Have you ever tried to access a website and receive an error message saying "SSL connection error"? If so, you're not alone.This post will help you learn what the error means, why it happens, and what you can do to fix it.

Why SSL connection error occurs?

SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer, is a protocol that is used to encrypt communications between a web server and a web browser.In order for SSL to work, the server must have valid a SSL certificate. If you're trying to access a website and receive an SSL connection error message, it could be for a number of reasons.

The most common reason is that the website's SSL certificate is not valid, which is why it occurs on websites with HTTPS. Websites use SSL certificates to provide more security, such as DigiCert wildcard, Sectigo Wildcard SSL, or Thawte Wildcard SSL.A website that uses one starts with HTTPS.However, in order for it to open on a web browser, it must be verified.

Otherwise, the SSL connection error occurs. Other causes could be your browser's settings/cache, your device's internet settings (like VPN or DNS usage issues, APN settings, etc.), the wrong date and time on your device, and more.Your device, internet, or browser is unable to verify the SSL certificate the website provides and therefore does not show the website for security reasons. This error message might occur on any device, such as Android, iPhone, Samsung or Nexus phones, Windows 11/10 PC, Mac, with any browser such as Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or Safari.This error message varies between browsers and devices but generally means the same thing.

What can I do to fix the SSL connection error?

If you experience this error every time you open a website with HTTPS, you can try fixing it by resetting your browser settings/cache.

Ensure that the right date and time, as well as the right internet configuration, are set on your device. Here are the guides to do each suggestion that can help solve the SSL connection error:

Ensure the right date and time are set

If the date and time on your device are set incorrectly, your browser may not verify SSL certificates properly, as the browser will not be able to determine whether the certificates have expired or are still valid. Here's how to set the right date and time on Android:

1. Open the Settings.
2. Head to "Addtional settings" > "Date & time".
3. Here, set the toggle switch on for "Use network-provided time" for date and time and for the time zone.
4. You may need to turn off the airplane mode off and on to apply the changes.

Here's how to ensure the right date and time on iPhone:

1. Open the Settings.
2. Go to "General" > "Date & time".
3. Here, set the toggle on for "Set automatically", so the date and time on your iPhone are set automatically.

Here's how to do the same on Windows 11:

1. Right-click the date and time on the Taskbar, and select "Adjust date and time".
2. Set the toggle on for "Set time automatically".
3. Scroll down, and click "Sync now" to synchronize the time.

Clear the browser cache

Clearing your browser's cache can help resolve SSL certificate errors by allowing the browser to run in a fresh state where it can receive the actual state of the website's SSL certificates. Here's how to clear your cache on Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome:

1. Open the Settings.You can do that by clicking the three-dots button > Settings.
2. Search "cache".
3. Select "Choose what to clear".
4. Checkmark only the cache.

Here's how to clear your cache on Safari on Mac:

1. Go to the "Preferences" on Safari.
2. Under "Advanced" tab, checkmark "Show Develop menu in menu bar".
3. Click the "Develop" menu, and select "Empty cache".

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If you're seeing this SSL connection error, it means that your browser is not able to establish a secure connection to the site.This can be caused by a number of things, but the most common is the website's SSL certificate issue and your browser cache or settings. If you continue to see this error for a specific website, contact the site's administrator.

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