When you’re browsing the trang web, the last thing you want is vĩ đại lập cập into an error message. If you’re a macOS user, one of the issues you might come across is: “Safari can’t establish a secure connection vĩ đại the server” error.
While it may seem intimidating at first, this is a relatively common problem with a few simple solutions. All it usually takes is a little bit of troubleshooting before you’re able vĩ đại effectively (and safely) access the site.
This post will explain what this Safari error message is and some of its common causes. Then we’ll provide you with six easy ways vĩ đại fix the problem.
Let’s get started!
What’s the “Safari Can’t Establish a Secure Connection vĩ đại the Server” Error?
Some of the best features of Mac devices are their built-in security settings. Apple has created an experience designed vĩ đại keep you and your device safe, especially while browsing the trang web.
This is why its native browser, Safari, will sometimes prevent you from accessing a trang web that it doesn’t deem as secure. When this happens, you’ll likely see an error message that says, “Safari can’t establish a secure connection vĩ đại the server.”
The specific wording of the error may vary. For example, as you can see in the image above, you might also come across a notification letting you know that “Safari Can’t Open the Page.”
In a nutshell, this error message means that the browser doesn’t trust the encrypted data on the site. Alternatively, Safari could not access and verify the information successfully. For example, this might happen when a site doesn’t have a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate properly configured.
Using SSL and Secure Shell Access (SSH) is critical for websites today. This is especially true when you have a site that handles sensitive customer data, such as a WooCommerce store.
However, if you know the site that you’re accessing is secure, the problem is likely with Safari. Many people experience this error message when accessing popular websites, such as Facebook, YouTube, and Google.
What Causes “Safari Can’t Establish a Secure Connection vĩ đại the Server” Error?
There are many different reasons you might be seeing this error message. As we mentioned, the main explanation is that Safari can’t verify that the trang web you’re trying vĩ đại access is secure enough vĩ đại protect your data.
However, it’s essential vĩ đại understand why it deems the site unsecured vĩ đại know how vĩ đại resolve it. Sometimes, you may not know what the culprit is until you try troubleshooting it.
With that said, there are a handful of common causes behind the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection” message. For example, the issue may be attributed vĩ đại a third-party extension or add-on you have installed on your browser. It could be something as simple as having outdated cache data. However, it could be a more complicated problem, such as the Internet Protocol (IP) version you’re using.
How To Fix the “Safari Can’t Establish a Secure Connection vĩ đại the Server” Error (6 Solutions)
Now that we understand more about the issue and its potential causes, it’s time vĩ đại look at how vĩ đại fix it. Below are six solutions you can use vĩ đại resolve the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection” error.
1. Clear Your Browser Data
When you visit websites, Safari will store some of the information in the browser cache and cookies. If this data includes outdated details relating vĩ đại the site’s SSL or encryption, it can be the reason you see the error message.
Therefore, one of the quickest and simplest methods you can use vĩ đại resolve this error is vĩ đại clear your browser cache. To bởi that in Safari, you can start by opening up the browser.
Next, click on Preferences > Privacy, then select Remove All Website Data.
After it finishes loading (it may take a minute or two), you can decide which websites vĩ đại clear the data from. For example, you can select them all or simply the one you’re having trouble accessing.
When done, click on the Done button at the bottom of the screen.
Next, vĩ đại clear your entire browsing history, you can navigate to Safari > History > Clear History.
When finished, try revisiting the site that was showing the error message. If it’s still there, you can move on vĩ đại the next solution.
2. Check Your Device’s Date and Time
While it may seem odd, sometimes having the incorrect date and time on your Mac device can cause some issues within Safari. Therefore, it’s essential vĩ đại ensure that yours is mix vĩ đại the correct time zone and date.
To get started, you can click on the Apple icon, then navigate vĩ đại System Preferences > Date và Time.
From here, you can verify that you’re using the right date and time.
Under the Time Zone tab, you can also enable your device vĩ đại sync vĩ đại your current location automatically. When you’re done, you can exit the window and try re-accessing the site.
