Are you lot seeing the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" mistake in your browser? Not a very helpful error bulletin, is it? If you are a daily WordPress user, so information technology's always proficient to be aware of common errors similar these that might prevent you from getting admission to your website.

In today'southward post, nosotros're going to take a deep dive into the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error and examine why you might see this and what you can do to fix it quickly. Simply put, information technology's an indication that the organization is unavailable and the time given for one to connect has elapsed, and now the request has timed out. Just what does that actually mean?

Let's find out!

Nosotros've taken our cognition of effective website management at scale, and turned it into an ebook and video course. Click here to download the The 2020 Guide to Managing forty+ WordPress Sites!

What is the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT Mistake?

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

Co-ordinate to the WordPress support documentation, a connexion timed out mistake appears when your website is trying to practise more your server can manage. Information technology'south especially common on shared hosting where your memory limit is restricted.

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

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Chrome
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT mistake in Chrome

Due to all the dissimilar web browsers, operating systems, and servers, the error can present itself in a number of dissimilar ways. Only most of them have the aforementioned or similar pregnant. "ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED" and "ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED" are 2 very closely related errors that can usually be solved with the aforementioned troubleshooting steps below.

Another common error lawmaking that appears under 'This site tin't exist reached' is the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN, which is a DNS fault that essentially ways the domain that was requested doesn't be.

Below are a few examples of how the fault might present itself in different 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 error will show as "Hmmm… can't reach this folio. Domain.com took as well long to answer." In Edge, however, it does too incorporate the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" fault.

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Edge
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error in Edge

Safari

In Safari, the error will show as "Safari Can't Open the Page. Safari can't open 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 fault in Safari

How to Fix the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT Error

Where should you beginning troubleshooting if y'all see this error on your WordPress site? Without a great deal of context, it tin sometimes be frustrating and overwhelming where to even begin. Typically these are either client-side problems (problems with your network connectedness or firewall) or an consequence with the server at which the site is hosted (retentiveness limits, execution times, etc.).

1. Cheque Your Connexion

Google Chrome, Firefox, and Border all recommend that yous should check your network connection. While this might sound obvious, they all point to checking your connexion showtime as information technology's one of the near common reasons for the error. Here are a few things we recommend:

  • Restart your dwelling house or part router. This only takes a few minutes and solves more problems than a lot of people would like to admit. To completely power cycle it, disconnect the power supply and then look 30 seconds before plugging information technology dorsum in.
  • Check to see if you lot're on a bad or tiresome wifi connection. This is a common occurrence on decorated 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. All the same, this type of security can at times lead to connection bug.

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

Additionally, you should simply disable this kind of software temporarily. Switch it back on afterwards you've finished checking to see whether the error has been resolved, and then you don't go vulnerable to attacks. If you repeatedly run across errors considering of your firewall or antivirus software, you may want to consider changing what you're using.

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

  • AVG faux positive grade
  • Norton false positive course
  • Sophos fake positive form

3. Disable Proxy Settings

Sometimes yous might see the ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error if you are utilizing a proxy service. This is usually pretty rare, specially on the customer-side. However, 1 might have been gear up without you fifty-fifty knowing it. To disable or check to ensure no proxy settings are enabled, follow these steps.

Admission the Settings menu in your Chrome browser. This volition open the consummate menu of options. Under the System section (you'll need to click Advanced at the bottom to see this), you lot should find an entry titled Open proxy settings. Past selecting it, yous'll exist taken to the corresponding bill of fare:

Open Proxy Settings in Chrome
Open Proxy Settings in Chrome

Your side by side footstep depends on the organisation you're currently using. Windows users volition 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 have 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're on Windows, y'all will run across a "Local Area Network (LAN) Settings" window appear. You lot will want to confirm that the "Apply a proxy server for your LAN" selection is unchecked.

Disable Chrome proxy settings in Windows
Disable Chrome proxy settings in Windows

The same goes if you're using a VPN similar ExpressVPN or TunnelBear. Make certain you're not connected by blow.

4. Change DNS Servers

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

  • Some prefer to utilize Google'southward public DNS (eight.8.eight.8 and 8.8.4.4) long-term due to them sometimes beingness more reliable.
  • Cloudflare also offers secure and blazing fast complimentary DNS (1.1.1.ane and ane.0.0.1) which we will be using in this example. If y'all want to utilise Google's the steps are the aforementioned, y'all only supervene upon the DNS server addresses with Googles.

