How To Fix ERR_FAILED Chrome Error [Step-by-Step Guide]
Written by: Stelian
Published on:
The “ERR_FAILED” error is a common message that appears in Google Chrome when a website fails to load. This message indicates that the browser is unable to connect to the website which can be caused by various factors. In this article, we will discuss some of the most common solutions for resolving this error and getting your browser back to working properly.
Basic Troubleshoot for ERR_FAILED Error in Google Chrome
Here are some basic checks you can do to troubleshoot the “ERR_FAILED” error in Google Chrome:
Check if the problem is limited to one device: Try opening the same website on your phone, tablet, or another computer. If it works everywhere except one device, you’ve narrowed the problem down to that machine. If it fails on every device, the issue is with your network or the website itself.
Check if the website is down: Visit a service like isitdownrightnow.com or downforeveryoneorjustme.com and enter the URL of the site you’re trying to access. If the website is down for everyone, there’s nothing to fix on your end — just wait and try again later.
Check your internet connection: Make sure your device shows an active Wi-Fi or cellular signal, and try opening a couple of other websites. If nothing loads, the problem is your connection, not the website.
Restart your router: If your connection seems active but websites still won’t load, unplug your router, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. This simple step resolves a surprising number of connectivity issues.
Restart your device: A reboot clears temporary glitches in your network stack and browser, and takes less than a minute.
Clear the browser cache: Open your browser’s “Settings” menu and select “Clear Browsing Data“. Tick “Cached images and files” and click “Clear data“. A corrupted cache can keep serving you a broken version of a page even after the site itself is fixed.
Disable browser extensions: Turn off your extensions one by one (especially ad blockers, privacy tools, and VPN extensions) and reload the page after each. If the site starts working, the last extension you disabled is the culprit.
Disable your VPN: If you’re using a VPN, turn it off temporarily — look for the VPN icon in your system tray or in your device’s settings. If the site loads without it, the VPN’s server or its IP range is being blocked; try switching to a different VPN server.
Check your device’s date and time: An incorrect date, time, or time zone breaks the security certificate checks that HTTPS websites rely on, causing connection errors. Set them to update automatically if possible.
Check your firewall: Some firewalls block specific websites or connections. Review your firewall settings to make sure the site you’re trying to reach isn’t on a block list.
Check your antivirus: Security software with web protection can also block websites. Temporarily disable your antivirus and reload the page — if the site works, add it to your antivirus’s exceptions list, then re-enable the antivirus. Don’t leave it turned off.
Advanced Troubleshoot for ERR_FAILED Error in Google Chrome
Below there are more advanced actions that you can take to fix the “ERR_FAILED” Chrome Error. Try them one by one until the “ERR_FAILED” Chrome Error is fixed.
1. Reset Chrome settings to their default
First, we’ll reset Chrome to its default settings — this clears the browser cache and removes any proxy settings or malicious extensions that may be causing the problem.
Select the device you’re using Chrome on by clicking its tab below, then follow the steps to reset the browser.
Chrome for WindowsChrome for MacChrome for Android
Reset Google Chrome for Windows
The reset restores your startup page, new tab page, search engine, and pinned tabs to default, disables all extensions, and clears temporary data like cookies. Your favorites, history, and saved passwords will not be deleted.
To reset Chrome for Windows, follow these steps:
Open the Chrome menu
In the top-right corner of Chrome, click the three-dot (⋮) icon to open the menu.
Go to Settings
From the menu, select Settings.
Select “Reset settings”
In the left sidebar, scroll down and click Reset settings.
Choose “Restore settings to their original defaults”
Click Restore settings to their original defaults.
Confirm the reset
In the dialog that appears, click Reset settings. This restores your homepage, search engine, new tab page, and pinned tabs to default, disables all extensions, and clears temporary site data — undoing the changes the malware made.
Don’t worry: your bookmarks, history, and saved passwords are safe and will not be deleted.
Reset Chrome for Mac
The reset restores your homepage, tab settings, and saved form data, clears cookies and temporary data, and disables all extensions. Your bookmarks will be preserved.
To reset Chrome for macOS, follow these steps:
Click on the three dots at the top right and go to Settings.
Click on Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three dots at the top right corner. Now click on the menu option labeled Settings as shown by the arrow in the picture below, which will open the basic settings screen.
In the left sidebar, click on the “Reset and Cleanup” option.
In the left sidebar, click on “Reset and clean up“.
Click “Reset settings to their original defaults”.
