Are you seeing the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error in your browser? Not a very helpful error message, is information technology? If you are a daily WordPress user, and so it's always practiced to be aware of common errors like these that might prevent you from getting access to your website.

In today'south mail, we're going to take a deep dive into the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error and examine why yous might encounter this and what you tin can do to prepare it speedily. But put, information technology's an indication that the system is unavailable and the time given for one to connect has elapsed, and now the request has timed out. But what does that actually mean?

Let's observe out!

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What is the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT Error?

An ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error typically means there is something wrong with your local network connection. Notwithstanding, that'due south not always the case.

According to the WordPress support documentation, a connectedness timed out error appears when your website is trying to exercise more than than your server tin manage. It's especially common on shared hosting where your retention limit is restricted.

When you visit a website and it doesn't load, your browser will effort for around 30 seconds or so until it terminates the connection. Later which it will return an "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error, indicating a communication problem. In Google Chrome you might see this equally "This site can't exist reached. Domain.com took too long to reply."

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Chrome
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT fault in Chrome

Due to all the dissimilar web browsers, operating systems, and servers, the error can present itself in a number of unlike ways. But nigh of them have the aforementioned or similar significant. "ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED" and "ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED" are two very closely related errors that can usually be solved with the aforementioned troubleshooting steps below.

Some other common error code that appears under 'This site tin't be reached' is the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN, which is a DNS error 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 volition show as "The connection has timed out." The server at domain.com is taking also long to respond.

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Firefox
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT mistake in Firefox

Microsoft Edge

In Microsoft Edge, the error will evidence every bit "Hmmm… can't reach this page. Domain.com took besides long to respond." In Border, even so, information technology does also incorporate the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" fault.

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Edge
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Edge

Safari

In Safari, the error will show as "Safari Can't Open the Page. Safari can't open up the page domain.com because 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 Mistake

Where should you lot start troubleshooting if you see this error on your WordPress site? Without a bang-up bargain of context, it can sometimes be frustrating and overwhelming where to even begin. Typically these are either client-side problems (issues with your network connection or firewall) or an issue with the server at which the site is hosted (memory limits, execution times, etc.).

1. Check Your Connection

Google Chrome, Firefox, and Edge all recommend that you should cheque your network connection. While this might sound obvious, they all indicate to checking your connection kickoff as it's one of the most 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 problems than a lot of people would like to acknowledge. To completely power cycle it, disconnect the power supply then wait 30 seconds before plugging it back in.
  • Check to see if yous're on a bad or slow wifi connexion. This is a common occurrence on busy public wifi hotspots such as coffee shops or airports.

2. Disable Firewall and Antivirus Software Temporarily

Firewalls and antivirus software are intended to protect users and their systems. They browse your device regularly and automatically block any suspicious activity. However, this type of security tin at times atomic number 82 to connectedness issues.

This is because firewalls can often cake pages they don't need to or decline content that is completely safe. Nosotros've seen this happen many times with software similar AVG. To check whether this is the case for you, endeavor disabling your firewall and antivirus programs. Of grade, this is only brash if you know for sure that the site you're intending to visit is rubber.

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

These types of tools also have what is called a "false-positive" report y'all can fill out. If you're 100% positive that a site your visiting is blocked and shouldn't be, you lot can allow the software developer know. Hither are a few quick links:

  • AVG false positive class
  • Norton faux positive form
  • Sophos simulated positive form

3. Disable Proxy Settings

Sometimes y'all might meet the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error if y'all are utilizing a proxy service. This is ordinarily pretty rare, especially on the client-side. Even so, ane might have been set without you lot even knowing it. To disable or cheque to ensure no proxy settings are enabled, follow these steps.

Access the Settings menu in your Chrome browser. This volition open up up the complete card of options. Under the System section (you'll need to click Advanced at the lesser to see this), y'all should find an entry titled Open up proxy settings. By selecting information technology, y'all'll be taken to the corresponding menu:

Open Proxy Settings in Chrome
Open up Proxy Settings in Chrome

Your next stride depends on the arrangement yous're currently using. Windows users volition want to click on LAN Settings and uncheck the Use proxy server for LAN option. If you're a Mac user, you should immediately find yourself in the relevant carte. Y'all'll so have to uncheck all selectable proxy protocols and check to run across if the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT message has been resolved.

Uncheck proxies on Mac
Uncheck proxies on Mac

If you're on Windows, you lot will run into a "Local Area Network (LAN) Settings" window appear. Y'all volition desire to confirm that the "Employ a proxy server for your LAN" option 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 sure you're not connected by blow.

4. Change DNS Servers

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

  • Some prefer to apply Google's public DNS (8.eight.8.8 and eight.8.4.4) long-term due to them sometimes being more reliable.
  • Cloudflare likewise offers secure and blazing fast costless DNS (1.1.one.1 and 1.0.0.ane) which we will be using in this instance. If you desire to use Google's the steps are the same, you simply replace the DNS server addresses with Googles.

