secure connection.

Question: How can I check if a website has a valid SSL certificate?

Answer: You can check if a website has a valid SSL certificate by looking at the address bar in Chrome. If you see a padlock icon next to the website URL, it means that the website has a valid SSL certificate and uses HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) to secure its connection. You can click on the padlock icon to view more details about the website’s SSL certificate, such as its issuer, validity period, and encryption strength.

Question: How can I update my Chrome browser to the latest version?

Answer: You can update your Chrome browser to the latest version by following these steps:

Step 1: Open Chrome.

Step 2: Click the Chrome menu icon on the top right corner of the screen and select Help > About Google Chrome.

Step 3: Chrome will automatically check for updates and download them if available.

Step 4: Click Relaunch to restart Chrome and apply the updates.

Question: How can I contact the website owner or administrator if I encounter the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR?

Answer: You can contact the website owner or administrator if you encounter the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR by using their contact information provided on their website or social media accounts. Alternatively, you can use a third-party service like [Whois] to look up their domain name registration details and find their contact email address or phone number.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. We are not responsible for any damages or losses caused by following the methods or suggestions in this article. Use them at your own risk. We do not guarantee that these methods or suggestions will work for every website or situation. Always consult with a professional before making any changes to your computer or device’s settings or software. We do not endorse any products or services mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.