How to Fix ERR_CERT_REVOKED (Google Chrome)
Quick Answer
The ERR_CERT_REVOKED error indicates that the website's security certificate has been revoked, meaning it is no longer trusted. This often points to a potential security risk or a misconfiguration. The fastest fix is often to check your system's date and time settings for accuracy.
What Causes This Error
- The website's SSL/TLS certificate has been explicitly revoked by the Certificate Authority (CA) that issued it, often due to a security compromise or misissuance.
- Incorrect system date and time on your computer, which can cause the browser to misinterpret the certificate's validity period or revocation status.
- Outdated or corrupted browser cache and cookies, leading to issues with certificate validation.
- Interference from antivirus software or firewalls that perform SSL inspection, which can sometimes incorrectly flag valid certificates as revoked.
- Malware or adware on the system that modifies network requests or certificate trust settings.
- Outdated operating system or browser software, lacking necessary security updates or root certificates.
Step-by-Step Fixes
1Verify System Date and Time Settings
- Open your computer's 'Settings' application.
- Navigate to 'Time & Language' (Windows) or 'Date & Time' (macOS).
- Ensure that 'Set time automatically' and 'Set time zone automatically' are enabled.
- If automatic settings are already enabled, toggle them off and then back on to resynchronize. If they are off, enable them.
- Restart your web browser and attempt to access the website again.
2Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of the browser window.
- Go to 'More tools' > 'Clear browsing data'.
- Set the 'Time range' to 'All time'.
- Ensure 'Cookies and other site data' and 'Cached images and files' are checked. You may also check 'Browsing history' if desired.
- Click 'Clear data' and then restart Chrome before attempting to visit the website.
3Disable Antivirus/Firewall Temporarily
- Locate your antivirus software icon in the system tray (Windows) or menu bar (macOS).
- Right-click the icon and look for an option to 'Disable' or 'Pause protection'. Select a temporary duration, such as 10-15 minutes.
- If you use a third-party firewall, temporarily disable it through its settings.
- Attempt to access the website in Chrome. If the error is resolved, re-enable your security software and check its settings for SSL inspection or web protection features that may need adjustment.
- Remember to re-enable your antivirus and firewall after testing to maintain system security.
4Update Google Chrome
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of the browser window.
- Go to 'Help' > 'About Google Chrome'.
- Chrome will automatically check for and install any available updates.
- If an update is installed, you will be prompted to 'Relaunch' Chrome. Click this button.
- After relaunching, attempt to access the website.
Advanced Fixes
Reset Chrome Browser Settings
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
- Go to 'Settings'.
- Scroll down and click 'Reset settings' in the left-hand navigation pane (or 'Advanced' > 'Reset and clean up' > 'Restore settings to their original defaults' on older versions).
- Click 'Reset settings' in the confirmation dialog.
- Restart Chrome and check if the ERR_CERT_REVOKED error persists.
Check for Malware
- Download and install a reputable anti-malware scanning tool (e.g., Malwarebytes, Windows Defender).
- Run a full system scan to detect and remove any malicious software.
- Follow the tool's instructions to quarantine or remove detected threats.
- Restart your computer after the scan is complete and any threats have been addressed.
- Re-open Chrome and attempt to access the website.
Update Operating System
- For Windows: Go to 'Settings' > 'Update & Security' > 'Windows Update'. Click 'Check for updates' and install any available updates.
- For macOS: Go to 'System Settings' (or 'System Preferences') > 'General' > 'Software Update'. Install any available macOS updates.
- Restart your computer after the update process is complete.
- After restarting, open Chrome and attempt to access the website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ERR_CERT_REVOKED mean?
ERR_CERT_REVOKED means that the SSL/TLS certificate presented by the website you are trying to visit has been explicitly invalidated by the Certificate Authority that issued it. This typically occurs because the certificate was compromised, misused, or found to be issued incorrectly, making the website untrustworthy for secure communication.
Is it safe to proceed past an ERR_CERT_REVOKED warning?
No, it is generally not safe to proceed past an ERR_CERT_REVOKED warning. This error indicates a serious security risk. Continuing could expose your personal information (passwords, credit card numbers) to potential attackers. It is recommended to resolve the underlying issue or avoid the website until the certificate problem is fixed.
Can a revoked certificate be fixed by the website owner?
Yes, a revoked certificate can be fixed by the website owner. They need to obtain a new, valid SSL/TLS certificate from a Certificate Authority and install it correctly on their server. This process replaces the revoked certificate with a trusted one, resolving the error for visitors.
Why does my antivirus cause ERR_CERT_REVOKED?
Some antivirus programs employ a feature called SSL inspection or HTTPS scanning. This feature intercepts encrypted connections to scan for threats. In rare cases, the way the antivirus re-encrypts the connection can interfere with the browser's certificate validation process, leading it to incorrectly report a certificate as revoked, even if it's valid.