Tip: If y'all're already using a free DNS server and having issues, removing it and defaulting dorsum to your Internet access provider'southward DNS servers as well sometimes fix things.

Google and Cloudflare aren't perfect 100% of the time and there accept been a few instances where we've noticed switching back has resolved the event. This is specially truthful if you lot're using a Wifi hotspot in an airdrome or coffee shop.

Windows

In Windows simply open Command Prompt by pressing the Windows logo central and R. Then type "control panel" and hit Enter.

Run Control Panel Windows
Run Control Panel Windows

Click on "Network and Internet" and then "Network and Sharing Center." On the left-hand side, click on "Change Adapter Settings."

Change adapter settings
Change adapter settings

Right click on your electric current connection, this will either be Local Area Connexion or Wireless Network Connection based on how you're connecting. Then click on "Properties."

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Wireless connection properties
Wireless connectedness properties

Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (or Version 6 if desired) and click on "Properties."

IPV 4 properties
IPV 4 properties

Make a notation of whatsoever existing settings in example you lot need to revert back. Click "Apply the post-obit DNS server addresses." Enter the post-obit, or replace the existing with these:

For IPv4:1.1.one.i 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 alter DNS servers on a Mac, become to System Preferences…

Mac system preferences
Mac system preferences

Click on the network icon and then click "Avant-garde."

Mac network advanced
Mac network advanced

Click on the "DNS" tab.

Mac DNS
Mac DNS

Then add Cloudflare's DNS server addresses.

For IPv4:1.ane.1.1 and1.0.0.i
For IPv6:2606:4700:4700::1111 and2606:4700:4700::1001

5. Flush/Renew DNS

You lot tin can also try flushing your local DNS cache. This is similar to clearing your browser enshroud. It could be that the site you're trying to visit isn't resolving to the correct IP address. If you've just migrated your WordPress site to a new host, it's important to look for things to fully propagate. This can sometimes take upwards to 24 hours, although it can be as picayune equally a few minutes. This depends on your DNS provider and the TTL value of your DNS records.

Windows

In Windows only open up upwards Command Prompt and enter the following:

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

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

Mac

For macOS users, you lot tin enter the following in the terminal:

dscacheutil -flushcache
dscacheutil -flushcache
Mac affluent cache

Note: There is no success bulletin on Macs.

6. Check Your Hosts File

Every computer has what they call a local hosts file. This is a file that contains manual DNS entries which are mapped to specific IP addresses. Typically this is simply edited when yous want to preview your DNS before switching over domains to a new host. Or perhaps you 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 take been inverse or edited. Therefore, information technology's ever good to check to ensure the website you're trying to access isn't in at that place. Just follow the steps below.

Windows

The hosts file typically requires boosted access. So the first step is to open up up your text editor every bit an administrator. Simply click on your start menu, search for your text editor, right-click on it and select "Run as administrator." This can exist washed 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 as administrator

Inside your text editor click File → Open up and scan to the following location:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\

Click on the hosts file and "Open."

open hosts file
Open up hosts file

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

Mac

To cheque your hosts file on a Mac, we recommend getting Gas Mask. Information technology's a free application which can exist used as hosts file manager, hosts files editor, and switch between them. It makes everything quick and easy! Otherwise, you can follow the steps beneath to edit your hosts file on Mac manually.

Go to Utilities and then click on "Final."

Mac utilities terminal
Mac utilities terminal

Enter in the following command and press Enter (you will near probable exist prompted for your ambassador countersign likewise).

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 lot should also verify that the DNS of your domain is correctly pointed to your hosting provider. If you're a Kinsta client we accept an in-depth post 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 cached incorrectly on your computer. In which example, footstep 5 above should resolve that. Or it may just be as well soon and yous demand to wait a few hours for the DNS to fully propagate.

8. Clear Browser Enshroud

Web browsers store information in cache on your computer. 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 time they're visited.

Although they're useful, caches tin crusade numerous problems when they become outdated. Fortunately, this problem is hands solved past clearing your cache.

But before you practice that, you can easily cheque to see if it's a browser cache issue past commencement opening upwards your browser in incognito fashion. Or you can try a different browser. If you lot're still seeing the mistake, and so you volition want to proceed with clearing your enshroud.

In this instance, nosotros'll exist using Google Chrome. Begin by opening up the primary carte (in the top-correct corner of your browser window). From there, select More Tools: You can and then click on Clear browser data.

Chrome clear browsing data
Chrome articulate browsing data

On the resulting page, you'll demand to make sure that all listed file categories are selected. If they aren't, Chrome won't be able to empty the entire cache. Instead, it will simply remove the most recent entries, which won't outcome in the desired effect:

Clear browsing data
Clear browsing information

An culling 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 aforementioned options we've outlined above. Hither are some other helpful links for clearing cache.

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

nine. Look at The Maximum Execution Time

The rest of the troubleshooting steps we'll be diving into are those that take to do with the configuration of your WordPress site or server that may help fix the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" mistake.

