Are you frustrated by seeing the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET notice when trying to access your WordPress site? This common browser error indicates that your connection to the site was interrupted, but it doesn‘t explain the underlying cause. Don‘t worry though – in most cases, you can resolve the issue yourself with some simple troubleshooting.
In this guide, we‘ll walk you through the step-by-step process of diagnosing and fixing the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error on your WordPress site. Whether you‘re a beginner or an experienced WordPress user, you‘ll be able to understand the causes and implement the solutions. Let‘s get started!
What Causes the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET Error in WordPress?
The ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error appears in your browser when something interrupts the data connection between your device and the website‘s server. This could be due to a poor internet connection, restrictive firewall settings, or even a misconfiguration on the WordPress site itself.
Some of the most common causes include:
- Internet connectivity issues on your end, such as Wi-Fi interference or a weak cellular data signal
- Browser settings that are incompatible with the WordPress site, such as an outdated version or overly strict security
- Security software on your device (firewall, antivirus) blocking connections to the site
- Server-side problems with the WordPress hosting environment, like insufficient resources or configuration errors
- Conflicts created by outdated or incompatible WordPress plugins and themes
- Corruption in the browser‘s cache or cookies that interferes with loading the site
- Incorrect WordPress Site URL and Home URL settings
- An outdated version of PHP running on the server
The wide range of potential causes means you may need to try multiple troubleshooting steps to pinpoint the issue. Don‘t get discouraged if the first few attempts don‘t work – you can normally resolve the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error without advanced technical knowledge.
How to Fix the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET Error (Step-by-Step)
Follow these troubleshooting steps in order, testing your WordPress site after each one to see if the error clears. We‘ll start by ruling out browser and connection issues, then progress to investigating potential server and WordPress configuration problems.
Step 1: Verify the Site Is Down for Everyone
Before making any changes, confirm that the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error isn‘t just limited to your device. Use a tool like Down for Everyone or Just Me to check if the WordPress site is accessible for others.
If the site is down for everyone, you‘ll need to contact your hosting provider for further assistance. They can investigate server connectivity issues and misconfigurations that may be preventing all visitors from accessing the site.
Step 2: Refresh the Page
In some cases, the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error may appear due to a temporary hiccup in connectivity. Before proceeding with more involved troubleshooting, try reloading the page in your browser.
You can use the "Reload" button, press F5 (or Fn + F5), or use the Ctrl + R keyboard shortcut to refresh the page. For a more thorough refresh, hold down Ctrl + Shift and click the "Reload" button, or use Ctrl + Shift + R.
Step 3: Clear Your Browser Data
Corrupted files in your browser‘s cache and cookies can often cause strange connectivity issues. Clearing this data will force your browser to load the latest version of the WordPress site from the server.
To clear your browsing data in Google Chrome:
- Click the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner of the browser window
- Go to "More tools" and select "Clear browsing data"
- Set the time range to "All time" to remove everything
- Check the boxes next to "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files"
- Click the "Clear data" button
Step 4: Disable Browser Extensions
Browser extensions and plugins can sometimes conflict with WordPress sites, leading to errors like ERR_CONNECTION_RESET. To rule this out, temporarily disable all of your extensions and try accessing the site again.
In Google Chrome, you can disable extensions by following these steps:
- Click the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner of the browser window
- Go to "More tools" and select "Extensions"
- Click the toggle next to each extension to disable it
- Restart Chrome and try loading the WordPress site
If the site works with extensions disabled, re-enable them one at a time until you find the culprit. Leave that extension turned off or find an alternative that doesn‘t cause issues.
Step 5: Reset Your Internet Connection
Internet connection problems can manifest as the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error. To rule this out, reset your internet devices:
- Unplug the power from your modem and wireless router
- Wait at least 30 seconds, then plug the modem back in
- Wait about 1 minute for the modem to boot up, then plug the router back in
- Wait another minute or two for the router to fully restart
- Try accessing the WordPress site again
You may also want to contact your internet service provider if you suspect an outage or other connectivity issues on their end.
Step 6: Disable Security Software
Overzealous firewall settings and antivirus applications can block connections to WordPress sites. Temporarily disable any security software on your computer and see if the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error goes away.
If this resolves the issue, add your WordPress site to the security program‘s whitelist before re-enabling it. Consult the software‘s documentation for instructions on allowing specific sites.
Step 7: Change Your DNS Servers
DNS (Domain Name System) servers translate human-friendly website names like "yoursite.com" into machine-readable IP addresses. Switching to a public DNS service can often resolve connectivity issues caused by your ISP‘s default DNS servers.
Two of the most popular public DNS providers are:
- Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
- Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
To change your DNS servers on Windows:
- Open the Control Panel
- Click "Network and Internet" and then "Network and Sharing Center"
- Click on your network connection
- Select "Properties," then double-click "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)"
- Write down any existing DNS server entries for backup purposes
- Click "Use the following DNS server addresses" and enter the primary and secondary DNS servers from your chosen provider
- Click "OK" and restart your browser
Step 8: Investigate WordPress Errors
If your browser and connection seem to be working fine, the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error may originate from your WordPress site. The first place to check is your error logs, which may reveal PHP issues, plugin conflicts, or other problems.
To find your error logs, log in to your WordPress hosting account and look for a "logs" directory. The specific location depends on your host, so you may need to consult their documentation. Common locations include:
- /logs/
- /public_html/logs/
- /wp-content/debug.log
Look through the error logs for any entries that coincide with the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error. If you find suspicious entries mentioning specific plugins, themes, or scripts, continue to the next troubleshooting step.
