How To Fix the ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED Error in Chrome

The ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED error in Google Chrome appears when the browser detects a change in the network connection while trying to load a webpage. This error stops access to websites, showing a message like “Your connection was interrupted. A network change was detected.” The issue comes from changes in your computer’s IP address, DNS problems, or disruptions from VPN or proxy services. Below are clear explanations, fixes, technical details, and examples, as requested for a glossary entry.

Causes

IP Address Change or Conflict

Devices on home or office networks often get their IP address assigned by the router or ISP. If your device’s IP address changes while browsing (because of network reconnection, from connecting to a different network, or from the ISP reassigning your address), Chrome will stop the connection and display this error. If two devices accidentally receive the same IP, known as an IP conflict, this also triggers the error.

DNS Server Issues

DNS servers translate website names into IP addresses. Problems come up if your DNS settings are incorrect, outdated, or inconsistent with the rest of your network. If Chrome cannot reach the DNS server or the DNS server cannot resolve addresses properly, the browser issues the ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED error.

VPN or Proxy Interference

VPNs and proxies reroute network traffic. If these services disconnect or reconnect while Chrome is processing a request, or if their configuration conflicts with your system’s network, Chrome sees a change in network routing and reports this error.

Router or Modem Glitches

Limited router memory, old firmware, or overheating can disrupt ongoing connections. These router-side problems break the session between Chrome and websites, which causes the error to show up.

Browser Cache or Network Stack Issues

Cached website data or damaged network stack files in Windows can cause problems when they go out of sync with the actual network settings. Temporary fixes applied by third-party security software can further upset the TCP/IP stack.

Solutions

Restart the Router and Computer

Unplug the router and modem for 30 seconds, then reconnect all devices. Reboot your computer. This resets the IP assignments and clears up transient hardware issues.

Reset Network Settings in Windows

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Run these commands one after the other:
   ipconfig /release
   ipconfig /flushdns
   ipconfig /renew
   netsh winsock reset
3. Restart the computer after running the reset commands.

On Mac, flush the network cache by opening Terminal and typing:
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
or
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

Change DNS Servers

Switch to a public DNS like Google DNS or Cloudflare:
– For Google: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
– For Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1

Change this in your network adapter settings:
– Windows: Network & Internet Settings → Change Adapter Options → Right-click your adapter → Properties → Select Internet Protocol Version 4 → Properties → Use the following DNS server addresses.
– Routers: Enter the router’s configuration page, usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, and update DNS details in Internet or LAN settings.

Disable VPNs and Proxies

If using Chrome’s system settings, turn off VPN/proxy switches under “chrome://settings/system.” For Windows and Mac, disable VPN/proxy apps or system-wide configurations. This restores direct network routing and resolves mismatches.

Clear Chrome Browser Cache

Open chrome://settings/clearBrowserData
Select all time ranges. Clear cached files, images, cookies, and site data. Corrupted or outdated cache entries sometimes interfere with new connections.

Reinstall or Reset Network Adapter

On Windows:
1. Open Device Manager (search for it from the Start menu).
2. Expand Network adapters, right-click your main adapter, and select Uninstall device.
3. Reboot. The driver reinstalls automatically.

You can also disable and enable the adapter using the Network Connections settings (ncpa.cpl), which forces a reset at the driver level.

Use Windows Network Reset

Windows 11 users can select Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced network settings → Network reset. This reinstalls all adapters and resets all options to default.

Adjust Security Software

Some firewalls or antivirus programs disrupt browser access during updates or network reconfigurations. Temporarily turn off these apps or add Chrome as an exception, then test the connection. Make sure network monitoring features are not blocking Chrome’s traffic.

Practical Cases

• During busy internet hours, some ISPs rotate subscriber IP addresses to manage loads. If this change happens mid-session, Chrome immediately shows this error. Assigning a static IP in your router’s client settings prevents the issue.
• In businesses with shared Wi-Fi, guests sometimes get the same internal IP address as another device. This causes routing conflicts in Chrome, fixed by rebooting the router or reconfiguring the DHCP pool.
• Using corporate VPN tools like Cisco AnyConnect, some users lost their sessions when split tunneling or VPN policies refreshed. Disabling the VPN for a test session restored stable access.

Community and Technical Details

• Developers found that running Chrome within Docker or Kubernetes pods is problematic when the container network changes (example: pod gets a new IP after K8s claims it healthy). Adding a short delay after container startup allows the network to settle before Chrome loads pages.
• The open-source Chromium bug tracker records ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED as error code -21 in the net_error_list.h file. It’s flagged if the IP address changes during header reads or DNS lookups.
• Older versions of Chrome with SPDY/HTTP2 support could close browser sessions without user notice if network jitter occurred; now, the error explicitly appears when it detects network instability.

Related Terms

• ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR: Appears when certificate handshakes fail, often following a network change that breaks secure sessions.
• ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT: Caused by slow DNS response or extended network instability.
• ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS: Triggered if network changes cause the browser to follow too many redirects, often linked to proxy loops or misconfigured domains.

System Terms and Concepts

• TCP/IP Stack: The set of networking protocols Chrome relies on to connect to servers. Problems here contribute to this error.
• DHCP: The process by which devices are assigned IP addresses on networks. A broken or busy DHCP server causes IP conflicts or frequent address changes.
• HTTP/3 and QUIC: Newer protocols supported by Chrome that make connection migration smoother, which can decrease ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED errors on updated versions.

References: Hosted.com, YouTube Network Fix Guides, Chromium Bug Tracker, Kinsta, WP Oven, GitHub Chromium Issues, SSL Insights, System Booster

This glossary article covers the specific steps and technical issues you need to resolve the ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED error in Chrome. Each solution and cause is based on current data from hosting experts, user case studies, and public technical documentation.

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