Now click on the “Reset settings to their original defaults”. link as shown in the image below.
Click “Reset Settings” button.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, click on the “Reset Settings” button.
(Optional) Reset Chrome Data Sync.
In case a malicious extension reinstalls itself even after performing a browser reset, you have an additional option to reset the data sync for your browser. To do this, navigate to chrome.google.com/sync and click on the Clear Data button.
Reset Chrome for Android
On Android, Chrome has no built-in “reset settings” option like the desktop versions — instead, we restore the browser to its factory state by clearing the app’s data. This removes the cookies, cache, and site settings that may be causing the problem.
Heads up: clearing Chrome’s data will also sign you out of Chrome and remove locally saved data. If you’re signed in with a Google account, your bookmarks and passwords are synced to your account and will come back when you sign in again.
To reset Chrome for Android, follow these steps:
Open the Settings app
Tap the “Settings” app on your phone’s home screen or app menu.
Tap on “Apps”
In the Settings menu, tap “Apps” (or “App Manager” on some phones) to see all your installed applications.
Find and tap on Chrome
Scroll through the list of apps until you find Chrome, then tap it to open the app’s details.
Tap “Storage”
On the Chrome app info screen, tap “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”
You’ll see two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”
Tap “Clear all data” to reset Chrome to its default state.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”
A confirmation dialog will list what’s about to be reset. Tap “Ok” to finish.
2. Reset Your TCP/IP Configuration
If resetting the browser didn’t fix the issue, the problem may be in your system’s network settings rather than the browser. We’ll force Windows to renew its TCP/IP configuration:
Click the Start menu, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator. When the User Account Control window appears, click Yes.
In the Command Prompt window, type (or copy and paste) the following commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each one:
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns
Heads up: your internet connection will drop for a few seconds while these commands run — that’s normal and expected. The ipconfig /renew command may take a moment to complete; wait for the prompt to return before typing the next command.
When all five commands have finished, restart your computer to complete the network reset, then open your browser and check if the problem is resolved.
3. Check your proxy server settings
Next, we’ll check whether a proxy server is configured on your computer. A proxy routes your internet traffic through a separate server — and a misconfigured or malware-added proxy is a common cause of connection errors. If you didn’t set up a proxy yourself, there shouldn’t be one enabled.
Open “Run” and type INETCPL.CPL.
To open the Run Command box, press the Windows key and R key together on your keyboard. You can also right-click your Start button on your taskbar and select “Run” from the list.
In the Run box, type INETCPL.CPL and then click OK.
Click on “Connections”, then on “LAN settings”.
When the Internet Connections opens, click the “Connections”, then click on “LAN settings”.
Uncheck “Use a Proxy server”.
In LAN Settings settings, uncheck “Use a Proxy server”, then click on “OK”.
4. Uninstall recently installed programs
A recently installed program could be behind this error. VPNs and antivirus software can interfere with your browser’s connections, and malware can change your internet settings outright. Think back to when the problem started — if it coincides with a new program, uninstall it and check if the error goes away.
Windows 11Windows 10Windows 8Windows 7
Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
First, open Windows Settings by pressing Windows+I on your keyboard. You can also right-click your Start button and select “Settings” from the list.
In the Settings app, click on “Apps” and then “Apps & features”.
When Settings opens, click “Apps” in the sidebar, then select “Apps & Features”.
Find the program in the list of installed apps and uninstall it.
In Apps & Features settings, scroll down to the app list and search for the program you want to uninstall. To make things easier, you can sort all installed programs by their installation date. To do this, click “Sort by” and select “Install date”.
Look out for suspicious programs that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. When you find a program, click the three dots button beside it and select “Uninstall” in the menu that appears.
Follow the prompts to uninstall the program.
In the next message box, confirm the uninstall process by clicking on Uninstall, then follow the prompts to uninstall the program.
Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read them closely.
Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app. You can also ope the Settings app by clicking the Start button on the taskbar, then select “Settings” (gear icon).
In the Settings app, click on “Apps”.
When the “Windows Settings” window opens, click on “Apps“. By default, it should open “Apps and Features” but if it doesn’t, select it from the list on the left.
Find the program in the list of installed apps and uninstall it.
In Apps & Features settings, scroll down to the app list and search for unknown or suspicious programs. To make things easier, you can sort all installed programs by their installation date. To do this, click “Sort by” and select “Install date”.
Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. When you find a program, click on it and select “Uninstall” in the menu that appears.
If you have checked your computer for programs and did not find any, you can proceed with the next step in this guide.
