The error can prevent people from accessing your site, and worse, they may not visit again because they don’t trust that your site is secure.
The “Your connection is not private” message can appear for a variety of reasons, but luckily, it’s easy to fix.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll explain why you’re seeing this error and how to troubleshoot and fix it.
What is the “Your Connection Is Not Private” error?
In simpler terms, the “Your connection is not private” error message appears because a browser, such as Google or Firefox, has marked your website as unsafe or untrustworthy.
This usually happens when there is a problem with your SSL connection or when the browser is unable to verify the SSL certificate.
Web hosts typically issue free SSL certificates to secure your website. For example, with every Bluehost plan , you get a free SSL certificate along with a domain name for 12 months.
If you don’t have an SSL certificate installed, pakistan phone number list you can fix the problem by getting one right away. An SSL certificate will ensure that all data sent to and from your website is encrypted and protected from hackers. Once activated on your website, you’ll see a padlock next to your website’s URL in the address bar.
For more details, follow our guide: How to Add SSL and HTTPS in WordPress (Step by Step) .
If you already have SSL and are seeing this error, we will show you how to fix your SSL connection; however, we should add that sometimes this error appears in visitors’ browsers due to a problem on their side.
This could be caused by the WiFi network or the operating system. For example, if the user is using an unsecured public WiFi network, the browser they are using will display this warning.
So, we’ll cover the steps you can take on both sides: your browser and your website’s SSL certificate. Here’s what we’ll cover to remove the “Your connection is not private” error.
If you’ve already tried a few measures, feel free to skip to the one you think will help resolve the issue. With that said, let’s get started.
Steps to Fix “Your Connection Is Not Private” Error?
There are several steps you can take to remove the error you’re seeing in your browser that says “Your Connection Is Not Private.” We’ll start with the easiest ones and work our way down.
Check your browser settings
This security error message is displayed by your browser, so let’s start by checking if it’s a browser issue.
1. Reload the page
The simplest way to overcome browser errors is to refresh the page. This re-establishes the SSL connection and the page usually loads without the error.
You can easily do this using the keyboard shortcut Command + R on Mac or the CTRL + Reload button on Windows. This works most of the time.
You can also try closing your browser and opening a new browser session. Then try visiting your website to see if the error is gone.
2. Clear browsing history
If you’ve visited a website before, most of the massive traffic your browser will store that data in its cache. This means that your browser may be displaying old or outdated data when you try to visit the same website.
You can clear your cache and cookies to reset your browser. We’ll show you how to do this in Google Chrome; however, the steps are similar for other browsers.
Please note that doing this will log you out of all sites and sessions. You will need to enter your credentials and log in again.
In the Chrome window, you will see a three-dot menu in the top right corner. Open the menu and select More tools » Clear browsing data .
This will take you to the Chrome Settings page and you will see the “Clear browsing data” pop-up window.
Under Basic Settings, set the time range to “All time.” Make sure you check the boxes for “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.”
Then press the “Clear data” button and your browsing data will be deleted.
Once you do this, you will be able to visit your website again with a new connection to the website server.
For more details on how to clear cache, marketing list follow this guide from WPBeginner: How to Clear Browser Cache in All Major Browsers (Quick Way) .
3. Try Incognito Mode
If you don’t want to clear your browsing data, you can access the site using incognito mode. When you use incognito mode, your browser will not use or store any website data on your computer.
To access incognito or private mode, click on the three dots in the top right corner of the browser.
Now, click on the New Incognito Window button and visit the website you are trying to access.
4. Use a different browser
Sometimes, error messages can be specific to just one browser. You can try visiting your site in other browsers. Some of the most popular are Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, and Internet Explorer.
If the error only occurs in one browser, simply uninstall and reinstall the browser. This should fix the issue.
If it’s not a browser-specific issue, we have more steps you can try below.
Check your browser or device system settings
Sometimes if your device settings are not updated or if you are using security software, it can cause these types of browser issues.
1. Check your computer’s date and time
There are times when your operating system’s date and time are not set correctly. This can cause the “Your connection is not private” error because the browser relies on your computer’s date and time settings to verify the validity of an SSL certificate.
Simply put, this means that your SSL certificate may appear invalid or expired because its date and time are wrong.
Setting it to the correct time should eliminate the error.
You’ll find the date and time settings under Settings » Time & Language » Date & Time on Windows. If you’re using Mac OS, these settings are under System Preferences » Date & Time .
The best option is to set the date and time automatically and set the time zone automatically .
After updating, refresh your browser and visit your site again.
2. Disable antivirus
If you have an antivirus program, it may cause problems if it doesn’t recognize your SSL certificate correctly. Temporarily disabling your antivirus software may help. Then, open your website to see if the error persists.
3. Disable VPN
A VPN will use a remote server to hide your IP address so you can remain anonymous online. This type of software uses layers of security that can sometimes block certain SSL certificates. We recommend disabling your VPN service and trying again.
If all of these measures don’t work, you’ll need to check if there’s a problem with your website or SSL certificate. Below, we’ll explain the steps to do so.
Check your website settings and SSL certificate
Your SSL certificate encrypts all data sent to and from your website. This makes the connection between your server and your visitors’ browsers secure.
If a hacker tries to steal the data while it’s in transit, he’ll just get a bunch of gibberish. So he won’t be able to use it.
If your SSL certificate is invalid or configured incorrectly, browsers may display the error “Your connection is not private”.
