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Even if you have an SSL certificate on your website, users may get the ‘NET::ERR_CERT_INVALID error’. Even though it sounds scary, the “invalid certificate authority” error is nothing to worry about. When you try to open a webpage and get the error NET::ERR CERT INVALID, there is a problem with the website’s security certificate. Chrome checks a website’s security certificate every time you visit it. If one isn’t there or isn’t valid, you’ll get an error.
It’s a safety measure that Chrome and other browsers take to make sure you can browse safely. Also, the error could be caused by the antivirus software that was installed. Also, Chrome may throw the NET::ERR CERT INVALID error if the date and time are set wrong. you can visit Google chrome support center for further help.
‘NET::ERR_CERT_INVALID error’ Issue in Google Chrome: 8 Easy Ways
UPDATE GOOGLE CHROME
- Open the Chrome browser on your PC/laptop.
- Type “chrome://help/” in the address bar and hit “Enter”.
- Wait for Google Chrome browser to check for the latest updates. Click on “Relaunch”.
RESET ANTI-VIRUS SETTINGS
‘NET::ERR_CERT_INVALID error’, check how your antivirus or firewall is set up. Turn off your antivirus or firewall and refresh the page. If you can now open the site in your web browser, it means that your antivirus was messing with it. Still, if you don’t want your browsing session to be less safe, you should turn on HTTPS scan in your antivirus or firewall.
Checking the Proxy Settings
- Hold Windows Key and press R
- Type inetcpl.cpl and press Enter
- Click the Connections tab
- Click LAN Settings
- Make sure the option Use a proxy server for your LAN is unchecked. This option should be under Proxy Servers section. Also, make sure the option Automatically detect settings options is checked as well.
- Now click OK
Type The Address manually
If you use a bookmark to get to a website, the address might change sometimes because of malware or a bug (we don’t know which). So when you click on a bookmark to go to a website, your browser tries to go to the changed address instead of the real address. So the problem goes away when you type the address directly into the address bar instead of using a bookmark.
Performing a Browser Reset
- Open Google Chrome
- Click the settings button on the top right corner (3 dots)
- Scroll down and select Show advanced settings…
- Scroll down and click Reset Settings
- A pop up will appear asking for confirmation. Click Reset
- Now reboot your computer.
Disable VPN
VPN hides your IP address and adds another security layer. It also lets you change the location of your virtual server and access content that is blocked in your country ‘NET::ERR_CERT_INVALID error’ But this extra layer of security can stop some SSL certificates from working, which means your browser can’t get the web pages.
If you are using a virtual private network, you should temporarily turn it off to see if that is the problem. If that’s the case, you can either talk to the support team or switch to a different VPN service.
Temporarily Disable Browser Extensions
- Go to More Tools -> Extensions.
- Toggle off all of your Chrome extensions.
Whether you’re using Mozilla Firefox or Safari, the steps are the same. Find the extensions or add-ons, then turn them off by switching the blue toggle to the grey one. But Microsoft Edge does not have the option to turn off. You will need to delete the extensions and reinstall them later. After turning off the extensions, reload the website to see if the error message still shows up. If the page loads just fine, turn the extensions back on one by one to find out what’s wrong.
Adjust the Time and Date Settings on Your PC
Browsers rely on the operating system’s time to check a certificate’s validity period. If the date is set incorrectly, the browser can misidentify the certificate as expired.
On Windows
- Open the Start menu.
- Type in Adjust time/date.
- Under the Synchronize your clock section, click Sync now.
- Turn on Set time automatically to ensure your computer’s time is always right.
On macOS
- Open the Apple menu.
- Go to System Preferences -> Date & Time.
- Activate Set date & time automatically.
- Go to Time Zone and check whether you’re using the correct time zone
What Is NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID Error?
As the name of the error suggests, this happens when your browser can’t check if your website’s SSL certificate is valid. You shouldn’t get this error if you haven’t set up a certificate or if your website is using HTTP, which isn’t a good idea.
You have an SSL certificate that you signed yourself. You can save money by using a self-signed certificate, but since browsers can’t check if it’s real, your visitors may see the error in question. Browser warnings can scare a lot of users away, so we recommend against this approach.
Your certificate is no longer valid. As a safety measure, SSL certificates expire. The length of time your certificate is good for can vary, but at some point you’ll need to renew it or make the process of renewing it automatic (some authorities and web hosts enable you to do this easily).
The certificate comes from a non-trusted source. Just like with self-signed certificates, browsers will show an error if they can’t check the authority that made your certificate.
Remember that every time a user visits a website with an SSL certificate, their browser needs to validate and decrypt it. During that process, if there are any mistakes, they will see a warning.
FAQ
How do I bypass security certificate error in Chrome
- Right-click the Google Chrome shortcut on your desktop and select Properties.
- In the Target field simple append the following parameter after the quoted string: –ignore-certificate-errors.
How do I force Chrome to accept a certificate
Go to the site that has the certificate you want to trust and click through the usual warnings for certificates that can’t be trusted. Right-click on the red triangle and “Not secure” message in the address bar. Then, from the menu that comes up, choose “Certificate” to see the certificate.
Why does Chrome say not secure when certificate is valid
Chrome and your operating system need to be updated: If you’re using an old version of Chrome, you might get an SSL certificate error. Click on the menu to make sure that yours is up-to-date. If your browser is old, you will see an option to “Update Google Chrome.”