Are you seeing the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error in your browser? Not a very helpful error message, is it? If you are a daily WordPress user, then information technology'south always good to exist aware of common errors like these that might foreclose you from getting access to your website.

In today's post, we're going to take a deep dive into the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error and examine why you might see this and what y'all can do to gear up information technology chop-chop. Simply put, it'due south an indication that the arrangement 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 find out!

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What is the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT Mistake?

An ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error typically means in that location is something wrong with your local network connexion. However, that's not always the case.

According to the WordPress support documentation, a connection timed out error appears when your website is trying to do more than your server tin manage. It'due south particularly common on shared hosting where your retention limit is restricted.

When you visit a website and it doesn't load, your browser will endeavour for around thirty seconds or so until it terminates the connection. After which it will return an "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error, indicating a communication problem. In Google Chrome you might see this as "This site can't be reached. Domain.com took likewise long to respond."

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Chrome
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT fault in Chrome

Due to all the different spider web browsers, operating systems, and servers, the error can present itself in a number of different means. But most of them have the same or similar significant. "ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED" and "ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED" are two very closely related errors that tin can usually be solved with the same troubleshooting steps below.

Another mutual error code that appears under 'This site can't be 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 connectedness 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 prove as "Hmmm… can't reach this folio. Domain.com took too long to respond." In Edge, however, it does also contain the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error.

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Edge
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT mistake in Border

Safari

In Safari, the error will show as "Safari Can't Open up the Folio. 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 mistake in Safari

How to Prepare the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT Error

Where should you showtime troubleshooting if y'all see this error on your WordPress site? Without a smashing deal of context, it can sometimes be frustrating and overwhelming where to fifty-fifty 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. Cheque Your Connection

Google Chrome, Firefox, and Edge all recommend that you should check your network connectedness. While this might audio obvious, they all bespeak to checking your connection first as it'southward ane of the nigh common reasons for the error. Here are a few things we recommend:

  • Restart your dwelling or office router. This merely takes a few minutes and solves more bug than a lot of people would like to admit. To completely ability cycle it, disconnect the power supply and and then look xxx seconds earlier plugging it back in.
  • Check to encounter if y'all're on a bad or boring wifi connection. This is a common occurrence on decorated public wifi hotspots such as coffee 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 action. Still, this type of security can at times lead to connectedness issues.

This is considering firewalls can oft block pages they don't need to or decline content that is completely rubber. We've seen this happen many times with software like AVG. To cheque whether this is the example for you, try disabling your firewall and antivirus programs. Of form, this is merely brash if you know for sure that the site you're intending to visit is prophylactic.

Additionally, you lot should only disable this kind of software temporarily. Switch information technology dorsum on subsequently you've finished checking to see whether the error has been resolved, and so yous don't become vulnerable to attacks. If yous repeatedly see errors because of your firewall or antivirus software, you may desire to consider changing what you're using.

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

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

3. Disable Proxy Settings

Sometimes you lot might encounter the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error if you lot are utilizing a proxy service. This is ordinarily pretty rare, especially on the customer-side. However, one might have been set without y'all 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 will open up up the complete menu of options. Under the Organisation section (yous'll demand to click Advanced at the bottom to see this), you should find an entry titled Open proxy settings. By selecting it, you'll be taken to the corresponding menu:

Open Proxy Settings in Chrome
Open Proxy Settings in Chrome

Your next footstep depends on the arrangement y'all're currently using. Windows users will want to click on LAN Settings and uncheck the Use proxy server for LAN selection. If you're a Mac user, you should immediately discover yourself in the relevant card. You'll and then have to uncheck all selectable proxy protocols and cheque to meet 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 volition meet a "Local Area Network (LAN) Settings" window appear. Y'all will desire to confirm that the "Apply 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 lot're using a VPN similar ExpressVPN or TunnelBear. Make sure you're not continued past blow.

4. Modify DNS Servers

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

  • Some prefer to apply Google'southward public DNS (eight.eight.viii.8 and 8.viii.4.4) long-term due to them sometimes being more reliable.
  • Cloudflare also offers secure and blazing fast free DNS (i.ane.1.1 and 1.0.0.1) which we will be using in this example. If you want to use Google's the steps are the aforementioned, you simply supervene upon the DNS server addresses with Googles.

