Are yous seeing the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" mistake in your browser? Not a very helpful error message, is it? If you are a daily WordPress user, then it's e'er good to be aware of common errors like these that might foreclose y'all from getting access to your website.

In today's post, we're going to take a deep dive into the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" fault and examine why y'all might see this and what you tin practice to fix it quickly. Simply put, it's an indication that the system is unavailable and the fourth dimension given for one to connect has elapsed, and now the asking has timed out. But what does that actually mean?

Let's find out!

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What is the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT Error?

An ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT fault typically means there is something wrong with your local network connexion. However, that's non ever the example.

Co-ordinate to the WordPress support documentation, a connection timed out error appears when your website is trying to do more than your server can manage. Information technology's particularly mutual on shared hosting where your memory limit is restricted.

When y'all visit a website and it doesn't load, your browser will try for around thirty seconds or so until it terminates the connection. Afterwards which information technology volition return an "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error, indicating a advice trouble. In Google Chrome yous might run across this every bit "This site can't be reached. Domain.com took too long to reply."

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Chrome
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Chrome

Due to all the different web browsers, operating systems, and servers, the fault tin nowadays itself in a number of different ways. But most of them have the aforementioned or similar meaning. "ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED" and "ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED" are two very closely related errors that tin normally be solved with the same troubleshooting steps below.

Another mutual mistake code that appears under 'This site can't exist reached' is the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN, which is a DNS mistake that essentially means the domain that was requested doesn't exist.

Below are a few examples of how the error might present itself in different browsers.

Mozilla Firefox

In Mozilla Firefox the error will show as "The connexion has timed out." The server at domain.com is taking too long to respond.

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Firefox
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Firefox

Microsoft Edge

In Microsoft Edge, the error will show as "Hmmm… can't reach this page. Domain.com took besides long to answer." In Edge, however, it does besides comprise the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error.

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Edge
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Edge

Safari

In Safari, the error will show as "Safari Tin can't Open the Page. Safari tin't open the folio domain.com considering the server where this page is located isn't responding."

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Safari
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Safari

How to Ready the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT Error

Where should y'all starting time troubleshooting if you lot see this error on your WordPress site? Without a great deal of context, it can sometimes be frustrating and overwhelming where to fifty-fifty begin. Typically these are either customer-side issues (issues with your network connection or firewall) or an issue with the server at which the site is hosted (retention limits, execution times, etc.).

1. Check Your Connection

Google Chrome, Firefox, and Edge all recommend that you should cheque your network connexion. While this might sound obvious, they all point to checking your connectedness showtime as information technology'south one of the nigh common reasons for the error. Here are a few things we recommend:

  • Restart your domicile or office router. This only takes a few minutes and solves more issues than a lot of people would like to admit. To completely power bicycle it, disconnect the power supply and and so wait 30 seconds before plugging it back in.
  • Check to see if you're on a bad or slow wifi connection. This is a common occurrence on busy public wifi hotspots such as java shops or airports.

ii. Disable Firewall and Antivirus Software Temporarily

Firewalls and antivirus software are intended to protect users and their systems. They scan your device regularly and automatically cake any suspicious activity. Nevertheless, this type of security can at times atomic number 82 to connexion bug.

This is considering firewalls can ofttimes block pages they don't need to or reject content that is completely safe. We've seen this happen many times with software similar AVG. To check whether this is the case for you lot, try disabling your firewall and antivirus programs. Of course, this is merely advised if yous know for certain that the site you're intending to visit is safe.

Additionally, yous should only disable this kind of software temporarily. Switch it back on after you've finished checking to see whether the mistake has been resolved, so you don't become vulnerable to attacks. If you repeatedly run into errors because of your firewall or antivirus software, you may want to consider changing what you're using.

These types of tools besides have what is chosen a "false-positive" report you can make full out. If you're 100% positive that a site your visiting is blocked and shouldn't exist, you can let the software programmer know. Here are a few quick links:

  • AVG false positive form
  • Norton false positive form
  • Sophos fake positive grade

3. Disable Proxy Settings

Sometimes you might see the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error if you are utilizing a proxy service. This is commonly pretty rare, especially on the customer-side. However, i might take been prepare without you even knowing it. To disable or bank check to ensure no proxy settings are enabled, follow these steps.

