Have you ever tried accessing a particular webpage and all you saw was “This site can’t be reached. ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT.” It is arguably among the most annoying errors.
This article will guide you on how to fix this error with ease. If we cover any topics that are confusing,please reach out to us here: -
What is an ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT Error?
An ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT means your local network connection has something wrong. Nevertheless,it is not always the case.
As per the WordPress support documentation,this error occurs when your site is trying to handle more than what your server can manage.
In fact,this issue is common on shared hosting because they have restricted memory limits.
Whenever you visit a site and its loading fails,then your browser tries for around 30 seconds to 60 seconds and it terminates the connection. In turn,the user receives an instant error message.
What Causes An ERR_Connection_Timed_Out error?
In any error,you can determine the solution if you know the cause. Thus,before we talk on how to fix this error,here are some causes of it:
- Invalid URL.
- Limited or inaccessible internet connection.
- Lack of established connection between a server and your browser.
- Unresponsive servers or having delays in providing a response.
- The server is unable to process your browser request.
Best Methods to Fix This Issue.
Depending on the causes of this error,you can apply different methods to fix this problem. However,getting an ideal solution is the best means to eliminate this error. Here are the methods:
1. Examine Your Connection
Search engines like Edge,Firefox,and Google Chrome suggest you to first examine your network connection. Although this may sound usual,they all suggest you to start by examining your connection first because it is among the most usual causes for this error.
In addition,here are some things we suggest:
- Test if your WiFi connection is slow or bad. In most cases,this occurs on busy public WiFi hotspots like airports and coffee shops.
- Restart your router. Although this takes some minutes,it fixes more issues than you think. For complete power cycle of your router,disconnect your power supply and plug it back after 30 seconds.
2. Expand the Memory Limit
The WP_MEMORY_LIMIT parameter enables you to determine the total amount of memory that the PHP can consume. However,this allows a low value like 64M on shared hosting.
To expand your memory limit,add this line to your wp-config.php file. Nevertheless,ensure you placed this code above the wp-settings.php inclusion.
Don’t know what is your PHP memory limit? You can check it out if you are using WordPress 5.2 and the above version. Go to WP Dashboard>>Tools>> Site Health.
3. Clear Browser Cache
Web browsers keep information in cache on your PC. This information comprises of your cookies,saved login data,and browsing history. All these records are for faster loading of relevant pages anytime you visit them.
Even so,despite their usefulness,caches may lead to many problems once outdated. You need to clear your cache to solve this problem.
Prior to clearing your cache,check if the issue is browser cache related. This can be done by opening your browser in incognito mode. Alternatively,you can use another browser.If the error still exists,then your cache should be cleared.
4. Temporary Deactivation of Firewall and Antivirus Software
The purpose of antivirus software and firewalls is protecting their users and systems. Apart from regular scanning of your device,they automatically block anything suspicious.
Nevertheless,this kind of security may at times result in connection problems. The reason being,firewalls may often block pages they should not,even if the content is safe.
For example,AVG antivirus software does so many times. To test if this is your situation,deactivate your antivirus and firewall programs. Indeed,it is advisable to do so if you are certain that the website you are visiting is safe.
Moreover,ensure this type of deactivation is temporary. To avoid attacks,switch it on after examining if the issue is gone. In case you are experiencing repeated errors due to your antivirus software or firewall,consider changing it.
5. Flush DNS and Reset IP
This error might also occur due to IP or DNS. Therefore,you need to flush your DNS cache and renew the IP address to fix this problem.
If you just moved your WordPress website to a new host,have some patience for complete propagation of things. This might range from minutes to 24 hours. Propagation depends on your DNS provider,as well as the TTL value of your DNS records.
For Windows users,open the Command Prompt and type this line:
c:Windowssystem32cmd.exe
If it works,then “Successfully flushed the DNS resolver Cache” will display.
For MacOS users,type this in the terminal. Unlike windows,Macs do not display a success message.
6. Modify Your Hosts File
Each computer has a local hosts file. This file has manual DNS entries mapped to particular IP addresses. Thus,you can only edit it when previewing your DNS prior to moving your domain to another host.
There exist many methods of editing or modifying this file. However,it is ideal for use in a single site. Here is how to do so:
- Click your start menu,and look for your text editor. Next,right-click on the editor and choose “Run as administrator.”
- On you text editor,click File>> Open and then browse to this location:
C:WindowsSystem32driversetc
- Choose the “hosts” file and click the “Open” button.
- Crosscheck if the website you want to visit is not in the list. If it is there,delete it.
7. Configure LAN Settings
In some instances,the ERR_CONNETION_TIMED_OUT error occurs if you are using a proxy service,or due to modification of LAN settings. Therefore,you should configure the LAN settings to fix this error.
Here is how to do so:
- Go to Start>> Control Panel.
- Next,choose “Icon View” as your view mode.
- Click on “Internet Options.”
As a consequence,the window will show the internet properties.
- Choose the “Connections” tab.
- After that,click on “LAN Settings.”
- Now,uncheck all choices and the “Save” button to save the settings.
Finally,restart your computer.
Conclusion
Among the most stressing issues to troubleshoot are connection and timeout errors. However,you can now solve them with ease,by applying the above methods.
Furthermore,you should also consider the possibility of “ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT” error resulting from a client-side issue. For example,your WP website hosting server issue or network connection.
Apart from the above highlighted methods,the other most important solution is to update your drivers. To do so,you need to update your windows,and it will automatically update them.
Have you ever faced this error? If so,which method did you use?
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