Are yous seeing the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error in your browser? Non a very helpful error bulletin, is it? If y'all are a daily WordPress user, so it's ever good to be aware of common errors similar these that might forbid yous from getting access to your website.

In today's postal service, 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 can practice to prepare it quickly. But put, information technology'southward an indication that the system is unavailable and the time given for ane to connect has elapsed, and at present the request has timed out. But what does that actually mean?

Allow's detect out!

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What is the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT Error?

An ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error typically means in that location is something wrong with your local network connection. However, that'due south not ever the example.

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

When you visit a website and it doesn't load, your browser volition endeavor for around 30 seconds or so until information technology terminates the connexion. Later on which it volition render an "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error, indicating a advice problem. In Google Chrome y'all might come across this as "This site can't be reached. Domain.com took too long to reply."

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Chrome
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT mistake in Chrome

Due to all the different web browsers, operating systems, and servers, the error can present itself in a number of different ways. Only most of them have the same or similar significant. "ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED" and "ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED" are ii very closely related errors that can unremarkably be solved with the aforementioned troubleshooting steps below.

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

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

Mozilla Firefox

In Mozilla Firefox the error will show every bit "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 error in Firefox

Microsoft Border

In Microsoft Edge, the fault will show every bit "Hmmm… can't accomplish this page. Domain.com took too long to respond." In Border, however, information technology does also contain 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 equally "Safari Can't Open the Folio. Safari can'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 mistake in Safari

How to Fix the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT Error

Where should you get-go troubleshooting if you run across this mistake on your WordPress site? Without a dandy deal of context, information technology can sometimes be frustrating and overwhelming where to even begin. Typically these are either client-side problems (problems with your network connection or firewall) or an issue with the server at which the site is hosted (memory limits, execution times, etc.).

i. Bank check Your Connection

Google Chrome, Firefox, and Edge all recommend that y'all should check your network connectedness. While this might audio obvious, they all point to checking your connexion first every bit information technology'south one of the most common reasons for the fault. Here are a few things we recommend:

  • Restart your home or function router. This simply takes a few minutes and solves more issues than a lot of people would like to admit. To completely power cycle it, disconnect the power supply and then wait xxx seconds before plugging it back in.
  • Check to see if you're on a bad or slow wifi connection. This is a mutual 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 scan your device regularly and automatically cake whatsoever suspicious activity. However, this type of security can at times pb to connection problems.

This is because firewalls can oft block pages they don't demand to or reject content that is completely safety. We've seen this happen many times with software like AVG. To check whether this is the case for you lot, try disabling your firewall and antivirus programs. Of course, this is only advised if you know for sure that the site you lot're intending to visit is safe.

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 lot repeatedly encounter errors because of your firewall or antivirus software, you lot may want to consider changing what y'all're using.

These types of tools also have what is called a "faux-positive" report you lot can make full out. If you're 100% positive that a site your visiting is blocked and shouldn't be, you can allow the software programmer know. Here are a few quick links:

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

three. Disable Proxy Settings

Sometimes you lot might run into the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error if you are utilizing a proxy service. This is ordinarily pretty rare, especially on the customer-side. However, 1 might have been fix without you even knowing it. To disable or check to ensure no proxy settings are enabled, follow these steps.

Access the Settings carte in your Chrome browser. This will open up upwardly the complete menu of options. Under the Organization section (yous'll demand to click Advanced at the lesser to see this), you should find an entry titled Open proxy settings. Past selecting information technology, yous'll exist taken to the corresponding bill of fare:

Open Proxy Settings in Chrome
Open Proxy Settings in Chrome

Your next footstep depends on the system 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 find yourself in the relevant menu. You lot'll then 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 lot're on Windows, you lot will come across a "Local Area 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 lot're using a VPN similar ExpressVPN or TunnelBear. Make sure you're not continued by accident.

4. Alter DNS Servers

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

  • Some prefer to use Google's public DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.four) long-term due to them sometimes being more reliable.
  • Cloudflare also offers secure and blazing fast gratuitous DNS (1.i.ane.one and ane.0.0.i) which nosotros will be using in this instance. If you want to apply Google's the steps are the same, you just supervene upon the DNS server addresses with Googles.