Tip: If you're already using a free DNS server and having problems, removing it and defaulting dorsum to your ISP'south DNS servers too sometimes fix things.

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

Windows

In Windows simply open up up Command Prompt past pressing the Windows logo key and R. Then type "control panel" and striking Enter.

Run Control Panel Windows
Run Control Panel Windows

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

Change adapter settings
Change adapter settings

Correct click on your electric current connection, this will either exist Local Area Connection or Wireless Network Connection based on how yous're connecting. And then click on "Properties."

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Wireless connection properties
Wireless connexion properties

Select Net Protocol Version 4 (or Version half-dozen if desired) and click on "Properties."

IPV 4 properties
IPV 4 properties

Brand a annotation of any existing settings in case you need to revert back. Click "Use the following DNS server addresses." Enter the following, or supplant the existing with these:

For IPv4:1.1.1.1 andone.0.0.1
For IPv6:2606:4700:4700::1111 and2606:4700:4700::1001

DNS server addresses
DNS server addresses

Click OK, so Close. Restart your browser.

Mac

To modify DNS servers on a Mac, go to System Preferences…

Mac system preferences
Mac organisation 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 andone.0.0.i
For IPv6:2606:4700:4700::1111 and2606:4700:4700::1001

5. Affluent/Renew DNS

You tin can as well try flushing your local DNS cache. This is similar to clearing your browser cache. It could be that the site you're trying to visit isn't resolving to the right IP address. If you've just migrated your WordPress site to a new host, information technology's of import to wait for things to fully propagate. This can sometimes have up to 24 hours, although it tin can be as 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
Control prompt – flush DNS

You should come across a "Successfully flushed the DNS resolver Enshroud" if it worked.

Mac

For macOS users, y'all can enter the following in the final:

dscacheutil -flushcache
dscacheutil -flushcache
Mac affluent cache

Note: There is no success message on Macs.

half-dozen. Check Your Hosts File

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

There is a multitude of dissimilar means this file could take been changed or edited. Therefore, it's always adept to check to ensure the website you're trying to access isn't in at that place. Simply follow the steps beneath.

Windows

The hosts file typically requires additional access. Then the offset pace is to open up up your text editor as an administrator. Simply click on your beginning menu, search for your text editor, correct-click on it and select "Run equally administrator." This tin be washed in any 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

Within your text editor click File → Open and browse to the post-obit location:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\

Click on the hosts file and "Open up."

open hosts file
Open hosts file

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

Mac

To check your hosts file on a Mac, we recommend getting Gas Mask. Information technology's a free application which can be used every bit hosts file manager, hosts files editor, and switch betwixt 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 final

Enter in the following command and press Enter (you lot will most likely be prompted for your administrator password as well).

sudo nano /private/etc/hosts

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

Edit hosts file on Mac
Edit hosts file on Mac

7. Check the DNS of Your Domain

You 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 postal service on how to point 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 case, stride five above should resolve that. Or information technology may simply be too soon and you demand to wait a few hours for the DNS to fully propagate.

8. Clear Browser Cache

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

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

But before you do that, you can hands cheque to run into if it'south a browser cache issue by get-go opening up your browser in incognito mode. Or you can try a dissimilar browser. If you're however seeing the mistake, so you will want to keep with immigration your cache.

In this example, nosotros'll be using Google Chrome. Begin by opening up the primary bill of fare (in the elevation-right corner of your browser window). From there, select More Tools: You can then click on Clear browser data.

Chrome clear browsing data
Chrome clear browsing information

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 cache. Instead, it will just remove the near recent entries, which won't upshot in the desired effect:

Clear browsing data
Clear browsing information

An alternative method of completing this procedure is to enter the post-obit URL into your address bar:

chrome://settings/clearBrowserData

The resulting screen should grant you access to the same options we've outlined to a higher place. Here are some other helpful links for clearing cache.

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

ix. Await at The Maximum Execution Fourth dimension

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 ready the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error.

The get-go is the maximum execution time set for your site. On most servers, the default time is set to 30 seconds. This is the amount of time a PHP script is allowed to run (after which information technology times out). On shared hosts, this is typically set low or left at the default.

You lot 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 run into if they tin help. At Kinsta, we set the default maximum execution time to 300 seconds.

