Fix ERR_CONNECTION_RESET For Android, Mac, Windows (7, 10)

Although they are completely different companies, Android, Mac, and Windows 7 & 10 alike have some similar error codes.

ERR_CONNECTION_RESET is one of them, as it can affect any web browser.

It is extremely annoying if you are trying to visit a specific site or page, and it’s very hard to tell what is causing this error.

This error is not specific to only one device, such as error codes that only affect PS4 or the Nintendo Wii.

No, this error is broad across every operating system and if you are using a web browser, you have the chance of getting it.

In this article, I will go into the specifics on how to fix this issue on the two most popular operating systems, Mac and Windows, as well as the most popular smartphone, the Android.

Even if you use a different system than the ones covered in this article, this will still give you a good idea of some possible ways to fix this annoying issue.

Background

ERR_CONNECTION_RESET occurs when you are trying to visit a page within a website, but that page can’t establish a connection to the main website.

Other pages on the website may or may not work, as you may get this error just for one or two pages in particular.  If you are completely disconnected from an Internet connection, the message displayed will be ERR_INTERNET_DISCONNECTED, which is completely different.

So, that is not the case with this error. If you receive it, you are definitely connected to the Internet. The network is not the issue. The issue lies in your device or web browser, as something is causing it for that specific URL to be blocked.

Generally speaking, this error is the result of changes being made in the registry or other network settings.

These changes are usually caused by programs like PC optimizers or anti-virus software. The most common and simplest to fix are if your ISP (Internet service provider) or firewall blocks specific websites.

How to Fix

Since this error really comes from the web browser, the solutions for it will be the same across all operating devices, whether it be an Android, Mac, or Windows.

How you perform each step may be a little bit different, and I will explain how to do it on each device if need be.

Solution 1: Check Your Proxy Settings

A proxy or proxy server is basically another computer where your internet requests are processed.

Think of it as between your home and the rest of the computers on the internet. Proxies are used for a number of reasons, the most common being to filter web content and to provide anonymity when using the internet.

You may be able to tell why a proxy would cause this error. The proxy could easily be preventing you from viewing this site, as one of its main goals is to filter content. Therefore, you will want to turn off proxy settings, to test and see if that what is causing the error. Here is how to do it on each software.

After you turn it off, recheck the error and if it still occurs, move on to the next step.

Windows 7 & 10

Being by going to the Start menu in the bottom left corner of the screen. Click on the Control Panel and open it.

From there, click on Internet Options and a pop-up will open. After that, go to the Connections tab, and click on the LAN setting.

Deselect the Use a proxy server for your LAN option if it is selected. Click on OK, and now your computer has the proxy option turned off.

Mac

Click on the Apple in the top left corner and select System Preferences.

Choose Network, then select the network you are connected to and choose the Advanced option. Navigate to the Proxies tab and then uncheck everything under Select a protocol to configure. That’s it!

“Every company that made computers when we started the Mac, they’re all gone.” – Phil Schiller

Android

Click on your web browser (default Chrome)  on the toolbar and select Settings. Select to Show Advanced Settings.

This will bring you to tabs, and in the Network section, choose Change Proxy Settings. Under Local Area Network (LAN) settings, click on LAN settings. Finally, uncheck Automatically detect settings and Use a proxy server for your LAN.

Video Tutorial: Chrome Fix

You’ll also want to check out this popular Chrome fix from YouTube:

According to the creator, he says that when the Chrome browser is showing this error message “‘This site can’t be reached’. The connection was reset. Technical error code: ERR_CONNECTION_RESET.”

The reasons could be: Avast free antivirus is set up on your computer. Web shield & HTTPS Scanning is allowed in your computer virus settings.

Additionally, your laptop or computer clock is set to be incorrect date & time.

This is exactly why Avast Web Shield has obstructed access to this page. An Avast alert is going to be displayed: Avast Web Shield has blocked access to this page because one of the issuers of the following certificate has expired. As a result of the wrong date & time in your personal pc, the anti-virus believed the website certificate has expired.

This is exactly why it has prevented accessibility to the page by resetting the connection.

