Solved: How Do I Fix the PR_END_OF_FILE_ERROR Secure Connection Failed Error in Firefox Browser?

If you are a Firefox user, you may have encountered the “pr_end_of_file_error” error when trying to access some websites. This error indicates that the secure connection between your browser and the server was abruptly terminated before the data transfer was completed. This can result in a blank page or a message saying “Secure Connection Failed”. In this blog post, we will explain what causes this error and how to fix it.

What causes the “pr_end_of_file_error” error?

The “pr_end_of_file_error” error on Firefox is a secure connection issue that happens when the browser can’t establish a secure connection with the website. The “pr_end_of_file_error” error is usually caused by one of the following reasons:

• Problem with the SSL connection between your computer and the server. The website you are trying to access has an expired or invalid SSL certificate. SSL certificates are used to encrypt and authenticate the communication between your browser and the server. If the certificate is not valid, your browser will not trust the website and will show you an error message.
• Incorrect cipher variants. If you previously modified your SSL settings, you’re likely seeing this error because your browser is now enforcing some cipher variants that aren’t supported by Firefox or the website you’re attempting to access.
• The website you are trying to access is blocked by your firewall, proxies, or VPN software. These programs may interfere with the secure connection and prevent your browser from reaching the website. This may happen if the programs are outdated, misconfigured, or have some compatibility issues with Firefox.
• Antivirus programs. Sometimes, Firefox displays a “pr_end_of_file_error” error because your antivirus program detected the browser or your site as malicious.
• A faulty or outdated browser extension that interferes with the secure connection.
• The website you are trying to access is experiencing some technical issues or undergoing maintenance. Sometimes, the server may be down or overloaded and may not be able to respond to your browser’s requests. This may result in a timeout or a premature end of file error.
• Firefox profile corruption. A corrupted profile can also cause this error code.

How to fix the “pr_end_of_file_error” error?

Depending on the cause of the error, you can try one or more of the following solutions to fix it:

Solution 1: Troubleshoot your network connection

Sometimes, the error may be caused by a poor or unstable network connection. To troubleshoot this, you can try to restart your router or modem, switch to a different network or use a VPN service. You can also clear your browser cache and cookies, which may contain corrupted or outdated data that affects the connection.

Solution 2: Check the date and time settings

The browser relies on the system date and time to verify the validity of SSL certificates. If the system date and time are incorrect, it can cause SSL errors. To check and adjust the date and time settings, go to Settings > System > Date & Time. Make sure that the date and time are correct and that the option to set them automatically is enabled. Restart the browser and try to access the website again.

Solution 3: Disable or update your browser extensions

Some extensions may conflict with the security protocols used by Firefox, such as TLS or SSL. To disable them, go to Menu > Add-ons and themes > Extensions and toggle off the ones you don’t need. To update them, go to Menu > Add-ons and themes > Extensions and click on the gear icon and select Check for Updates.

Solution 4: Check the website URL and SSL certificate

Make sure that you are entering the correct website address and that it starts with https://. You can do this by clicking on the padlock icon next to the website’s address in your browser’s address bar.

If you see any error or warning message that says “Connection not secure” or “Certificate invalid” about the SSL certificate, then the website’s SSL certificate is likely the problem, do not proceed to the website as it may be unsafe or compromised.

You can try to bypass this warning by clicking on Advanced and then on Accept the risk and continue. However, this is not recommended as it may compromise your security and privacy. A better option is to contact the website’s owner and inform them about the issue.

Solution 5: Reset Firefox’s Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) settings

You can reset Firefox’s SSL settings by typing about:config in the address bar and pressing Enter. Then search for security.ssl3.dhe_rsa_aes_128_sha and security.ssl3.dhe_rsa_aes_256_sha and set them to false.

Solution 6: Disable or update your third-party security software

You can try to temporarily disable third-party security software installed on your computer and see if that resolves the error. If it does, then you need to update them to the latest version or adjust their settings to allow Firefox to access the website. You can also try to add the website to their whitelist or exception list. Alternatively, you can switch to a different security software that is compatible with Firefox.

Here are the steps to disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus real-time protection:

Step 1: Open Start.

Step 2: Search for Windows Security and click the top result to open the app.

Step 3: Click on Virus & threat protection.

Step 4: Under Virus & threat protection settings, click Manage settings.

Step 5: Toggle off the Real-time protection switch.

Step 6: Select Yes in the User Account Control prompt.

Step 7: Restart Firefox and try to access the website again.

Solution 7: Disable or update your VPN or proxy

Some VPN or proxy connection may block or scan the encrypted traffic, which can cause the connection to fail. To check if this is the case, temporarily disable your VPN or proxy connection and see if the error persists. If it does, you may need to adjust your settings to allow Firefox to access the websites you want.

Disable proxy on Windows

Here are the steps to disable proxy server on Windows:

Step 1: Press Windows + I key to open the Settings menu.

Step 2: Go to the left pane and select Network & internet.

Step 3: Select Proxy from the right-side menu.

Step 4: Under Automatic proxy setup, turn off Automatically detect settings.

Step 5: Scroll down to Manual proxy setup and click on the Setup button (next to Use a proxy server).

Step 6: Toggle off the Use a proxy server slider.

Step 7: Restart the computer so that the change takes place and revisit the website using the Firefox browser.

Disable proxy on macOS

Here are the steps to disable proxy server on macOS:

Step 1: Click the Apple icon then select the System Preference option.

