Are you seeing the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error in your browser? Not a very helpful mistake message, is it? If yous are a daily WordPress user, and so it's always adept 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" error and examine why yous might see this and what yous tin can do to gear up it speedily. Simply put, it's an indication that the system is unavailable and the time given for 1 to connect has elapsed, and now the request has timed out. But what does that really mean?

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What is the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT Fault?

An ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error typically means there is something incorrect with your local network connection. However, that's not always the instance.

According to the WordPress support documentation, a connection timed out error appears when your website is trying to do more than than your server can manage. It's specially common on shared hosting where your retentiveness limit is restricted.

When you visit a website and it doesn't load, your browser will effort for effectually 30 seconds or so until information technology terminates the connection. After which it volition return an "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error, indicating a communication problem. In Google Chrome you lot might run across this every bit "This site tin can't exist reached. Domain.com took also long to respond."

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Chrome
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT mistake in Chrome

Due to all the unlike spider web browsers, operating systems, and servers, the error tin present 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 can usually be solved with the same troubleshooting steps below.

Another common error lawmaking that appears under 'This site can't exist 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 too long to respond.

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Firefox
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT fault in Firefox

Microsoft Border

In Microsoft Border, the mistake will evidence as "Hmmm… can't reach this page. Domain.com took also long to respond." In Edge, however, it does as well contain the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" mistake.

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Edge
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Edge

Safari

In Safari, the mistake will show as "Safari Can't Open the Page. Safari can't open the folio domain.com because the server where this page is located isn't responding."

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Safari
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT fault in Safari

How to Ready the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT Mistake

Where should y'all start troubleshooting if you lot meet this error on your WordPress site? Without a dandy deal of context, it tin can sometimes be frustrating and overwhelming where to even brainstorm. Typically these are either client-side issues (issues with your network connexion or firewall) or an outcome with the server at which the site is hosted (memory limits, execution times, etc.).

1. Check Your Connectedness

Google Chrome, Firefox, and Edge all recommend that you should bank check your network connectedness. While this might sound obvious, they all point to checking your connection kickoff as information technology's i of the most common reasons for the fault. Here are a few things we recommend:

  • Restart your dwelling house or office router. This merely takes a few minutes and solves more problems than a lot of people would like to admit. To completely ability cycle it, disconnect the power supply and and then expect thirty seconds before plugging it dorsum 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 coffee shops or airports.

two. 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 block any suspicious activity. Yet, this type of security can at times lead to connection issues.

This is because firewalls can frequently block pages they don't need to or refuse content that is completely prophylactic. We've seen this happen many times with software like AVG. To check whether this is the instance for you, try disabling your firewall and antivirus programs. Of class, this is only advised if y'all know for sure that the site yous're intending to visit is safe.

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

These types of tools likewise have what is called a "imitation-positive" written report you tin can fill out. If you're 100% positive that a site your visiting is blocked and shouldn't be, you tin let the software programmer know. Hither are a few quick links:

  • AVG simulated positive course
  • Norton false positive form
  • Sophos imitation positive form

three. Disable Proxy Settings

Sometimes you might come across the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT mistake if y'all are utilizing a proxy service. This is usually pretty rare, especially on the client-side. However, 1 might have been ready 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 volition open upwardly the complete menu of options. Nether the Organisation section (y'all'll need to click Advanced at the bottom to see this), you should find an entry titled Open proxy settings. Past selecting information technology, you'll exist taken to the corresponding menu:

Open Proxy Settings in Chrome
Open Proxy Settings in Chrome

Your adjacent pace depends on the system y'all're currently using. Windows users will want to click on LAN Settings and uncheck the Utilise proxy server for LAN choice. If you're a Mac user, you should immediately detect yourself in the relevant card. You'll then have to uncheck all selectable proxy protocols and check to come across if the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT message has been resolved.

Uncheck proxies on Mac
Uncheck proxies on Mac

If y'all're on Windows, you will see a "Local Expanse Network (LAN) Settings" window appear. You will want to confirm that the "Use 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 like ExpressVPN or TunnelBear. Make sure yous're not connected past accident.

4. Change DNS Servers

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

  • Some prefer to use Google'southward public DNS (8.viii.8.8 and 8.8.four.4) long-term due to them sometimes being more than reliable.
  • Cloudflare also offers secure and blazing fast free DNS (i.one.ane.i and 1.0.0.1) which nosotros will exist using in this example. If you want to use Google's the steps are the same, you simply replace the DNS server addresses with Googles.