Follow the prompts to uninstall the program.
In the next message box, confirm the uninstall process by clicking on Uninstall, then follow the prompts to uninstall the program.
Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read closely.
Go to “Program and Features”.
Right-click on the Start button in the taskbar, then select “Programs and Features”. This will take you directly to your list of installed programs.
Search for program and uninstall it.
The “Programs and Features” screen will be displayed with a list of all the programs installed on your computer. Scroll through the list until you find any unknown or suspicious program, then click to highlight it, then click the “Uninstall” button.
Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program.
If you have checked your computer for programs and did not find any, you can proceed with the next step in this guide.
Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall program.
In the next message box, confirm the uninstall process by clicking on Yes, then follow the prompts to uninstall program. Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read closely.
Open the “Control Panel”.
Click on the “Start” button, then click on “Control Panel“.
Click on “Uninstall a Program”.
When the “Control Panel” appears, click on “Uninstall a Program” from the Programs category.
Search for programs and uninstall them.
The “Programs and Features” screen will be displayed with a list of all the programs installed on your computer. Scroll through the list until you find any suspicious or unknown program, then click to highlight it, then click the “Uninstall” button.
Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program.
Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall program.
In the next message box, confirm the uninstall process by clicking on Yes, then follow the prompts to uninstall program. Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read closely.
If you are experiencing difficulty while attempting to uninstall a program, you can use Revo Uninstaller to completely remove the program from your computer.
5. Scan for Viruses
Now we’ll install Malwarebytes and run a scan to find and remove any malicious programs that may have changed your proxy server or DNS settings behind your back.
Malwarebytes runs on Windows, Mac, and Android. Click the tab below for the device you want to scan, then follow the steps to remove any malware it finds.
Malwarebytes For WindowsMalwarebytes For MacMalwarebytes For Android
Scan Your Computer with Malwarebytes for Windows
Malwarebytes is one of the most popular and trusted anti-malware tools for Windows — and it’s completely free for removing infections. It catches threats that many antivirus programs miss, including adware, browser hijackers, and trojans. Follow the steps below to scan and clean your PC in just a few minutes.
Download Malwarebytes
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows from the official source. The free version is all you need — it will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software at no cost.
(The link opens in a new page where your download will start)
Install Malwarebytes
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the MBSetup file. If Windows shows a User Account Control pop-up, click “Yes” to allow the installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
The setup wizard will walk you through a few quick screens:
Choose where you’re installing the program — “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” — then click Next.
Malwarebytes will now install on your device. This usually takes under a minute.
When installation is complete, the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen will open automatically.
On the final screen, click Open Malwarebytes to launch the program.
Enable “Scan for Rootkits”
Before scanning, turn on rootkit detection so Malwarebytes can find even the most hidden threats. Click the Settings gear icon on the left side of the screen.
In the settings menu, find “Scan for rootkits” and click the toggle so it turns blue.
Done? Click “Dashboard” in the left pane to return to the main screen.
Start the Scan
Click the blue Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its virus database and start checking your computer for malware.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
The scan checks your entire system for browser hijackers and other malicious programs, so it can take several minutes. Feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.
Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found — malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all of them at once.
Malwarebytes will now remove the malicious files and registry entries and move them safely into quarantine.
Restart Your Computer
Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot. If Malwarebytes asks you to restart, click Yes. Once you’re logged back in, your PC is clean and you can continue with the next steps in this guide.
That’s it — your Windows computer is now free of trojans, adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing Malwarebytes Premium to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Malwarebytes for Mac is a free on-demand scanner that removes the malware other security software tends to miss — adware, browser hijackers, and unwanted programs included. Cleaning an infected Mac with Malwarebytes has always been completely free, and it’s our go-to recommendation. Follow the steps below to scan and clean your Mac in just a few minutes.
Download Malwarebytes for Mac
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Mac.
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the setup file to begin the installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
The Malwarebytes for Mac Installer will guide you through a few quick screens. Click “Continue” and keep following the prompts until the installation completes.
When the installation is complete, Malwarebytes opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click “Get started“.
Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”
Malwarebytes will ask what type of computer you’re installing it on. Click either Personal Computer or Work Computer, whichever applies.
Start the Scan
Click the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its detection database and begin checking your Mac for malware.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
Malwarebytes will scan your Mac for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This can take a few minutes, so feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.
Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all the threats at once.
Restart Your Mac
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files it found. Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot — if Malwarebytes asks you to restart, allow it. Once you’re logged back in, your Mac is clean.