The first is the maximum execution time prepare for your site. On nigh servers, the default time is set to xxx seconds. This is the amount of time a PHP script is allowed to run (later on which it times out). On shared hosts, this is typically fix low or left at the default.

Y'all tin can't easily modify this from WordPress every bit 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 set the default maximum execution fourth dimension to 300 seconds.

If y'all want to try and modify this yourself, information technology can unremarkably exist done with one of the following options. Both will depend on how your hosting provider configures their servers.

Option 1 – Modify Max Execution Time in php.ini File

If yous have a php.ini file in your home directory, find the max_execution_time parameter and modify information technology. For example, if it's ready to xxx seconds, you lot can increment information technology to 300 seconds.

max_execution_time = 300

Selection 2 – Modify Max Execution Time in .htacess File

If the above option doesn't work, yous might exist able to change information technology within your .htaccess file. Just like with the php.ini file, this is typically located within your dwelling house directory. Place the following in the peak of your .htaccess file:

php_value max_execution_time 300

10. Temporarily Disable Your Plugins

Equally with virtually WordPress errors, a plugin tin 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. Still, if you're getting the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" fault information technology means you don't have access to your WordPress admin surface area. This means you will need to SFTP into your site. Nosotros recommend using FileZilla.

Once your SFTP client is ready, connect to your website through it and navigate to your WordPress root binder. In instance you tin't find it, it's usually chosen public_html, html, public, www, or your site's name. If you're a Kinsta client, it's your public folder.

WordPress root folder SFTP
WordPress root binder SFTP

Open up that binder, and navigate to the wp-content directory. Inside, you'll meet 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 do now is correct-click on the plugins binder, and rename it to something else. We recommendplugins.old orplugins.deactivated, then you can hands recognize it afterward.

WordPress plugins folder renamed
WordPress plugins folder renamed

WordPress will at present non be able to detect whatever of your plugins. When that happens, information technology will automatically disable those plugins.

Now, endeavor accessing your WordPress dashboard. If the timeout error is gone, then y'all can assume that one of your plugins was the culprit. All yous have to do is figure out which 1 was at fault.

Return to thewp-content directory, and rename your original plugins binder correctly. And so, you'll need to disable each of your plugins ane by i, until y'all find the culprit.

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

  1. Start with the first folder, and rename it to anything you similar.
  2. Bank check your website to meet if the mistake is gone.
  3. If it isn't, return the plugin folder from the previous step to its original name.
  4. Motion on to the next plugin on your listing, repeating the above steps.

This process can accept a while if you have a lot of plugins, but it'due south vital to check each plugin in turn. If at any signal you identify the plugin that'due south causing the error, you tin uninstall it or supersede it with another tool.

If you lot get in to the cease of these steps without finding a solution, you lot tin can motion on to the adjacent phase of troubleshooting.

11. Temporarily Revert to Default Theme

Now that yous've ruled out your plugins as the cause of the timeout error, it's time to exercise the aforementioned with your active theme. In fact, your theme could too be creating compatibility bug.

Unfortunately, the procedure doesn't work the same as above. WordPress won't revert to the default theme if only rename the theme binder, yous would stop upwardly with an error similar "The theme directory "theme proper noun" does not exist." Or if you try to rename the entire theme directory folder, you lot end upwards with "ERROR: The themes directory is either empty or doesn't exist. Please cheque your installation."

Therefore, you demand to access your WordPress database by logging into phpMyAdmin. If y'all're a Kinsta client, this can 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 will want to search nether the "option_name" fortemplate.

phpMyAdmin wp_options table
phpMyAdmin wp_options table

Under the "option_value" cavalcade you will see the current proper noun of your theme. Change this to 1 of the default themes, such every bit "twentynineteen."

wp_options template name
wp_options template name

Check your website again to see if this has fixed the error. If it did, information technology simply means information technology'due south a problem with your WordPress theme and you might want to try reinstalling information technology or reverting to your most contempo backup.

12. Increase the Memory Limit

The WP_MEMORY_LIMIT parameter allows you lot to specify the maximum amount of memory that can exist consumed by PHP. If y'all are using shared hosting, information technology'southward most likely set to a depression value such as 64M. At Kinsta, we gear up the default retentiveness limit to 256M.

You lot can increase the retentivity limit by adding the following to your wp-config.php file. This must be placed higher up 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 lot have admission to your WordPress dashboard and are running WordPress 5.2 or above, yous tin can meet the PHP memory limit nether the "Site Wellness" tool.

WordPress site health PHP memory limit
WordPress site health PHP retention limit

Tin't reach your site considering of the *ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT* error bulletin? Hither are 12 possible ways to ready information technology! 💻😱 Click to Tweet

Summary

Connexion and timeout errors are never fun to troubleshoot, simply hopefully, you have a fiddling more noesis in your toolbelt now to help resolve it quickly.

It's important to remember that the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error be a event of a client-side problem such every bit your network connection, or an effect with the server where your WordPress site is hosted. Have whatever other tips to resolve this error? Let us know below in the comments.

(Suggested reading: Larn how to gear up the ERR_CACHE_MISS error in Chrome)


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