Tip: If you're already using a free DNS server and having issues, removing information technology and defaulting back to your ISP's DNS servers also sometimes set things.

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

Windows

In Windows but open up Command Prompt by pressing the Windows logo key and R. So type "command 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-manus side, click on "Change Adapter Settings."

Change adapter settings
Change adapter settings

Right click on your current connectedness, this will either exist Local Area Connection or Wireless Network Connectedness based on how you're connecting. Then click on "Properties."

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Wireless connection properties
Wireless connection backdrop

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

IPV 4 properties
IPV 4 backdrop

Make a note of any existing settings in case you need to revert dorsum. Click "Utilise the following DNS server addresses." Enter the post-obit, or supplant the existing with these:

For IPv4:1.i.ane.i andane.0.0.1
For IPv6:2606:4700:4700::1111 and2606:4700:4700::1001

DNS server addresses
DNS server addresses

Click OK, so Shut. Restart your browser.

Mac

To change DNS servers on a Mac, get 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:i.1.i.1 andi.0.0.1
For IPv6:2606:4700:4700::1111 and2606:4700:4700::1001

v. Flush/Renew DNS

You can too 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 accost. If yous've just migrated your WordPress site to a new host, it'south important to wait for things to fully propagate. This can sometimes take upwards to 24 hours, although it can be as piddling as a few minutes. This depends on your DNS provider and the TTL value of your DNS records.

Windows

In Windows simply open up up Command Prompt and enter the post-obit:

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

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

Mac

For macOS users, you can enter the following in the terminal:

dscacheutil -flushcache
dscacheutil -flushcache
Mac flush cache

Note: There is no success message 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 only edited when yous want to preview your DNS earlier switching over domains to a new host. Or perhaps y'all accept a local development site running using a tool like DevKinsta, Vagrant or Docker.

There is a multitude of different means this file could have been inverse or edited. Therefore, it'southward e'er skilful to bank check to ensure the website yous're trying to admission isn't in at that place. But follow the steps beneath.

Windows

The hosts file typically requires additional access. Then the first pace is to open up your text editor every bit an administrator. Simply click on your get-go carte, search for your text editor, right-click on it and select "Run as administrator." This tin can be done in whatever text editor such every bit Notepad, Notepad++, Atom, etc. Nosotros 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 scan to the following 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 in that location. If information technology is, remove it.

Mac

To bank check your hosts file on a Mac, nosotros recommend getting Gas Mask. It'south a gratuitous application which can be used as hosts file managing director, hosts files editor, and switch between them. Information technology makes everything quick and easy! Otherwise, you tin follow the steps below to edit your hosts file on Mac manually.

Become to Utilities and then click on "Terminal."

Mac utilities terminal
Mac utilities terminal

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

sudo nano /private/etc/hosts

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

Edit hosts file on Mac
Edit hosts file on Mac

7. Check the DNS of Your Domain

Yous should also verify that the DNS of your domain is correctly pointed to your hosting provider. If you're a Kinsta client we have 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 exist the DNS was cached incorrectly on your computer. In which instance, footstep 5 higher up should resolve that. Or it may merely be too soon and you need to wait a few hours for the DNS to fully propagate.

8. Clear Browser Cache

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

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

Simply before you exercise that, you tin can easily check to run into if it'south a browser cache upshot by outset opening up your browser in incognito manner. Or you can try a different browser. If you're still seeing the mistake, and then you lot will want to proceed with clearing your cache.

In this example, we'll be using Google Chrome. Begin by opening up the principal menu (in the top-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 data

On the resulting page, you lot'll need to make certain that all listed file categories are selected. If they aren't, Chrome won't be able to empty the entire cache. Instead, information technology will only remove the nigh recent entries, which won't result in the desired issue:

Clear browsing data
Clear browsing information

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 you admission to the same options nosotros've outlined to a higher place. Hither are some other helpful links for immigration cache.

  • How to Forcefulness Refresh a Single Folio for All Browsers
  • How to Clear Enshroud for Google Chrome
  • How to Clear Cache for Mozilla Firefox
  • How to Clear Cache on Mac (Safari)
  • How to Clear Enshroud for Net Explorer
  • How to Clear Cache for Microsoft Border
  • How to Clear Cache for Opera

ix. Await at The Maximum Execution Time

The rest of the troubleshooting steps nosotros'll be diving into are those that have to practice with the configuration of your WordPress site or server that may aid prepare the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error.