Step 2: Select Network.

Step 3: From the left pane, select the network service you wish to disable the proxy settings on, then click the Advanced button.

Step 4: Select the Proxies tab then uncheck all protocols under Select a protocol to configure then click OK once done.

Step 5: Restart your computer and use the Firefox browser to revisit the website.

Disable Firefox Proxy Settings

Step 1: Click the Menu button (three horizontal bars) in the upper-right corner of the browser window.

Step 2: Click Settings.

Step 3: On the General tab, scroll down to the bottom to locate the Network Settings section. Click on the Settings button to open the Connection Settings window.

Step 4: The Connection Settings window will open; you’ll find Configure Proxy Access to the Internet at the top.

Step 5: Check the No proxy option and click OK to save the change.

Step 6: Restart Firefox and try to access the website again.

Solution 8: Clear your browser’s cache and cookies

Sometimes, the browser may store outdated or corrupted data that may interfere with the SSL secure connection. You can clear your browser’s cache and cookies by following these steps:

Step 1: Click on the Menu button (three horizontal bars) in the upper right corner of your browser window.

Step 2: Click on Options and then on Privacy & Security.

Step 3: Under Cookies and Site Data, click on Clear Data.

Step 4: Check both Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content and click on Clear.

Step 5: Restart your browser and try to access the website again.

Solution 9: Clear the SSL cache and certificate database

If you are using Firefox browser and encounter the PR_END_OF_FILE_ERROR Secure Connection Failed Error, it may be due to a corrupted SSL cache or certificate database. This error means that Firefox could not establish a secure connection with the website you are trying to access, and it may prevent you from loading the page or logging in to your account. To fix this error, you can try to clear the SSL cache and certificate database in Firefox by following these steps:

Step 1: On the History menu, click Clear Recent History. The Clear All History dialog appears. Alternatively, press Ctrl-Shift-Delete to display the Clear All History dialog immediately.

Step 2: In the Time range to clear list box, select Everything.

Step 3: Select the Active Logins check box. This will clear the SSL state and any cached certificates or login sessions.

Step 4: Click OK.

Step 5: Restart Firefox and try to access the website again.

Solution 10: Refresh Firefox browser

One possible solution to this error is to refresh your Firefox browser. Refreshing Firefox will reset your browser settings to their default state, while preserving your essential information like bookmarks, passwords, and history. Refreshing Firefox can also fix problems with add-ons, preferences, and performance.

To refresh Firefox, follow these steps:

Step 1: Click the Menu button (three horizontal bars) in the upper-right corner of the browser window.

Step 2: Click Help.

Step 3: Select More Troubleshooting Information.

Step 4: Click Refresh Firefox… button.

Step 5: Click the Refresh Firefox button in the confirmation window that opens.

Step 4: Firefox will close and refresh itself. When finished, a window will list your imported information.

Step 5: Click Finish and Firefox will reopen.

Note: Refreshing Firefox will remove your add-ons and customizations, such as extensions, themes, and user styles. You may need to reinstall them after refreshing. Refreshing Firefox will also create a folder on your desktop named “Old Firefox Data”, which contains your old profile data. You can delete this folder if you don’t need it, or restore some of the files to your new profile if you want.

Solution 11: Disable the Domain Name System (DNS) over HTTPS option within Firefox

When attempting to access a website, your browser sends a DNS request to the server. To enhance security, DNS over HTTPS is a protocol that transmits these requests through HTTPS, safeguarding against potential malicious interception of your online activity. However, enabling this feature may sometimes result in the occurrence of the PR_END_OF_FILE_ERROR. Fortunately, disabling DNS over HTTPS is a straightforward resolution. Please follow these steps to disable DNS over HTTPS:

Step 1: Click the Menu button (three horizontal bars) in the upper-right corner of the browser window.

Step 2: Click Settings.

Step 3: On the General tab, scroll down to the bottom to locate the Network Settings section. Click on the Settings button to open the Connection Settings window.

Step 4: Uncheck the Enable DNS over HTTPS option at the bottom of the Connection Settings window.

Step 5: Click OK.

Step 6: Restart Firefox and try to access the website again.

Alternatively, you can disable DNS over HTTPS within Firefox by typing about:config in the address bar and pressing Enter. Then search for network.trr.mode and set it to 0.

Solution 12: Creating a New Firefox Profile

If none of the above solutions work, you can create a new Firefox profile follow these steps:

Step 1: Type about: profiles in the address bar and pressing Enter.

Step 2: Click on Create a New Profile.

Step 3: The Create Profile Wizard will open. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Step 4: Once it’s done, the new profile will appear on the profile manager page.

Step 5: Click Launch profile in new browser.

Solution 13: Try a different browser or device

If none of the above solutions work, you can try to access the website using a different browser (such as Chrome, Edge, or Safari) or a different device (such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop). If you can access the website without any errors, then the problem is likely with your Firefox browser or your current device. You can try to reinstall Firefox or update your device’s operating system and drivers.

Solution 14: Contact the website owner or administrator

If none of the above solutions work, the error may be due to a server-side issue that is beyond your control. In this case, you can try to contact the website owner or administrator and report the problem. They may be able to fix it or provide you with an alternative way to access their content.

Conclusion

We hope this blog post has helped you understand and fix the “pr_end_of_file_error” error in Firefox. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below.