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When you are searching for crucial information from the internet, the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error can be very frustrating. In some instances, Google makes it even worse by scaring you off with a notification that the site you are trying to access is not safe.
Rather than find yourself put off by this error message and allow it to hinder your internet experience, we have created a guide that will help you understand the “ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE” and how to fix it.
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Table of Contents
What is the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE Error?
SSL is an acronym for the term Secure Socket Layer. The SSL plays a critical role in relaying information through TCP sockets.
It is important to note that the Google Chrome browser uses SSL to communicate with secure sites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Google, among others.
Sometimes, when you try to load a website that has no SSL protocol, you might come across the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error, which typically occurs when Google Chrome fails to load the requested site.
Web browser users have been coming across this issue for some time now. When you encounter this error, it is an indication that there is an issue in determining the SSL version.
There is also a possibility that there is an SSL version variance on your device. Luckily, it is an error that you can easily resolve.
What Causes the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error in Google Chrome?
The issue can be traced back to specific Google Chrome settings in most cases. Furthermore, there is a possibility that there are issues with caching the data of the site locally on your computer.
Listed below are some of the causes of the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error in Google Chrome:
- Cache – the temporary data that Chrome stores are clashing with the SSL settings.
- TLS 1.3 – TSL stands for Transport Layer Security. You may encounter the error when the TSL feature is in conflict with the Google Chrome SSL.
- Antivirus – this error can show up when your third-party antivirus software interferes with SSL in an effort to secure your browsing activity.
- Corrupt installation files – in other cases, you may experience the error due to damaged or incomplete Chrome installation files.
Now that you have gained a basic understanding of the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error, it’s time to talk about solutions. However, before we proceed to solutions, there are certain preparations you need to make including:
- Ensure that you log into your computer using the Administrator account.
- Also, make sure that you have an active and open internet connection.
- You also have to ensure that you use a private network without proxies or firewalls.
- Avoid using public WiFi networks when applying the solutions outlined in this article.
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Now, when you are ready, proceed to the first solution.
- Clear Your Browser Data
As mentioned earlier, cached data on your browser could interfere with the website loading. Even though the solution sounds simplistic, it has yielded tremendous results.
Follow the guideline below to clear the cache of your browser:
- Launch Google Chrome. You can do this by pressing the Windows button, then type Chrome in the search bar and click on Chrome from the search results.
- Press Ctrl + H on your keyboard. This will enable you to open your browsing history and view other data stored on your browser.
- Navigate to the left-pane menu and click Clear Browsing Data.
- A new window will pop up. On this window, ensure that you are on the Advanced tab.
- From the advanced tab screen, Select all the boxes.
- Next, click Clear Data.
- Once you are done, relaunch your browser. You can now check whether the error has been resolved.
If the error is not resolved, move to the next solution.
- Disable Transport Layer Security 1.3
If the previous solution did not fix the error, try disabling the Transport Layer Security feature on Google Chrome. There is a possibility that the TSL feature is clashing with the SSL on the browser causing the error.
Follow the steps below to disable the Transport Layer Security 1.3 on your Google Chrome browser:
- Launch Google Chrome by pressing the Windows button, then type Chrome in the search bar and click on Chrome from the search results.
- Type chrome://flags/#tls13-variant inside the address bar and press Enter.
- The action above will lead you to Google Chrome’s experimental features page.
- Search for TLS 1.3, and click the drop-down options next to it.
- Once you locate the TLS 1.3, set it to Disabled.
- Relaunch Google Chrome and check whether the error has been resolved.
- In the unlikely event that the error is still there, move on to the next solution to resolve the issue.
- Flush the DNS Cache
You will have problems accessing websites if your local DNS cache is corrupt. The corrupt DNS can also cause the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error. To resolve this issue, it would be best if you flushed the DNS cache on your computer.
Follow the steps outlined below to flush the DNS cache:
- Press Windows + S on your keyboard.
- Type Command Prompt in the Search box.
- From the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator from the context menu.
- The action above will launch the Command Prompt window. Here, type the following command:
Ipconfig/flushdns
- Wait for the process to run to completion successfully. You will see the message below when it is done.
IP Configuration. Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.
- Next, you can launch your browser and check whether the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error has been resolved.