3. Change Your DNS Settings
If the error is still there, you might want vĩ đại kiểm tra out your Domain Name Server (DNS) settings. In a nutshell, your DNS acts lượt thích a phonebook that allows devices and sites vĩ đại reach each other. Safari uses your DNS settings vĩ đại connect vĩ đại websites.
If there are issues with your DNS settings, it might be why you see the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection vĩ đại the server” message. To see if this is the case (and resolve it), you can try changing your DNS addresses. For example, you could use Google’s Public DNS.
To get started, browse vĩ đại Apple > System Preferences > Network.
From this window, select your connection, then click on the Advanced tab, followed by DNS. Next, click on the (+) icon next vĩ đại IPv4 or IPv6 addresses.
Then you can enter the new DNS IP addresses. For example, if you want vĩ đại use Google’s Public DNS, you can enter “8.8.8.8” and “8.8.4.4”.
When you’re finished, click on the OK button. Recheck the trang web vĩ đại see if this process removed the error message.
4. Uninstall or Disable Your Browser Extensions
As we mentioned earlier, an extension or add-on in your browser may be conflicting with Safari’s ability vĩ đại connect vĩ đại a site securely. Sometimes, this is common with anti-virus programs and security-related extensions.
Therefore, the next step is vĩ đại try deactivating all your browser extensions. To bởi this, you can open Safari, then navigate vĩ đại Preferences and click on the Extensions tab.
A list of your extensions will display in the left column. You can click on the checkmark next vĩ đại the add-on name vĩ đại disable it.
Once you’re done, try revisiting the site. If this solves the problem, you’ll need vĩ đại pinpoint which extension was vĩ đại blame. You can bởi this by systematically enabling each add-on and visiting the site after each time.
5. Disable IPv6
Internet Protocol (IP) is a mix of rules that controls how data moves across the mạng internet. IPv6 is a newer protocol version. However, some websites still use the older version, IPv4. If this is the case, it might be why you’re running into the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection” message.
Therefore, you can try disabling IPv6 on your network. To bởi sánh, navigate vĩ đại System Preferences > Network once again, then click on your network connection, followed by the Advanced button.
Under the TCP/IP tab, click on the dropdown thực đơn under Configure IPv6 and select Manually.
When you’re done, click on the OK button. This should resolve the issue if IPv6 were the problem. If not, there’s one last solution you can try.
6. Make Sure Keychain Trusts the Certificate
Earlier, we mentioned how Safari could sometimes present the connection error message if it cannot verify the validity of the site’s SSL certificate. If this is the case, you can bypass the issue by configuring settings in your macOS’s Keychain Access tiện ích.
Keychain Access is the application that stores your passwords, tài khoản details, and application certificates. It keeps your data secure and can control which sites are trusted by your device. As such, you can tell it vĩ đại accept a site’s SSL certificate moving forward.
To bởi this, you can go vĩ đại the trang web showing the error message, then click on the lock icon vĩ đại the left of the address bar, followed by View/Show Certificate > Details.
With the Details panel expanded, click Control + Space Bar. A Spotlight Search bar will appear in the top right-hand corner of your screen. Enter “Keychain” in the tìm kiếm field.
Next, on the left, click on System Roots. Search for the website’s certificate. Once you locate it, go vĩ đại the Trust section. Then click on the dropdown thực đơn next vĩ đại When using this certificate section and select Always trust:
That’s it! You should now be able vĩ đại access the site successfully.
Summary
Trying vĩ đại access a trang web only vĩ đại be met with an error message can be highly frustrating. While Safari is simply trying vĩ đại keep your data protected, sometimes it can get misconfigured. In this case, the browser may unnecessarily present a security notification such as “Safari can’t establish a secure connection.”
There are six methods you can use vĩ đại fix this issue when it happens:
- Clear your browser data, including the cache and cookies.
- Check your device’s data and time.
- Change your DNS settings.
- Uninstall or disable your browser extensions and add-ons.
- Disable IPv6.
- Make sure Keychain trusts the SSL certificate.
Do you have any questions about fixing the Safari secure connection issue? Let us know in the comments section below!
Jeremy Holcombe Kinsta
Senior Editor at Kinsta, WordPress Web Developer, and Content Writer. Outside of all things WordPress, I enjoy the beach, golf, and movies. I also have tall people problems.