If a website won’t load in Chrome, first find out whether it’s one site or every site. If only one site fails, try it in another browser: if it fails there too, the site itself is probably down and you can only wait or tell its owner. If every site fails, check your internet connection and restart your modem and router. If the problem is only in Chrome, work through Google’s steps from Fix connection and loading errors in Chrome, in this order:
- Check the address and reload. Make sure the web address has no typos, then select Reload (on Windows you can also press F5). To reload without cached content, press Ctrl + Shift + R (⌘ + Shift + R on a Mac).
- Check your connection. Make sure you’re on Wi-Fi or Ethernet. On public Wi-Fi in a cafe or hotel, you may need to sign in on the network’s page first.
- Update and restart Chrome. See how to update Chrome. If it’s already up to date, quit Chrome completely and reopen it.
- Try an Incognito window. Press Ctrl + Shift + N (⌘ + Shift + N on a Mac). If the page loads there, the cause is an extension or your saved browsing data, so do steps 5 and 6.
- Turn off your extensions. Select More > Extensions > Manage extensions and switch them all off. If that fixes it, turn them back on one at a time to find the culprit.
- Delete your browsing data. Type Delete browsing data in the address bar and select that option, then delete cookies and cached files. See how to clear browsing data.
- Check your firewall or antivirus. Make sure it isn’t blocking Chrome or the site.
- Free up memory. Close tabs you don’t need and quit other programs. A computer short on memory can fail to load pages.
- Reset Chrome’s settings. Select More > Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults. Your bookmarks and passwords are kept. If that doesn’t help, reinstall Chrome; when you sign in again, your synced data comes back.
What the error code means
If Chrome shows an error page, the code under the message points to the cause. Google’s common error messages page explains these:
- ERR_INTERNET_DISCONNECTED: your device isn’t connected to the internet. See ERR_INTERNET_DISCONNECTED.
- ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED: the web address doesn’t exist, or it now points somewhere else. Check the spelling. See DNS and connection errors.
- ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT or ERR_TIMED_OUT: the page took too long. Your connection may be slow or the site may be busy.
- ERR_CONNECTION_RESET: something interrupted the connection, such as an unstable connection, an outdated browser, a VPN or security software.
- ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED: your device switched or lost its network while the page was loading. Reload once the connection is steady.
- ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED: the site didn’t let Chrome connect, or the page is blocked. See ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED.
- ERR_EMPTY_RESPONSE: the site sent no data and may be down.
- ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS: pages sometimes won’t open because cookies aren’t working correctly. Delete your cookies and try again.
- “Aw, Snap!”: Chrome had a problem loading the page. See fixing “Aw, Snap!”.
- “Your connection is not private” or another certificate error: see Chrome SSL certificate errors.
For Chrome’s complete list of codes, paste chrome://network-errors into the address bar.
If pages crash or Chrome won’t open
Google’s Fix Chrome if it crashes or won’t open adds one more step when Chrome or its pages keep crashing: select More > Settings > System, turn off Use graphics acceleration when available (Google’s help calls it hardware acceleration), and restart Chrome.
Older guides also tell you to run the Chrome Cleanup Tool, which Google has retired. If you think unwanted software is involved, remove it yourself as described in Google’s Remove unwanted ads, pop-ups & malware.
On a phone or tablet
Check that you’re on Wi-Fi or mobile data, update Chrome from the Play Store or the App Store, try the page in an Incognito tab, and delete your browsing data in Chrome’s settings. If a VPN app is on, turn it off and try again.