That’s it — your Mac is now free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious program on your computer, you might want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Scan Your Phone with Malwarebytes for Android
Malwarebytes for Android automatically detects and removes dangerous threats like malware and ransomware so you don’t have to worry about your most-used device being compromised. Aggressive detection of adware and potentially unwanted programs keeps your Android phone or tablet running smooth.
Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.
When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options. This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue. Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step. Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue. Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
You will now be prompted to update the Malwarebytes database and run a full system scan.
Click on “Update database” to update the Malwarebytes for Android definitions to the latest version, then click on “Run full scan” to perform a system scan.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Remove Selected”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. To remove the malicious apps that Malwarebytes has found, tap on the “Remove Selected” button.
Restart your phone.
Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.
That’s it — your Android device is now free of malicious apps, adware, and browser redirects.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious app on your phone, you may want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
Next, we’ll run AdwCleaner and use its built-in repair tools to fix the damage malware may have left behind — including reset Winsock and TCP/IP settings, malicious browser policies, and hijacked shortcuts.
AdwCleaner is a free popular on-demand scanner that can detect and remove malware that even the most well-known anti-virus and anti-malware applications fail to find. This on-demand scanner includes a lot of tools that can be used to fix the side effects of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
Download AdwCleaner.
You can download AdwCleaner by clicking the link below.
ADWCLEANER DOWNLOAD LINK(The above link will open a new web page from where you can download AdwCleaner)
Double-click on the setup file.
Double-click on the file named “adwcleaner_x.x.x.exe” to start AdwCleaner. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
AdwCleaner program will now open and you will be presented with the program’s license agreement. After you read it, click on the I agree button if you wish to continue. If Windows prompts you as to whether or not you wish to run AdwCleaner, please allow it to run.
Perform Basic Repairs.
When AdwCleaner starts, on the left side of the window, click on “Settings” and then the following basic repairs:
Reset Proxy
Reset Chrome Policies
Reset TCP/IP
Reset Firewall
Reset IPSec
Reset IE Policies
Reset Winsock
Reset Hosts file
Click on the “Scan” button.
On the left side of the AdwCleaner window, click on “Dashboard” and then click “Scan” to perform a computer scan.
Wait for the AdwCleaner scan to finish.
AdwCleaner will now scan your computer for malware. This process can take a few minutes.
Click on “Quarantine” to remove malware.
When the AdwCleaner scan is completed it will display all of the items it has found. Click on the “Quarantine” button to remove the malicious programs from your computer.
Click on “Continue” to perform basic repairs and remove malicious programs.
AdwCleaner will now prompt you to save any open files or data as the program will need to close any open programs before it starts to clean. Click on the “Continue” button to finish the removal process.
AdwCleaner will now perform basic repairs and delete all detected malware from your computer. When the malware removal process is complete, restart your computer.
7. Call your ISP
If you’ve tried everything above and the problem persists, the issue is likely on your internet service provider’s end — a line fault, or failing equipment such as your modem. Contact your ISP’s support: tell them which troubleshooting steps you’ve already completed (it will speed up the diagnosis considerably), and they can test the connection from their side.
In conclusion, the “ERR_FAILED” error can be caused by several factors, including corrupt cache and cookies, outdated DNS cache, problems with your router, or conflicts with antivirus or firewall software. By following the solutions outlined above, you should be able to resolve the issue and get your browser back to working properly. If you continue to experience the error, it may be a problem with the website or the network you are trying to connect to, and you may need to contact the website’s administrator or your network administrator for further assistance.
About Stelian
Stelian leverages over a decade of cybersecurity expertise to lead malware analysis and removal, uncover scams, and educate people. His experience provides insightful analysis and valuable perspective.
If you have checked your computer for programs and did not find any, you can proceed with the next step in this guide.
AdwCleaner program will now open and you will be presented with the program’s license agreement. After you read it, click on the I agree button if you wish to continue. If Windows prompts you as to whether or not you wish to run AdwCleaner, please allow it to run.
AdwCleaner will now perform basic repairs and delete all detected malware from your computer. When the malware removal process is complete, restart your computer.
AdwCleaner program will now open and you will be presented with the program’s license agreement. After you read it, click on the I agree button if you wish to continue. If Windows prompts you as to whether or not you wish to run AdwCleaner, please allow it to run.
AdwCleaner will now perform basic repairs and delete all detected malware from your computer. When the malware removal process is complete, restart your computer.