If the problem persists, there is another solution below.
- Disable Your Third-Party Antivirus
A third-party antivirus running on your computer may interfere with the SSL and will likely prompt the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error.
It is recommended that you disable it momentarily to see if that will resolve the problem. In case you find that it is the antivirus that is the source of the issue, it would be best if you switched to a different antivirus application.
The process of disabling your third-party antivirus program differs from doing the same with the application running on your computer. If disabling the third-party antivirus does not resolve the problem, try the next solution below.
Before you move to the next solution, it is essential to note that you should not use your computer without a proper antivirus program. Doing so leaves your computer system vulnerable to malicious attacks.
- Reset Chrome
Before you start applying this solution, it is important to note that the Enable Reset Profile Settings feature is not provided by default on Chrome.
To enable this feature follow these steps:
- Launch Google Chrome.
- Then, type Chrome://flags in the address bar and then hit Enter.
- Next, navigate to the Enable Reset Profile Settings flag and then click the Enable link.
- Exit Chrome and then proceed to the solution steps now.
Once you have enabled the reset profile settings feature, you can now reset Chrome by following the steps below:
- Relaunch Google Chrome.
- Then in the Chrome address bar, type chrome://settings, then press Enter.
- Navigate to the Advanced section where you will see the Reset and Clean up section at the bottom.
- In the Reset and Clean section, select the Reset settings to their original defaults option.
- Then click Reset Settings.
- The above actions will reset Chrome. When you are done, restart it to confirm whether the error is resolved.
If the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error is still there, please try the next solution.
- Reinstall Chrome
If none of the solutions above did not resolve the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error on your computer’s browser, try installing a new copy of Chrome.
To reinstall Google Chrome on your computer, follow this guideline:
- Press Windows key + R on your keyboard to launch the Run dialog box.
- In the Run dialog box, type appwiz.cpl, then click the OK button.
- Then, find Google Chrome in the list.
- Right-click on Google Chrome and select Uninstall from the context menu. This will uninstall Google Chrome from your computer.
- After removing Chrome from your computer, you need to do a clean up by deleting its leftover files.
- Press Windows key + R from your keyboard to launch the Run dialog box.
- Then type %appdata% in the box and click OK.
- Then, open the Google folder and delete the Chrome folder.
- After removing the old version of Google Chrome, visit the Google Chrome website and download the installer for the latest version of the browser.
- Now, install Google Chrome.
To check whether the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error is sorted, try accessing the website you were unable to access before.
If this method does not fix your problem too, don’t despair, there is still one more solution you can try.
- Set Times And Dates Correctly
The security certificates used on sites are generally valid for a certain period only. Once that period elapses, they are considered as expired.
As a result, Google restricts you from accessing the sites due to the risks posed by the lack of updated security certificates.
The site you are trying to access may be valid but, its validity dates do not match your computer’s clock. This mismatch makes it difficult for Google Chrome to ascertain the authenticity of the site.
This may be the reason why you are experiencing the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error. Resolve this issue by setting the date and time on your computer correctly.
You can follow this procedure to set the date and time on your computer correctly:
- Click the Clock icon located at the bottom right corner on the Task Bar.
- Choose the Date and Time settings. Or right-click the Clock icon and select Adjust date/time option.
- The Date and Time window is launched. Here, turn off the Set time automatically feature.
- At the Date and Time Settings window, adjust the date and time and click OK to save the changes.
- Once you have correctly adjusted the date and time of your computer, try re-accessing the website. Check whether the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error is sorted.
Bottom Line
The above solutions should help you sort the ERR_SSL_VERSION_INTERFERENCE error in your Google Chrome browser. If none of these solutions don’t work, you can also try to remove conflicting browser extensions which can also prompt the error.
Another possible cause may be the QUIC protocol, when disabled may sort out this error.
All the methods outlined in this article are simple to follow and easy to apply. Just be a little patient when following all the steps carefully for each solution.
Ensure you carefully follow the steps as outlined in the guide. If you divert, you might unintentionally harm your computer.
You don’t need advanced computer knowledge to apply these solutions. With your basic computer knowledge, you will be able to use them on your PC with ease.
You should not try out a solution you are uncertain you can follow. If your computer knowledge is minimal, seek the help of a more knowledgeable person.