I’m Seeing ‘The connection was reset’—What Should I Do?

Several situations can cause a connection reset message, but they all mean the same thing—the link between your web browser and the web server you are trying to reach is blocked or not working. You can troubleshoot some of this path but not all of it.

You can do a few things to fix “the connection was reset” errors. This article shows you the most effective ones.

How to Fix ‘The connection was reset’ Errors

Before fixing reset connection problems, you must know where to begin looking. The source can be anything. It can be found anywhere in the line of devices and programs.

Sometimes, the connection returns automatically within a few seconds. This scenario is often caused by VPN networks or Wi-Fi extenders that switch DNS addresses for security purposes.

No matter what causes your reset connection issue, you can often resolve the problem. Determine what the problem is and how to solve it. Give your device a few seconds to see if it reconnects. If the problem persists, try some of the solutions below.

1. Try a Different Website

If you can access other websites, chances are that it is the destination web server causing the problem. You can only wait and try again later or contact the website owner.

2. Try a Different Browser

Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all work in different ways to achieve the same goal. If one browser gives the error when others don’t, it is possibly a configuration problem with the browser. You can reset the browser to default settings to clear any configurations you made. If that doesn’t work, uninstall and reinstall it again. If the problem continues, move to the next step.

3. Reboot Your Device

Numerous networking issues can be fixed by rebooting your computer, especially if you’re a Windows user. If you still have reset connection issues, try the next option.

4. Reboot Your Modem, Router, and Wi-Fi Extenders

Reboot everything network-related to clear cache and other data in case of a DNS or configuration issue. Sometimes, bugs and glitches cause data errors that lead to connection reset problems.

5. Disconnect and Reconnect the VPN

VPNs sometimes switch DNS addresses and reconnect within a few seconds, but that doesn’t mean the current connection is reliable. Try a different server/location, or let it reconnect to the best one.

If none of the above solutions solve the connection reset problem, try some advanced solutions below.

6. Flush the DNS Cache (Windows 10/11)

If you use Windows, flushing the DNS cache not only fixes “Connection was reset” issues but also can work wonders for all manner of problems accessing websites. It only takes a second and will not harm anything else, so it is usually the first thing to try. Here’s how to do it.

1. Open a “Command Prompt” window as an administrator.
   
2. Type or copy/paste “ipconfig /flushdns” with a space and without quotes, then press “Enter.”
   
3. Type or copy/paste “ipconfig /release” with a space and without quotes, then hit “Enter.”
   
4. Type or paste “ipconfig /renew” with a space and without quotes, then press “Enter.”
   

The above steps force Windows to drop the DNS cache from memory and reset your IP address. The “flushdns” command is the most useful here. If the above process does not solve your connection reset problem, try resetting Winsock.

7. Reset Winsock (Windows 10/11)

A Winsock reset clears the Windows Sockets Application Programming Interface (API) that interfaces between the operating system and TCP/IP. Occasionally, this leads to errors or becomes corrupted and requires a reset.

Winsock is legacy tech but still causes issues at times. If it is the API, this process will fix it.

1. Launch “Command Prompt” as an administrator.
2. Type or copy/paste “netsh winsock reset” and hit “Enter.”
3. Wait for the command to complete and reboot your computer.

8. Check Network Settings (Windows/Mac)

Even if you have never changed your network settings, you should check them to ensure no program has done the same. If you use a firewall, VPN software, or another networking or security tool, changes may have occurred without you being aware.

If you have manually configured IP addresses for each device, make a note of them, then try the steps below. You can add your manual configuration back afterward if you need to.

How to Check Network Settings in Windows:

1. Open “Settings -> Network & Internet,” then select “Change adapter options.”
2. Right-click your network adapter and select “Properties.”
4. Click “Internet Protocol Version 4” in the center box, then the “Properties” button.
5. Ensure both “Obtain IP address automatically” and “Obtain DNS server address automatically” are selected.

How to Check Network Settings in Mac OS:

1. Select “Apple menu -> System Preferences.”
   
2. Choose “Network.”
   
3. Select your “active connection” on the left.
   
4. Click on “Advanced” in the bottom-right section.
   
5. Select the “TCP/IP” tab.
   
6. Ensure “Configure IPv4” is set to “Using DHCP,” representing automatic configuring.
   
7. Select “OK” to save any changes you made.
   

9. Disable IPv6

Disabling IPv6 isn’t generally recommended as more devices are beginning to use it, but many Windows and Mac users do it when they have network issues.

How to Disable IPv6 in Windows

1. Open “Settings -> Network & Internet,” then select “Change adapter options.”
2. Right-click your “network adapter” and select “Properties.”
3. Uncheck “Internet Protocol Version 6” in the center box.
4. Select “OK” to save changes.

Hot to Disable IPv6 on Mac

1. Click on the Wi-Fi icon at the top, then select “Network Preferences.”
   
2. Click on the “Advanced” button towards the bottom of the window.
   
3. Select the “TCP/IP” tab.
   
4. Click on the “IPv6 dropdown” and choose “Link-local only” to limit it to local-only communication.
   

Whenever you suffer from the dreaded “the connection was reset” error, don’t despair. One or more of the above suggestions should resolve the problem.