If you desire to endeavor and modify this yourself, it can unremarkably be washed 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 you accept a php.ini file in your dwelling directory, find the max_execution_time parameter and modify it. For example, if it's set to 30 seconds, yous can increase information technology to 300 seconds.

max_execution_time = 300

Selection two – Modify Max Execution Time in .htacess File

If the above option doesn't work, you lot might be able to modify information technology inside your .htaccess file. Just similar with the php.ini file, this is typically located within your habitation directory. Place the post-obit in the top of your .htaccess file:

php_value max_execution_time 300

ten. Temporarily Disable Your Plugins

Every bit with most WordPress errors, a plugin can definitely be the root of the problem. To determine if that's what's happening, you'll need to disable all of your site's plugins. Still, if you're getting the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error it means y'all don't have access to your WordPress admin area. This means you will need to SFTP into your site. Nosotros recommend using FileZilla.

Once your SFTP customer is ready, connect to your website through it and navigate to your WordPress root folder. In case you lot tin't find it, information technology's usually called public_html, html, public, www, or your site'south name. If you lot're a Kinsta client, information technology's your public folder.

WordPress root folder SFTP
WordPress root folder SFTP

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

What you're going to do at present is right-click on the plugins folder, and rename it to something else. We recommendplugins.old orplugins.deactivated, so y'all tin can easily recognize information technology later.

WordPress plugins folder renamed
WordPress plugins folder renamed

WordPress volition now non exist able to find whatsoever of your plugins. When that happens, it will automatically disable those plugins.

Now, try accessing your WordPress dashboard. If the timeout mistake is gone, so yous tin can presume that ane of your plugins was the culprit. All you take to exercise is effigy out which i was at fault.

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

To do this, open up thewp-content/plugins directory. Within, you'll find one 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 folder, and rename information technology to anything you lot like.
  2. Bank check your website to come across if the error is gone.
  3. If it isn't, return the plugin binder from the previous step to its original proper noun.
  4. Motion on to the side by side plugin on your list, repeating the above steps.

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

If y'all brand it to the terminate of these steps without finding a solution, y'all can move on to the adjacent stage of troubleshooting.

11. Temporarily Revert to Default Theme

Now that you've ruled out your plugins as the cause of the timeout error, information technology's time to exercise the aforementioned with your active theme. In fact, your theme could also be creating compatibility issues.

Unfortunately, the procedure doesn't work the aforementioned as above. WordPress won't revert to the default theme if simply rename the theme binder, you would end up with an error like "The theme directory "theme proper noun" does not exist." Or if y'all try to rename the entire theme directory folder, you end upwardly with "ERROR: The themes directory is either empty or doesn't exist. Please check your installation."

Therefore, you need to access your WordPress database past logging into phpMyAdmin. If you're a Kinsta client, this can be found within the "Info" department of the MyKinsta dashboard.

MyKinsta phpMyAdmin
MyKinsta phpMyAdmin

Click into the "wp_options" table, then click on the "Search" tab. Y'all will want to search under the "option_name" fortemplate.

phpMyAdmin wp_options table
phpMyAdmin wp_options tabular array

Under the "option_value" column you will see the electric current name of your theme. Change this to one of the default themes, such equally "twentynineteen."

wp_options template name
wp_options template name

Check your website once again to come across if this has fixed the error. If it did, it simply means it'due south a problem with your WordPress theme and you lot might want to endeavour reinstalling it or reverting to your about recent fill-in.

12. Increase the Memory Limit

The WP_MEMORY_LIMIT parameter allows you to specify the maximum amount of retention that can be consumed by PHP. If you are using shared hosting, it's most likely set to a low value such as 64M. At Kinsta, nosotros set the default retentiveness limit to 256M.

You tin can increment the retention limit past adding the following to your wp-config.php file. This must be placed to a higher place the wp-settings.php inclusion.

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

Not sure what your current PHP retention limit is set up to? If you have access to your WordPress dashboard and are running WordPress five.2 or above, you can encounter the PHP retentiveness limit under the "Site Health" tool.

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

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Summary

Connection and timeout errors are never fun to troubleshoot, only hopefully, you have a piffling more knowledge 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 trouble such as your network connexion, or an issue with the server where your WordPress site is hosted. Have any other tips to resolve this error? Let united states of america know below in the comments.

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


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