Tip: If you lot're already using a gratuitous DNS server and having problems, removing it and defaulting back to your Internet access 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 particularly truthful if you're using a Wifi hotspot in an aerodrome or coffee shop.

Windows

In Windows simply open upward Control Prompt by 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 Internet" and then "Network and Sharing Center." On the left-manus side, click on "Change Adapter Settings."

Change adapter settings
Change adapter settings

Correct click on your current connexion, this volition either be Local Surface area Connection or Wireless Network Connexion based on how you're connecting. And so click on "Backdrop."

Subscribe Now

Wireless connection properties
Wireless connectedness properties

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

IPV 4 properties
IPV 4 properties

Make a annotation of whatsoever existing settings in case you need to revert back. Click "Use the following DNS server addresses." Enter the following, or supervene upon the existing with these:

For IPv4:1.i.1.1 and1.0.0.1
For IPv6:2606:4700:4700::1111 and2606:4700:4700::1001

DNS server addresses
DNS server addresses

Click OK, then Close. Restart your browser.

Mac

To change DNS servers on a Mac, go to Organisation Preferences…

Mac system preferences
Mac system preferences

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

Mac network advanced
Mac network advanced

Click on the "DNS" tab.

Mac DNS
Mac DNS

Then add Cloudflare'south DNS server addresses.

For IPv4:1.1.one.1 and1.0.0.1
For IPv6:2606:4700:4700::1111 and2606:4700:4700::1001

five. Flush/Renew DNS

Y'all can besides attempt 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 correct IP address. If yous've only migrated your WordPress site to a new host, it's important to wait for things to fully propagate. This can sometimes take up to 24 hours, although it can be equally footling every bit 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 see a "Successfully flushed the DNS resolver Cache" if information technology worked.

Mac

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

dscacheutil -flushcache
dscacheutil -flushcache
Mac flush enshroud

Notation: There is no success message on Macs.

6. Cheque Your Hosts File

Every computer has what they call a local hosts file. This is a file that contains transmission 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 peradventure you lot 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 changed or edited. Therefore, it'southward ever good to check to ensure the website you lot're trying to admission isn't in there. Only follow the steps below.

Windows

The hosts file typically requires additional access. So the first step is to open upwards your text editor as an administrator. Simply click on your start menu, search for your text editor, right-click on it and select "Run as administrator." This can be done in any text editor such as Notepad, Notepad++, Atom, etc. Nosotros are using Sublime in our example below.

Run text editor as administrator
Run text editor equally administrator

Within 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 make sure the website you're trying to visit isn't listed in in that location. If it is, remove information technology.

Mac

To check your hosts file on a Mac, nosotros recommend getting Gas Mask. It's a free application which can be used equally hosts file manager, hosts files editor, and switch between them. It makes everything quick and easy! Otherwise, you can follow the steps below to edit your hosts file on Mac manually.

Become to Utilities and so click on "Concluding."

Mac utilities terminal
Mac utilities last

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

sudo nano /private/etc/hosts

Double-cheque 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 lot're a Kinsta customer nosotros have an in-depth mail 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 case, footstep v above should resolve that. Or it may just be too soon and you need to await a few hours for the DNS to fully propagate.

viii. Clear Browser Cache

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

Although they're useful, caches can crusade numerous bug when they become outdated. Fortunately, this problem is hands solved by clearing your enshroud.

Just before you do that, you tin can easily check to meet if information technology's a browser cache issue by showtime opening up your browser in incognito manner. Or you can try a different browser. If yous're still seeing the error, then you will want to proceed with clearing your cache.

In this example, we'll be using Google Chrome. Brainstorm past opening up the primary menu (in the top-right corner of your browser window). From there, select More Tools: Yous can then click on Articulate browser data.

Chrome clear browsing data
Chrome clear browsing data

On the resulting folio, you'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 volition simply remove the about recent entries, which won't result in the desired consequence:

Clear browsing data
Clear browsing data

An alternative method of completing this procedure 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 above. Hither are some other helpful links for immigration cache.