Access the Settings menu in your Chrome browser. This will open up the consummate carte du jour of options. Under the Organization section (y'all'll need to click Advanced at the bottom to run into this), you should discover an entry titled Open proxy settings. By selecting it, you'll be taken to the respective card:

Open Proxy Settings in Chrome
Open Proxy Settings in Chrome

Your side by side step depends on the system you're currently using. Windows users will want to click on LAN Settings and uncheck the Utilize proxy server for LAN option. If you're a Mac user, y'all should immediately find yourself in the relevant menu. You lot'll and so accept to uncheck all selectable proxy protocols and check to see if the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT message has been resolved.

Uncheck proxies on Mac
Uncheck proxies on Mac

If you're on Windows, you will see a "Local Area Network (LAN) Settings" window announced. You will want to ostend that the "Use a proxy server for your LAN" choice is unchecked.

Disable Chrome proxy settings in Windows
Disable Chrome proxy settings in Windows

The same goes if you're using a VPN similar ExpressVPN or TunnelBear. Make certain you're not connected by accident.

4. Change DNS Servers

The next thing you can try is changing your DNS servers. By default, DNS servers are automatically assigned by your ISP. But yous could try temporarily changing these to a public DNS server, such as Google or Cloudflare.

  • Some prefer to utilize Google'southward public DNS (8.8.viii.viii and 8.8.4.four) long-term due to them sometimes beingness more than reliable.
  • Cloudflare too offers secure and blazing fast free DNS (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.one) which nosotros will be using in this example. If you desire to use Google'south the steps are the aforementioned, yous but supervene upon the DNS server addresses with Googles.

Tip: If you're already using a free DNS server and having issues, removing information technology and defaulting dorsum to your Internet service provider's DNS servers also sometimes fix things.

Google and Cloudflare aren't perfect 100% of the time and there have been a few instances where we've noticed switching back has resolved the issue. This is especially true if you're using a Wifi hotspot in an airport or coffee shop.

Windows

In Windows simply open up Command Prompt by pressing the Windows logo key and R. Then blazon "control console" and hit Enter.

Run Control Panel Windows
Run Control Panel Windows

Click on "Network and Net" and then "Network and Sharing Eye." On the left-hand side, click on "Modify Adapter Settings."

Change adapter settings
Modify adapter settings

Correct click on your current connection, this will either be Local Expanse Connexion or Wireless Network Connection based on how you're connecting. And then click on "Properties."

Subscribe Now

Wireless connection properties
Wireless connexion properties

Select Internet Protocol Version iv (or Version 6 if desired) and click on "Properties."

IPV 4 properties
IPV iv properties

Make a note of whatsoever existing settings in example you need to revert back. Click "Use the following DNS server addresses." Enter the following, or replace the existing with these:

For IPv4:1.i.ane.one and1.0.0.one
For IPv6:2606:4700:4700::1111 and2606:4700:4700::1001

DNS server addresses
DNS server addresses

Click OK, then Shut. Restart your browser.

Mac

To change DNS servers on a Mac, get to Arrangement Preferences…

Mac system preferences
Mac system preferences

Click on the network icon and then click "Advanced."

Mac network advanced
Mac network advanced

Click on the "DNS" tab.

Mac DNS
Mac DNS

Then add together Cloudflare's DNS server addresses.

For IPv4:1.1.1.ane andi.0.0.1
For IPv6:2606:4700:4700::1111 and2606:4700:4700::1001

5. Flush/Renew DNS

You can also try flushing your local DNS cache. This is similar to clearing your browser enshroud. It could be that the site you lot're trying to visit isn't resolving to the right IP accost. If you've just migrated your WordPress site to a new host, it'due south important to await for things to fully propagate. This tin sometimes have up to 24 hours, although information technology can be every bit little as a few minutes. This depends on your DNS provider and the TTL value of your DNS records.

Windows

In Windows simply open up Command Prompt and enter the following:

ipconfig /flushdns
Command prompt - flush DNS
Command prompt – flush DNS

You should see a "Successfully flushed the DNS resolver Cache" if it worked.

Mac

For macOS users, yous can enter the post-obit in the terminal:

dscacheutil -flushcache
dscacheutil -flushcache
Mac flush cache

Annotation: At that place is no success message on Macs.

6. Bank check Your Hosts File

Every computer has what they phone call a local hosts file. This is a file that contains manual DNS entries which are mapped to specific IP addresses. Typically this is only edited when you want to preview your DNS before switching over domains to a new host. Or maybe y'all have a local development site running using a tool like DevKinsta, Vagrant or Docker.

In that location is a multitude of unlike ways this file could have been changed or edited. Therefore, it'south e'er good to cheque to ensure the website you're trying to access isn't in there. But follow the steps below.