Tip: If y'all're already using a gratuitous DNS server and having issues, removing information technology and defaulting back to your Isp's DNS servers as well sometimes set up 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 event. This is especially true if you're using a Wifi hotspot in an drome or coffee shop.

Windows

In Windows simply open upwardly Command Prompt by pressing the Windows logo primal and R. And so type "control console" and hit Enter.

Run Control Panel Windows
Run Command 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 electric current connection, this will either be Local Expanse Connection or Wireless Network Connection based on how you're connecting. Then click on "Backdrop."

Subscribe At present

Wireless connection properties
Wireless connexion backdrop

Select Cyberspace Protocol Version 4 (or Version 6 if desired) and click on "Properties."

IPV 4 properties
IPV four properties

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

For IPv4:i.1.1.1 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 System Preferences…

Mac system preferences
Mac system preferences

Click on the network icon and and then click "Advanced."

Mac network advanced
Mac network advanced

Click on the "DNS" tab.

Mac DNS
Mac DNS

Then add Cloudflare's DNS server addresses.

For IPv4:one.1.1.ane andone.0.0.1
For IPv6:2606:4700:4700::1111 and2606:4700:4700::1001

five. Flush/Renew DNS

You lot can also endeavour flushing your local DNS enshroud. This is like to immigration your browser cache. It could exist that the site you're trying to visit isn't resolving to the correct IP address. If y'all've merely migrated your WordPress site to a new host, it's important to await for things to fully propagate. This tin sometimes have up to 24 hours, although it tin can be as little equally a few minutes. This depends on your DNS provider and the TTL value of your DNS records.

Windows

In Windows simply open up Control Prompt and enter the following:

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

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

Mac

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

dscacheutil -flushcache
dscacheutil -flushcache
Mac flush cache

Notation: There is no success message on Macs.

half-dozen. Bank check Your Hosts File

Every calculator 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 simply edited when you lot want to preview your DNS earlier switching over domains to a new host. Or perhaps y'all have a local evolution site running using a tool similar DevKinsta, Vagrant or Docker.

At that place is a multitude of different ways this file could take been changed or edited. Therefore, information technology's always good to bank check to ensure the website y'all're trying to admission isn't in there. But follow the steps beneath.

Windows

The hosts file typically requires additional admission. So the first pace is to open up your text editor as an administrator. Simply click on your kickoff menu, search for your text editor, correct-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 as administrator

Inside your text editor click File → Open and browse to the following location:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\

Click on the hosts file and "Open."

open hosts file
Open hosts file

Double-check and brand sure the website y'all're trying to visit isn't listed in in that location. If information technology is, remove it.

Mac

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

Go to Utilities and and so click on "Final."

Mac utilities terminal
Mac utilities final

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

sudo nano /individual/etc/hosts

Double-check and make sure the website y'all're trying to visit isn't listed in your hosts file. If information technology 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 customer we have an in-depth post on how to point your domain and or DNS to Kinsta. If yous recently migrated your WordPress website to a new host, it could be the DNS was cached incorrectly on your reckoner. In which example, pace 5 above should resolve that. Or it may simply be as well shortly and you need to await a few hours for the DNS to fully propagate.

8. Articulate Browser Cache

Web browsers store 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 quickly the next time they're visited.

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

But before y'all do that, you can easily bank check to see if it's a browser cache effect by showtime opening upwards your browser in incognito fashion. Or you can endeavor a different browser. If y'all're yet seeing the error, then y'all volition desire to proceed with clearing your cache.

In this example, we'll be using Google Chrome. Begin by opening up the principal card (in the top-right corner of your browser window). From there, select More Tools: You tin can then click on Clear browser data.

Chrome clear browsing data
Chrome clear browsing data

On the resulting page, you'll demand to brand 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 merely remove the most contempo entries, which won't result in the desired event:

Clear browsing data
Clear browsing data

An culling method of completing this process is to enter the following URL into your address bar:

chrome://settings/clearBrowserData

The resulting screen should grant you access to the same options we've outlined above. Here are another helpful links for immigration cache.

  • How to Forcefulness Refresh a Single 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 Enshroud for Cyberspace Explorer
  • How to Clear Cache for Microsoft Edge
  • How to Clear Cache for Opera

nine. Look at The Maximum Execution Time

The balance of the troubleshooting steps we'll be diving into are those that have to do with the configuration of your WordPress site or server that may help fix the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" fault.