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

nine. Look at The Maximum Execution Time

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

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

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

If you want to endeavour and modify this yourself, it tin can normally be done with i 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 take a php.ini file in your habitation directory, find the max_execution_time parameter and modify it. For example, if it's set to 30 seconds, you can increase it to 300 seconds.

max_execution_time = 300

Option 2 – Alter Max Execution Time in .htacess File

If the higher up option doesn't work, you 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 post-obit in the top of your .htaccess file:

php_value max_execution_time 300

10. Temporarily Disable Your Plugins

Equally with nigh WordPress errors, a plugin can definitely be the root of the problem. To decide if that'due south what's happening, you'll need to disable all of your site's plugins. However, if you lot're getting the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" mistake it means you lot don't have access to your WordPress admin area. This means you will need to SFTP into your site. We recommend using FileZilla.

One time your SFTP client is fix, connect to your website through it and navigate to your WordPress root folder. In case you can't find it, it's normally called public_html, html, public, world wide web, or your site's name. If yous're a Kinsta client, it'due south your public folder.

WordPress root folder SFTP
WordPress root folder SFTP

Open that folder, and navigate to the wp-content directory. Within, y'all'll see 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 now is right-click on the plugins folder, and rename it to something else. We recommendplugins.old orplugins.deactivated, so yous can easily recognize it afterward.

WordPress plugins folder renamed
WordPress plugins binder renamed

WordPress will at present not be able to detect whatsoever of your plugins. When that happens, it will automatically disable those plugins.

Now, endeavor accessing your WordPress dashboard. If the timeout error is gone, and then you tin presume that one of your plugins was the culprit. All you lot have to exercise is figure out which one was at fault.

Return to thewp-content directory, and rename your original plugins folder correctly. So, y'all'll demand to disable each of your plugins one by ane, until you notice the culprit.

To do this, open thewp-content/plugins directory. Within, yous'll find 1 folder for each of your plugins. The process yous're going to follow is much the same as before:

  1. Outset with the showtime binder, and rename information technology to annihilation you like.
  2. Cheque your website to see if the error is gone.
  3. If it isn't, render the plugin folder from the previous footstep to its original name.
  4. Motility on to the side by side plugin on your list, repeating the above steps.

This procedure can take a while if y'all have a lot of plugins, only it's vital to check each plugin in turn. If at any signal you place the plugin that's causing the fault, y'all can uninstall it or supersede it with another tool.

If you brand it to the cease 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 cause of the timeout fault, it's time to do the aforementioned with your agile theme. In fact, your theme could besides exist creating compatibility issues.

Unfortunately, the process doesn't work the same as to a higher place. WordPress won't revert to the default theme if only rename the theme folder, you would end upward with an error like "The theme directory "theme proper name" does not be." Or if y'all endeavour to rename the entire theme directory folder, you end up with "Error: The themes directory is either empty or doesn't exist. Please bank check your installation."

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

MyKinsta phpMyAdmin
MyKinsta phpMyAdmin

Click into the "wp_options" table, so click on the "Search" tab. You 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 current name of your theme. Modify this to ane of the default themes, such as "twentynineteen."

wp_options template name
wp_options template proper noun

Bank check your website over again to see if this has fixed the fault. If it did, information technology simply means it'due south a problem with your WordPress theme and y'all might want to try reinstalling it or reverting to your virtually recent backup.

12. Increase the Memory Limit

The WP_MEMORY_LIMIT parameter allows yous to specify the maximum amount of memory that can be consumed past PHP. If you are using shared hosting, it's well-nigh likely ready to a low value such as 64M. At Kinsta, we ready the default retentivity limit to 256M.

You can increase the memory limit by calculation the post-obit to your wp-config.php file. This must be placed above 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 prepare to? If you have access to your WordPress dashboard and are running WordPress v.2 or to a higher place, you tin see the PHP retention limit under 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 lot accept a little more knowledge in your toolbelt now to help resolve it speedily.

Information technology's of import to call back that the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error be a result of a client-side problem such as your network connection, or an issue with the server where your WordPress site is hosted. Have any other tips to resolve this fault? Let u.s.a. know below in the comments.

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


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