Windows

The hosts file typically requires additional access. And then the beginning step is to open up your text editor as an administrator. Simply click on your get-go menu, search for your text editor, right-click on information technology and select "Run as administrator." This can be done in whatsoever text editor such as Notepad, Notepad++, Atom, etc. We are using Sublime in our example below.

Run text editor as administrator
Run text editor every bit ambassador

Within your text editor click File → Open and browse to the following location:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\

Click on the hosts file and "Open."

open hosts file
Open up hosts file

Double-bank check and brand sure the website you lot're trying to visit isn't listed in in that location. If information technology is, remove information technology.

Mac

To cheque your hosts file on a Mac, we recommend getting Gas Mask. It's a free awarding which can be used equally hosts file director, hosts files editor, and switch between them. It makes everything quick and easy! Otherwise, y'all tin can follow the steps beneath to edit your hosts file on Mac manually.

Go to Utilities and and then click on "Final."

Mac utilities terminal
Mac utilities terminal

Enter in the post-obit command and press Enter (you volition most likely be prompted for your ambassador password also).

sudo nano /private/etc/hosts

Double-check and make sure the website you're trying to visit isn't listed in your hosts file. If it is, remove it.

Edit hosts file on Mac
Edit hosts file on Mac

7. Check the DNS of Your Domain

You should too verify that the DNS of your domain is correctly pointed to your hosting provider. If you're a Kinsta customer we have an in-depth mail service on how to signal your domain and or DNS to Kinsta. If you recently migrated your WordPress website to a new host, it could be the DNS was buried incorrectly on your estimator. In which case, step 5 above should resolve that. Or it may only be too before long and you need to wait a few hours for the DNS to fully propagate.

8. Clear Browser Cache

Web browsers store information in cache on your calculator. This includes your browsing history, saved login information, and cookies – all of which are recorded in order to load the relevant pages more quickly the next fourth dimension they're visited.

Although they're useful, caches can cause numerous bug when they become outdated. Fortunately, this trouble is hands solved by clearing your cache.

But before you do that, you lot can easily check to see if it's a browser enshroud issue by showtime opening up your browser in incognito way. Or you can try a different browser. If you're however seeing the mistake, then y'all will want to keep with clearing your cache.

In this example, we'll be using Google Chrome. Begin by opening upwards the primary menu (in the superlative-correct corner of your browser window). From there, select More Tools: You tin can then click on Articulate browser data.

Chrome clear browsing data
Chrome articulate browsing data

On the resulting page, y'all'll need to make sure that all listed file categories are selected. If they aren't, Chrome won't be able to empty the entire enshroud. Instead, it will simply remove the virtually contempo entries, which won't result in the desired outcome:

Clear browsing data
Clear browsing data

An alternative method of completing this process is to enter the following URL into your address bar:

chrome://settings/clearBrowserData

The resulting screen should grant yous access to the same options we've outlined higher up. Here are another helpful links for immigration cache.

  • How to Force Refresh a Unmarried Page for All Browsers
  • How to Articulate Enshroud for Google Chrome
  • How to Clear Cache for Mozilla Firefox
  • How to Articulate Cache on Mac (Safari)
  • How to Articulate Cache for Internet Explorer
  • How to Articulate Cache for Microsoft Border
  • How to Articulate Enshroud for Opera

nine. Wait at The Maximum Execution Time

The residue of the troubleshooting steps we'll be diving into are those that have to do with the configuration of your WordPress site or server that may aid set up the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error.

The first is the maximum execution fourth dimension gear up for your site. On most servers, the default time is gear up to 30 seconds. This is the amount of time a PHP script is immune to run (after which it times out). On shared hosts, this is typically set low or left at the default.

You can't easily modify this from WordPress as the php.ini file is located on your server. To modify this, we recommend reaching out to your hosting provider to see if they can help. At Kinsta, we prepare the default maximum execution fourth dimension to 300 seconds.

If you want to try and alter this yourself, it tin unremarkably exist done with 1 of the following options. Both will depend on how your hosting provider configures their servers.

Selection 1 – Alter Max Execution Time in php.ini File

If you have a php.ini file in your home directory, find the max_execution_time parameter and modify it. For instance, if it's set to xxx seconds, you can increase information technology to 300 seconds.

max_execution_time = 300

Option 2 – Modify Max Execution Time in .htacess File

If the above option doesn't work, you might be able to change information technology inside your .htaccess file. Merely like with the php.ini file, this is typically located within your home directory. Identify the following in the peak of your .htaccess file:

php_value max_execution_time 300

10. Temporarily Disable Your Plugins

As with most WordPress errors, a plugin can definitely be the root of the problem. To determine if that's what's happening, you lot'll need to disable all of your site's plugins. However, if you're getting the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error information technology ways yous don't have access to your WordPress admin surface area. This means y'all will need to SFTP into your site. We recommend using FileZilla.