The first 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 fix low or left at the default.

You can't easily change 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 tin can help. At Kinsta, we set up the default maximum execution time to 300 seconds.

If yous want to try and change this yourself, it can usually be done with one of the post-obit options. Both will depend on how your hosting provider configures their servers.

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

If you have a php.ini file in your home directory, observe the max_execution_time parameter and change it. For example, if information technology's gear up to 30 seconds, you tin can increase information technology to 300 seconds.

max_execution_time = 300

Option 2 – Alter Max Execution Time in .htacess File

If the in a higher place option doesn't work, you might be able to change it within your .htaccess file. Just like with the php.ini file, this is typically located within your home directory. Place the following in the summit of your .htaccess file:

php_value max_execution_time 300

10. Temporarily Disable Your Plugins

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

Once your SFTP client is prepare, connect to your website through it and navigate to your WordPress root folder. In case you can't discover it, it's usually chosen public_html, html, public, www, or your site's name. If you're a Kinsta client, information technology's your public folder.

WordPress root folder SFTP
WordPress root folder SFTP

Open up that folder, and navigate to the wp-content directory. Inside, you'll see a folder chosenplugins, which contains private 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.former orplugins.deactivated, so you lot tin can easily recognize it later.

WordPress plugins folder renamed
WordPress plugins folder renamed

WordPress will at present not exist able to find any of your plugins. When that happens, information technology volition automatically disable those plugins.

Now, try accessing your WordPress dashboard. If the timeout error is gone, and so you can assume that one of your plugins was the culprit. All yous have to do is figure out which one was at fault.

Return to thewp-content directory, and rename your original plugins binder correctly. Then, you'll need to disable each of your plugins 1 by one, until y'all detect the culprit.

To do this, open thewp-content/plugins directory. Inside, you lot'll notice 1 folder for each of your plugins. The process you're going to follow is much the same every bit before:

  1. Starting time with the kickoff folder, and rename it to annihilation you lot like.
  2. Cheque your website to see if the error is gone.
  3. If it isn't, return the plugin folder from the previous pace to its original name.
  4. Move on to the next plugin on your listing, repeating the above steps.

This process tin take a while if you take a lot of plugins, but information technology's vital to cheque each plugin in turn. If at any point you identify the plugin that's causing the mistake, you tin can uninstall information technology or replace it with some other tool.

If you brand it to the terminate of these steps without finding a solution, you can move on to the next stage of troubleshooting.

11. Temporarily Revert to Default Theme

Now that you've ruled out your plugins as the crusade of the timeout mistake, it's time to do the same with your agile theme. In fact, your theme could besides exist 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 lot would stop up with an error like "The theme directory "theme name" does not exist." Or if you lot try to rename the entire theme directory folder, y'all finish up with "Fault: The themes directory is either empty or doesn't exist. Delight cheque your installation."

Therefore, y'all demand to admission your WordPress database by logging into phpMyAdmin. If you lot're a Kinsta client, this can be constitute inside 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 under the "option_name" fortemplate.

phpMyAdmin wp_options table
phpMyAdmin wp_options table

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

wp_options template name
wp_options template name

Bank check your website once again to run into if this has fixed the error. If it did, it merely means it's a trouble with your WordPress theme and you might desire to try reinstalling information technology or reverting to your near recent fill-in.

12. Increase the Memory Limit

The WP_MEMORY_LIMIT parameter allows you to specify the maximum amount of memory that tin can exist consumed by PHP. If you are using shared hosting, it's almost likely set to a low value such equally 64M. At Kinsta, we set the default memory limit to 256M.

You tin can increase the memory limit by adding the following to your wp-config.php file. This must exist placed above 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 memory limit is prepare to? If you have access to your WordPress dashboard and are running WordPress v.2 or above, you can see the PHP retentiveness limit under the "Site Wellness" tool.

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

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Summary

Connexion and timeout errors are never fun to troubleshoot, simply hopefully, you lot have a little more cognition in your toolbelt now to assist resolve it chop-chop.

Information technology'southward of import to remember that the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" mistake exist a outcome of a client-side problem such as your network connection, or an upshot with the server where your WordPress site is hosted. Have any other tips to resolve this error? Let us know beneath in the comments.

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


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