The first is the maximum execution fourth dimension 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 set low or left at the default.

Y'all tin't easily alter this from WordPress equally the php.ini file is located on your server. To alter this, nosotros recommend reaching out to your hosting provider to see if they can help. At Kinsta, we set the default maximum execution fourth dimension to 300 seconds.

If yous desire to try and modify this yourself, it can ordinarily be done with 1 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 have a php.ini file in your home directory, notice the max_execution_time parameter and modify information technology. For example, if it'due south fix to 30 seconds, you tin increase it to 300 seconds.

max_execution_time = 300

Pick 2 – Modify Max Execution Time in .htacess File

If the above option doesn't piece of work, you lot might be able to alter it within your .htaccess file. Merely like with the php.ini file, this is typically located within your home directory. Identify the following in the top of your .htaccess file:

php_value max_execution_time 300

ten. Temporarily Disable Your Plugins

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

Once your SFTP client is ready, connect to your website through it and navigate to your WordPress root folder. In case you can't discover it, it'southward usually called public_html, html, public, www, or your site's proper noun. If you're a Kinsta client, information technology'due south your public binder.

WordPress root folder SFTP
WordPress root folder SFTP

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

What you're going to exercise at present is right-click on the plugins folder, and rename information technology to something else. Nosotros recommendplugins.old orplugins.deactivated, so you can easily recognize it afterward.

WordPress plugins folder renamed
WordPress plugins folder renamed

WordPress will now non be able to find whatever of your plugins. When that happens, it will automatically disable those plugins.

Now, try accessing your WordPress dashboard. If the timeout error is gone, then you lot tin assume that one of your plugins was the culprit. All y'all have to do is effigy out which 1 was at fault.

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

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

  1. Start with the first binder, and rename information technology to anything yous similar.
  2. Check your website to see if the mistake is gone.
  3. If information technology isn't, return the plugin binder from the previous stride to its original name.
  4. Move on to the next plugin on your list, repeating the in a higher place steps.

This process tin can take a while if y'all take a lot of plugins, but information technology's vital to check each plugin in turn. If at any point you place the plugin that's causing the error, you tin uninstall it or replace it with another tool.

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

11. Temporarily Revert to Default Theme

Now that y'all've ruled out your plugins as the crusade of the timeout mistake, it's time to exercise the aforementioned with your active theme. In fact, your theme could as well exist creating compatibility issues.

Unfortunately, the process doesn't work the same every bit higher up. WordPress won't revert to the default theme if simply rename the theme folder, you would end upwardly with an mistake like "The theme directory "theme name" does not exist." Or if you attempt to rename the unabridged theme directory folder, yous end upwards with "ERROR: The themes directory is either empty or doesn't exist. Delight bank check your installation."

Therefore, you need to access your WordPress database by logging into phpMyAdmin. If you're a Kinsta customer, this can be plant 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" cavalcade you will see the current name of your theme. Modify this to i of the default themes, such equally "twentynineteen."

wp_options template name
wp_options template name

Check your website over again to see if this has stock-still the fault. If information technology did, it simply means it's a trouble with your WordPress theme and you might desire to try reinstalling information technology or reverting to your most recent backup.

12. Increment 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 most likely prepare to a depression value such as 64M. At Kinsta, we set the default memory limit to 256M.

You can increment 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 certain what your electric current PHP memory limit is fix to? If you have access to your WordPress dashboard and are running WordPress 5.two or above, you tin can see the PHP memory limit under the "Site Health" tool.

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

Tin can't reach your site because of the *ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT* mistake message? Hither are 12 possible ways to fix information technology! 💻😱 Click to Tweet

Summary

Connection and timeout errors are never fun to troubleshoot, merely hopefully, you have a lilliputian more than knowledge in your toolbelt now to help resolve information technology rapidly.

It's important to recollect that the "ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT" error be a result of a client-side problem such as your network connectedness, or an issue 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: Acquire how to fix the ERR_CACHE_MISS error in Chrome)


Salvage time, costs and maximize site functioning with:

  • Instant aid from WordPress hosting experts, 24/7.
  • Cloudflare Enterprise integration.
  • Global audience achieve with 31 data centers worldwide.
  • Optimization with our built-in Application Performance Monitoring.

All of that and much more than, in one programme with no long-term contracts, assisted migrations, and a 30-day-money-back-guarantee. Bank check out our plans or talk to sales to find the plan that's right for y'all.