Once your SFTP customer is set, connect to your website through it and navigate to your WordPress root folder. In example yous can't find it, it's usually called public_html, html, public, www, or your site'southward name. If you're a Kinsta customer, it'south your public folder.

WordPress root folder SFTP
WordPress root folder SFTP

Open that folder, and navigate to the wp-content directory. Inside, you'll see a folder chosenplugins, which contains individual subdirectories for each of the plugins installed on your site (both active and inactive).

What you're going to practise now is right-click on the plugins folder, and rename information technology to something else. We recommendplugins.old orplugins.deactivated, so you can easily recognize information technology later.

WordPress plugins folder renamed
WordPress plugins folder renamed

WordPress will now not be able to discover whatever of your plugins. When that happens, information technology volition automatically disable those plugins.

Now, attempt accessing your WordPress dashboard. If the timeout error is gone, then you can presume that one of your plugins was the culprit. All you take to do is effigy out which one was at fault.

Render to thewp-content directory, and rename your original plugins binder correctly. And so, you'll need to disable each of your plugins one past ane, until you lot find the culprit.

To do this, open up thewp-content/plugins directory. Inside, y'all'll find ane folder for each of your plugins. The process you lot're going to follow is much the same as before:

  1. Start with the first binder, and rename information technology to anything you like.
  2. Bank check your website to run into if the error is gone.
  3. If information technology isn't, render the plugin binder from the previous step to its original name.
  4. Move on to the next plugin on your list, repeating the above steps.

This procedure can take a while if you have a lot of plugins, just it'southward vital to check each plugin in plow. If at any point y'all identify the plugin that's causing the error, you tin can uninstall it or supercede information technology with some other tool.

If you make information technology to the end of these steps without finding a solution, you tin movement on to the next stage of troubleshooting.

11. Temporarily Revert to Default Theme

Now that you lot've ruled out your plugins every bit the cause of the timeout error, information technology's time to practice the same with your active theme. In fact, your theme could also exist creating compatibility issues.

Unfortunately, the process doesn't work the aforementioned as above. WordPress won't revert to the default theme if simply rename the theme folder, you would cease up with an mistake like "The theme directory "theme name" does not exist." Or if you lot try to rename the entire theme directory folder, you end upwardly with "Fault: The themes directory is either empty or doesn't be. Delight bank check your installation."

Therefore, y'all need to access your WordPress database by logging into phpMyAdmin. If you're a Kinsta customer, this tin be found within the "Info" section of the MyKinsta dashboard.

MyKinsta phpMyAdmin
MyKinsta phpMyAdmin

Click into the "wp_options" table, then click on the "Search" tab. You volition want to search under the "option_name" fortemplate.

phpMyAdmin wp_options table
phpMyAdmin wp_options table

Under the "option_value" column you will meet the current name of your theme. Alter this to one of the default themes, such as "twentynineteen."

wp_options template name
wp_options template name

Check your website again to see if this has fixed the error. If it did, it simply ways information technology'southward a problem with your WordPress theme and you might want to try reinstalling it or reverting to your virtually recent backup.

12. Increase the Memory Limit

The WP_MEMORY_LIMIT parameter allows you lot to specify the maximum amount of retention that can be consumed by PHP. If you are using shared hosting, information technology'southward most probable set to a depression value such as 64M. At Kinsta, we set the default retention limit to 256M.

You can increase the memory limit past adding the following to your wp-config.php file. This must exist placed to a higher place the wp-settings.php inclusion.

ascertain( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M' );
WP_MEMORY_LIMIT in wp-config.php
WP_MEMORY_LIMIT in wp-config.php

Not sure what your current PHP memory limit is set to? If you have access to your WordPress dashboard and are running WordPress 5.two or to a higher place, you tin can see the PHP memory limit nether the "Site Health" tool.

WordPress site health PHP memory limit
WordPress site wellness PHP memory limit

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Summary

Connection and timeout errors are never fun to troubleshoot, but hopefully, you accept a picayune more noesis in your toolbelt at present to help resolve information technology quickly.

Information technology's important to retrieve that the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error be a result of a customer-side trouble such as your network connexion, or an outcome with the server where your WordPress site is hosted. Accept any other tips to resolve this fault? Let the states know below in the comments.

(Suggested reading: Acquire how to fix the ERR_CACHE_MISS error in Chrome)


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