Understanding ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH in Chrome
When browsing the web with Google Chrome, you might see the message “This webpage is not available” with the code ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH. Google’s explanation is short: the website uses an outdated security setup, and to protect your privacy, Chrome doesn’t allow you to connect to it. It is almost always a problem with the website, not with your computer. See Google’s list of common Chrome error messages.
Chrome has no setting that turns older security protocols back on, so there is nothing to switch on in Chrome’s settings. The steps below rule out the few causes on your side, and the last section is for the person who runs the site.
Check for Outdated Chrome Versions
An old copy of Chrome can have trouble with sites that use newer security settings.
- Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner.
- Select Help and then About Google Chrome.
- Chrome will automatically check for updates and install them if available.
- Select Relaunch after the update completes.
Our guide to updating Chrome covers every device.
Try Another Network and Your Security Software
- Open the site on a different network, such as your phone’s mobile data. If it works there, a work proxy or network filter may be changing the connection.
- Some antivirus programs offer “HTTPS scanning” or “HTTPS protection”, which Google says can cause certificate errors in Chrome. Turn that feature off briefly, test the site, then turn it back on.
- Make sure your computer’s date and time are correct. A wrong clock usually shows a different error, but it is quick to check.
Website Operator Fixes
If you run the website, the fix is on the server. Google’s advice is to set your server to use TLS 1.3 and the cipher TLS_AES_128_GCM_SHA256. To support older clients, you can keep offering TLS 1.2 and other ciphers at the same time as TLS 1.3.
- Check your SSL configuration using an online tool such as the SSL Labs Server Test.
- Update your server software so it supports modern ciphers.
Platform-Specific Solutions
macOS
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click General, then Date & Time, and make sure the date and time are correct (Apple’s steps). On older macOS versions this is in System Preferences.
- To clear Chrome’s cache, press Command + Shift + Delete and select Delete data.
Linux
Keep your system and Chrome up to date. On Debian or Ubuntu, run sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade.
Android
- Open Settings and check that the date and time are set automatically.
- In Chrome, tap More > Settings > Privacy and security > Delete browsing data.
iOS
- Go to Settings > General > Date & Time to make sure your device’s date and time are accurate.
- In Chrome, tap More > Settings > Privacy and Security > Delete Browsing Data.
If the error appears on every device and every network, the website itself needs fixing. Let the site owner know.