Chrome is the world’s most used browser, with 64% internet users turning to Google’s premier internet surfer for their daily needs. Despite being in such high demand, Chrome, just like all other browsers is never short of bugs and “err_network_changed” is just another one of the commonly found errors.
What Is Err-Network-Changed?
ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED happens when the browser denies webpage access by preventing it from loading normally. This bug could result due to a number of different, therefore, it is vital to consider different solutions to rectify your issue.
The error can either be displayed as “Unable to access the network. ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED” or “Your connection was interrupted. A network change was detected. Check your internet connection.”
It is a recurring error and a one that affects all popular websites too, such as Youtube, Gmail, Facebook and others. Hence, it is crucial to find a proper solution for this problem.
What Causes this Error?
Google Chrome users usually bump into this error when the browser detects a change in the IP address of the system. Each device, on all networks, is assigned a certain IP address which helps in connecting to the internet. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and website owners apply certain restrictions based on your IP address.
Using a VPN or a proxy service has become common practice among internet users of today. These softwares are utilized by users to change their IP addresses either to add extra security while browsing or to access websites restricted in their geographical regions.
10 Methods to Fix “ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED” in Chrome
1. Reboot your Internet Router
Before we move onto the relatively more complex solutions, lets try the reboot method. Many tech related problems are sometimes simpler than we perceive and just a soft reset does the job. Try powering off your router and then powering it back onto see if it fixes the issue.
2. Check If You Have Both Ethernet And WIFI Connected
Many modern-day PCs have both wi-fi and ethernet options for Internet Connectivity. However, if both are enabled, this could be a cause of the problem as the connection is alternating between wired and wireless.
To rectify this issue, try disabling either the Wi-Fi or the ethernet one after the another to see where the problem is coming from.
3. Disable/Uninstall VPNs
If you are currently using a VPN, it is the likely culprit behind your problem. Try to disable it to see if the issue gets fixed. If not, try uninstalling it.
4. Disable Proxy servers
Disabling any automatic proxy servers could very well fix your problem.
Given below are the steps to help you disable automatic proxies on Windows 10:
- Click on Start and go to Settings.
- Choose the Network & Internet option.
- Navigate to the Proxy tab and make sure all options for proxy setup are switched off.
Below are the steps to disable proxy on a Mac PCs:
- From the main menu or the apple logo on the top-left corner of the screen, go to System Preferences…
- Click on Network.
- Choose the WiFi you are currently connected to.
- Click on Advanced…
- Navigate to the Proxies tab and ensure all boxes are unticked and then click on OK.
5. Clear Cache And Browsing Data In Chrome
Clearing Cache and browsing data cannot only help free up some wasted space on your computer, but can also fix connectivity and page-loading issues.
Follow the steps below to clear browsing data:
- Open the Chrome browser. On Windows, Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete . Mac users Press Command + Y. Alternatively, click on the three dots on the top right corner and open the History tab.
- From the left panel of options, click on the Clear browsing data option.
- This will open up a window that will prompt you to set a Time range. Select Beginning of time or All time (depending on the version of Chrome you are using).Also remember to tick the following boxes: Browsing History, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files.
- Now, click on Clear data.
- Close the browser, restart your PC and try connecting again.
6. Disable And Re-Enable Network Adapters
Many page loading issues usually occur from faulty Network adapters. Sometimes a soft restart can help with the problem, however, at other times the adapter needs replacement.
Given below are the steps to fix network adapter related problems:
- Click on the Start button, search for Device Manager.
- Scroll down and click on the Network Adapters option.
- Right click the adapter you are currently using. (Here you can optionally scan for any hardware issues.)
- Disable and then Re-enable the network adapter.
- Go back to your chrome browser and try loading the webpage.
7. Flush DNS Cache
If a website has recently moved servers, you might see the old website or no connectivity for some time. Flushing your DNS cache can help bring back connectivity in some cases.
Follow the steps given below to flush DNS on Windows 10:
- Press the Windows key + X. This will open up the power user menu.
- Click on Command Prompt (Admin).
- Type the following command: ipconfig/flushdns and hit enter.
- Restart your PC.
- Reload the page on your browser.
8. Reset TCP/IP
This solution goes hand in hand with the Flushdns technique.
If flushing the DNS cache didn’t do the job, try the following these steps to reset TCP/IP.
- Press the Windows key + X. This will open up the power user menu.
- Click on Command Prompt (Admin).
- Type the following commands one after the other:
- ipconfig/release and hit enter
- ipconfig/flushdns and hit enter
- ipconfig/renew and hit enter
- Re-open the Command Prompt and type the following: ipconfig/flushdns, nbtstat – r, netsh int ip reset, netsh winsock reset
- Press enter.
- Reboot you PC and try reloading the pages on your browser.
9. Disable Power Saver Mode
This might surprise alot of you out there, but Windows 10 shuts down wireless adapters when power saver mode is enabled. This could cause disturbances in connectivity which can result in network change error.
Follow the following steps:
- Click on the Start button, and search for Device Manager.
- Right click on the network adapter you are currently using and select the Properties option.
- Navigate to the Power Management tab.
- Disable the “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” option.
- Click on OK and reload the webpage in Google Chrome.
10. Reach Out To Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
If none of these fixes worked for you, it is high time you reach out to your ISP regarding the ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED error. Sometimes they are able to help by making some backend changes that might positively impact your network.