Fix the privacy error in Chrome that says, “Your connection is not private.”

Getting “Your Connection Is Not Private” error in Google Chrome while trying to access a website. This error typically indicates that Chrome has detected a problem with the website’s SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate or your connection to the site. Again, If the date and time on your computer aren’t ‘right’, you’ll be unable to connect to the internet properly. This usually happens when you fresh install your operating system or travel to a different time zone. So, just set the correct time and date, and you should be good to go. If it still results Your Connection is Not Private error here are some applicable solutions to fix Your Connection is Not Private Error in Google Chrome

What Causes the “Your Connection Is Not Private” Error?

This error occurs when Chrome cannot verify that the connection to a website is secure. Here are some common reasons why this happens:

• Expired or Invalid SSL Certificate: The website’s SSL certificate may have expired, been misconfigured, or issued by an untrusted authority.
• Incorrect Date and Time Settings: If your device’s date and time are incorrect, Chrome may fail to validate the SSL certificate.
• Network Issues: Public Wi-Fi networks or VPNs may interfere with secure connections.
• Browser Cache or Extensions: Outdated cache or conflicting browser extensions can trigger the error.
• Website Security Issues: In some cases, the website may genuinely have security vulnerabilities, such as an outdated SSL protocol.

Check Your Date and Time Settings

Incorrect date and time settings on your device can cause SSL validation issues. To fix this:

• Right-click the clock in the taskbar and select “Adjust date/time.”
• Enable “Set time automatically” and “Set time zone automatically.”
• Click “Sync now” to update.

Sometimes, the error is temporary due to a glitch in the connection. Simply press F5 or click the refresh button in Chrome to reload the page. If the issue was momentary, this may resolve it.

Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

A corrupted cache or cookies can interfere with secure connections.

• Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
• Go to More Tools > Clear Browsing Data.
• Select “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.”
• Choose a time range (e.g., “All time”) and click Clear Data.
• Restart Chrome and try accessing the website again.

Try Incognito Mode

Chrome extensions or settings may cause the error. To rule this out, open an incognito window:

1. Click the three-dot menu and select New Incognito Window (or press Ctrl + Shift + N).
2. Visit the website in incognito mode.

If the error doesn’t appear, a Chrome extension may be the culprit. Disable extensions one by one to identify the problematic one:

1. Go to Menu > More Tools > Extensions.
2. Toggle off extensions and test the website after disabling each one.

Check Your Network Connection

Public Wi-Fi networks, VPNs, or proxy servers can trigger this error due to security restrictions.

Switch Networks: If you’re on public Wi-Fi, connect to a trusted network (e.g., mobile hotspot or home Wi-Fi) and try again.

Disable VPN/Proxy: Temporarily turn off any VPN or proxy service and reload the website.

Flush DNS Cache: Open Command Prompt and type ipconfig /flushdns, then press Enter.

Update Google Chrome

An outdated browser may struggle with modern SSL certificates.

• Click the three-dot menu and select Help > About Google Chrome.
• Chrome will check for updates and install them automatically.
• Click Relaunch to apply the update, then try accessing the website.

Check Antivirus or Firewall Settings

Some antivirus programs or firewalls may block SSL connections, causing the error.

• Temporarily disable your antivirus or firewall (ensure you’re on a trusted network).
• Reload the website.
• If the error disappears, adjust your antivirus settings to allow SSL scanning or add an exception for the website.

Clear SSL Certificate Cache: Press Windows Key + R, then type “inetcpl.cpl” and hit Enter to open Internet Properties. Switch to the Content tab, then click on Clear SSL state. Now click Apply followed by OK. Reboot your PC to take effect the changes. Now open Chrome browser and check if there is no more errors.

Proceed with Caution: If you’re confident the website is safe (e.g., your organization’s internal site), you can bypass the warning temporarily:

On the error page, click Advanced. Click Proceed to [website] (this option appears at the bottom).

Only use this method for trusted websites, as bypassing the error can expose you to security risks like data theft or malware.