Step 9: Deactivate All WordPress Plugins
If you suspect a plugin conflict, you can quickly disable all of your WordPress plugins at once to see if that fixes the error. When you deactivate a plugin through the WordPress admin area, it retains its settings for easy reactivation later.
To disable your plugins:
- Log in to your WordPress admin area (yourdomain.com/wp-admin/)
- Click on "Plugins" in the left sidebar
- Check the box next to "Plugin" to select all of your plugins
- Choose "Deactivate" from the "Bulk actions" dropdown
- Click "Apply" and wait for the page to reload
After deactivating all plugins, test your WordPress site‘s front end. If the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error goes away, one of the plugins was likely the cause. Enable them one at a time until you find the problematic plugin, then delete it or find an alternative.
Step 10: Switch to a Default Theme
In rare cases, your WordPress theme can cause persistent errors like ERR_CONNECTION_RESET. To rule this out, temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-One.
- Log in to your WordPress admin area
- Go to "Appearance" and click on "Themes"
- Activate the "Twenty Twenty-One" theme or another default option
If your site loads without errors using a default theme, your original theme is probably the culprit. Reach out to the theme developer for guidance or consider switching to a more reliable theme.
Step 11: Correct Your WordPress Site URL
An incorrect WordPress Site URL or Home URL setting can prevent you from accessing the site, often with an ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error. Verify that these settings match your site‘s actual domain.
- Log in to your WordPress hosting account
- Open the "wp-config.php" file in the root WordPress directory
- Add these lines above the line that says "That‘s all, stop editing! Happy publishing":
define(‘WP_HOME‘,‘http://yourdomain.com‘);
define(‘WP_SITEURL‘,‘http://yourdomain.com‘);Replace "yourdomain.com" with your actual domain name, using "https" instead of "http" if you have an SSL certificate.
Step 12: Update Your PHP Version
An outdated or unsupported PHP version can cause compatibility issues with WordPress plugins and themes, sometimes resulting in the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error. Check your WordPress hosting account‘s control panel for an option to update your PHP version.
If your host uses cPanel, you can follow these steps:
- Log in to your cPanel dashboard
- Look for the "PHP Version" or "MultiPHP Manager" option
- Choose a newer, supported PHP version from the dropdown (ideally PHP 7.4 or PHP 8.0)
- Click "Apply" and wait for the change to take effect
After updating PHP, test your WordPress site to see if the error persists. Keep in mind that updating PHP can sometimes introduce new compatibility issues, so create a backup of your site before making this change.
Step 13: Upgrade Your Hosting Plan
In some cases, the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error can indicate that you‘ve hit the resource limits of your WordPress hosting account. This is particularly common on shared hosting plans, which restrict the CPU and memory available to your site.
If you suspect your site has outgrown its hosting environment, consider upgrading to a higher-tier plan with your current host or migrating to a new host that offers more resources. Look for plans optimized for WordPress with features like automatic scaling and built-in caching.
Before upgrading your hosting plan, it‘s a good idea to optimize your WordPress site to reduce its resource usage. Some ways to improve performance include:
- Compressing images and videos
- Enabling page caching and object caching
- Minifying CSS and JavaScript files
- Implementing a content delivery network (CDN)
- Limiting post revisions and WordPress heartbeat activity
Step 14: Contact Your Hosting Provider
If you‘ve exhausted all other troubleshooting options and still can‘t resolve the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error, it‘s time to open a support ticket with your WordPress hosting provider. They can investigate potential server configuration issues and network problems that may be beyond your control.
When contacting your host, provide as much detail as possible about the error, including:
- The exact URL where the error occurs
- When you first noticed the error
- Any recent changes you‘ve made to your WordPress site (installing a new plugin, changing your theme, etc.)
- Steps you‘ve already taken to troubleshoot the issue
The more information you can give your hosting provider, the faster they can diagnose and resolve the underlying problem.
Prevent Future ERR_CONNECTION_RESET Errors
While it‘s impossible to eliminate the risk of encountering an ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error, you can take proactive steps to minimize the chances of it happening again in the future:
- Keep your WordPress site updated, including the core software, plugins, and themes
- Implement security best practices like strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and regular malware scanning
- Choose a reliable WordPress hosting provider with a track record of good performance and uptime
- Regularly back up your WordPress site so you can quickly restore it in case of an error
- Monitor your site‘s resource usage and upgrade your hosting plan before hitting any limits
- Activate an uptime monitoring service to notify you immediately if your site goes down
By following these best practices and keeping an eye on your WordPress site‘s performance, you can catch potential issues early before they escalate to persistent errors like ERR_CONNECTION_RESET.
Wrapping Up
Dealing with the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error on your WordPress site can be frustrating, but it‘s rarely a permanent problem. By methodically troubleshooting potential causes, starting with browser and connection issues, you can usually identify and resolve the underlying issue.
If you‘re still seeing the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error after trying these fixes, don‘t hesitate to reach out to your WordPress hosting provider for assistance. They have the server access and expertise to investigate issues that may be beyond your control as a site owner.
With the tips and best practices outlined in this guide, you‘ll be well-equipped to tackle the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error and keep your WordPress site running smoothly. Bookmark this page so you can refer back to the troubleshooting steps the next time you encounter a stubborn WordPress error.