The suggested solution is to switch off Web Shield active protection & turn off HTTPS Scanning in Avast anti-virus’ options. Furthermore, fix the device’s clock. Permit Chrome to gain access to the network within your firewall software or anti-virus options.

Solution 2: Disable Anti-virus Software

As discussed already, one of the simplest but most common causes of this error is an anti-virus software from blocking a website.

This may be due to settings you have on, or the site simply not being a safe or secure site from the software’s view. If you are confident that the site you will be visiting is safe, proceed with this step.

To do this on any device, simply click on the icon of the software, and hit ‘turn off’, ‘disable’, or something to that effect.

Next, restart your browser and try again. If this corrects it, then uninstall and reinstall your software, and the error should be fixed. If not, it is something else causing this issue.

Solution 3: Verify or Change Your MTU

You may have no clue what I’m talking about, but don’t worry it’s really not complicated. MTU stands for maximum transmission unit, and it is the size of data that can be transferred in one transaction.

So, why does it matter in relation to this error? Well, it has to do with the speed of your browsers loading time to put it in general terms.

Changing the MTU is very different for each device, so here’s how to do it for each.

But first, check out this popular YouTube video to speed up your internet by changing your MTU and DNS.

Mac

Just like in Solution #1Click on the Apple in the top left corner and select System Preferences.

• Choose Network, then select the network you are connected to and choose the Advanced option.
• On the right-hand side of the window that opens up, select Hardware. In the drop-down Configure menu, select Manually.
• From the drop-down MTU menu, select Custom. You will notice that there is a possible range from 1280 to 1500, with 1500 being the default.
• It’s up to you what number to input, and you may want to experiment with some numbers and see what is best for you. Most experts suggest you start with 1458 and go from there.

As a general rule, as you lower your MTU, the speed goes up for web pages with smaller sizes but slows down your speed for larger pages.

The possible reason for this error is that your Internet connection is too slow to download the required page. Therefore, you will want to lower your MTU. However, be aware not to lower it too much. I would recommend putting it in the range of around 1430-1458, as you will get the best of both worlds from that.

Windows 7 & 10

Luckily, changing the MTU is the exact same process on Windows 7 & 10. A nice feature of these two pieces of software is that although they changed the formatting and layout a little, the basic functions are identical.

To change the MTU, start by clicking the Windows button in the bottom left corner of the taskbar. Once you are there, click All Programs and then Accessories. Right click on Command Prompt and then select Run as administrator. Now that the Command Prompt is open you can modify the MTU.

To do that, first, type “netsh interface ipv4 show subinterface” into the text box and press Enter.

Typing this command will display a list of network interfaces. Now in the text box displayed, type “netsh interface ipv4 set subinterface Your Network’s Name mtu=1458 store=persistent”. Then press Enter. This finishes the MTU change, so now just restart your computer and test the connection again.

Doing these steps will change your MTU to 1458, as you can see that is what that means in the line of code. If this doesn’t work, just like in the previous step, try with numbers between 1430-1458.

Android 

You may not think you would be able to utilize this feature on a smartphone, but the Google Play Store app Change MTU makes it possible. It’s a pretty self-explanatory app, so I won’t get into too much detail on how to operate it.

Keep in mind that this app is changing the MTU for the router the Android is connected to. If you can change it through a desktop computer, it will be much easier and effective. Only use the app if it is your only option.

Conclusion

ERR_CONNECTION_RESET can be one of the most annoying errors, because at first glance it may seem like it isn’t working for no reason.

You may be thinking to yourself, why does every single other web page work, but why won’t this one won’t go through? No, it doesn’t have anything to do with the site itself nor your internet connection. Most commonly it is caused by software that blocks content on your computer or old registry information that needs to be updated.

As with almost all of our articles here on Error Codes Pro, these solutions may seem complex and difficult at first. My goal is to try to simplify it as much as possible, so you have a basic understanding of what is happening, as well as easy ways to fix the problem.

For another article of ours on a broad error message that can affect you on several programs, be sure to read how to Fix Runtime Error 429.

See something we missed or have additional questions? Don’t be afraid to leave a comment below and start an insightful discussion.