ERR_EMPTY_RESPONSE means Chrome reached the server or connection path, but the page sent no usable data back before the connection closed. It is often temporary, but it can also come from a flaky router, extension, VPN, proxy, antivirus scanner, or cached network entry.
Does this affect you?
Use this for Chrome, Edge, and other Chromium browsers on Windows, Mac, or Chromebook when the page says it did not send any data and shows ERR_EMPTY_RESPONSE.
Reload properly and check the basics
A one-time connection drop is common, so start with the lightest checks.
- Wait about ten seconds.
- Hard reload with Ctrl+Shift+R on Windows or Chromebook, or Cmd+Shift+R on Mac.
- Try the same site on a phone using mobile data with Wi-Fi turned off.
- Restart your router by unplugging it for one full minute, then waiting a few minutes after plugging it back in.
- Try a known website to decide whether the issue is one site or the whole connection.
Clear cached data and test without extensions
A corrupted cache entry or filtering extension can interrupt the response before the page appears.
- Open Settings > Privacy and security > Delete browsing data.
- Set the range to All time.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
- Click Delete data or Clear data.
- Restart Chrome completely.
- Open an Incognito window with Ctrl+Shift+N or Cmd+Shift+N and test the site.
- If it works in Incognito, disable extensions from chrome://extensions and re-enable them one by one.
More control
Test antivirus web scanning
Security software that inspects web traffic can drop responses unexpectedly. Turn off Web protection or HTTPS scanning briefly for testing, reload the site, and turn protection back on afterward.
Disconnect VPNs and proxies
A VPN or proxy adds another server between Chrome and the website. Disable it temporarily and reload. If the page works, adjust that VPN or proxy rather than changing Chrome itself.
Clear Chrome network cache
Open chrome://net-internals/#dns and choose Clear host cache, then restart the browser. This can help if Chrome is holding a stale internal network record.
Reset Windows networking last
On Windows, run netsh winsock reset from an administrator Command Prompt, then restart. Use this only after easier steps because it resets custom networking changes.
Sources
- Google Chrome Help – Fix connection errors (2025)
- Chromium Project – Net error list documentation (2025)
- Cloudflare Learning Center – Common HTTP status and connection errors (2025)