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Connection errors

ERR_CONNECTION_RESET

The connection was suddenly cut off.

Quick answer

The connection started, then something on the way abruptly ended it. An unstable network, a VPN, security software or the server itself can cause this.

When to wait: Try again in a minute; short network glitches cause many resets.

If you are visiting the website

  1. Reload once Wait a minute and reload. Short network glitches cause many resets.
  2. Try another network Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data, or the other way round. If the site works there, your network, a school or company filter, or your internet provider may be cutting the connection.
  3. Pause your VPN briefly Test once without the VPN, then turn it back on.
  4. Update your browser Install the latest browser version and restart it. Old versions can fail with newer server settings.
  5. Try a private window Open the site in a private (incognito) window. If it works there, an extension or saved data is the likely cause.
  6. Check proxy settings A broken proxy (a middle server that forwards your traffic) often resets connections. Turn it off if you did not set it up on purpose.
    Windows
    Settings > Network & internet > Proxy. Turn off 'Use a proxy server' under Manual proxy setup if you do not need it.
    macOS
    Apple menu > System Settings > Network > your network service > Details > Proxies. Turn off proxies you did not set up on purpose.
  7. Test security software briefly Antivirus tools with 'HTTPS scanning' sit inside your connections and can cut them. Pause that feature for one test, then switch it back on right away.
  8. Reset network settings as a last resort Only when many sites reset. This deletes saved Wi-Fi passwords and VPN setups, so have them ready.
    Windows
    Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset. Set up VPN software again afterwards if needed.
    Android
    Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
    iPhone and iPad (iOS)
    Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

If you run the website

  1. Check server error logs Look at your web server and application logs for the time of the error. Crashes and killed worker processes often show up there.
  2. Check firewall and DDoS protection Make sure protection rules, rate limits and intrusion filters do not reset normal visitor connections.
  3. Reproduce with curl Run curl -v https://example.com (use your domain) from outside. Note whether the reset happens during the secure handshake or after the request was sent; that narrows down the culprit.
  4. Check timeouts between proxy and app Load balancers and reverse proxies drop idle connections after their own limit. If that limit is shorter than the app's, long requests get cut off.

Is it the website or me?

If the reset happens on one network only, something on that network is cutting the line. School, company and public Wi-Fi filters sometimes block sites this way.

If it happens on every network and device, the website's server or its protection layer is the likely cause.

How it differs from ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED

A reset is an abrupt hang-up in the middle of the conversation. A closed connection is a polite goodbye that simply came too early.

Both stop the page from loading. Resets point more often to filters, VPNs and security software.

For developers: what happens technically

Chromium uses error -101 for a connection that was reset, which corresponds to a TCP RST packet (an instant cancel signal). Anything on the path can send one: the server, a firewall, a proxy or local security software.

Compare a capture or curl -v from different networks to find which hop sends the reset.

Common questions

Can my school, workplace or provider block a site this way?

Yes. Some network filters cut connections to blocked sites instead of showing a block page. If the site works on mobile data, ask the network admin.

Does this error mean I have a virus?

Not by itself. Resets are usually caused by networks, VPNs or the server. Security software can cause them too, which is why a short test with it paused helps.

Why does only one website reset?

That website's server or protection may reject your connection, or a filter on your network targets that site. Testing another network shows which one it is.

Likely causes

  • Common An unstable network connection. (Your side)
  • Sometimes A VPN, firewall or security software interrupts the connection. (Your side)
  • Sometimes The server or its firewall resets connections. (Website side)

What to avoid

  • Do not turn off your antivirus permanently.

Is the website down? Check it now

One measurement point. Results explain what we saw, not a worldwide verdict.

Sources

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