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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallChrome’s “Error 105” wording and ERR_SOCKET_NOT_CONNECTED are often treated as the same problem, but they can identify different failure layers. Confirm the exact label first: copy the code shown on the error page or open chrome://network-errors/. Then test whether one website fails or every website fails. A single-site failure can be caused by that site; a multi-site failure usually points to your connection, browser configuration, DNS, security software, or network equipment.
What Error 105 and ERR_SOCKET_NOT_CONNECTED mean
Chromium maintains ERR_SOCKET_NOT_CONNECTED as a socket-level network error. It means Chrome could not establish or keep the network socket needed for the request. That label does not by itself identify a bad DNS server, a broken router, an extension, or malware.
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“Error 105” is older wording that commonly sends people toward DNS troubleshooting. Google documents ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED as the hostname or IP-address resolution error. Because these labels describe different stages, do not apply DNS changes simply because the page displays “105.” Verify the exact code in Chrome before changing system settings.
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- Only one website fails: the site may be down, misconfigured, blocking your address, or having a certificate or application problem.
- Several unrelated websites fail: investigate Wi-Fi or Ethernet, the router, captive-portal sign-in, browser settings, DNS, firewall or antivirus rules, VPN or proxy settings, and the internet service.
- The error appears only in a normal window: an extension, cookie, cached data, or profile setting is more likely than a router fault.
Do these checks before changing DNS
- Recheck the address. Look for a typing error, an accidental space, or a stale bookmark. Reload with the reload button or Ctrl+R (Windows/Linux) or Command+R (macOS).
- Test two or three unrelated sites. Use sites you do not normally visit. If only the original site fails, wait briefly and try another network or contact the site owner. If all tests fail, continue with the connection checks.
- Verify the local connection. Confirm that Wi-Fi is enabled and connected to the intended network, or that the Ethernet cable is seated. On a public or hotel network, open a new tab and look for a captive-portal sign-in page.
- Restart the modem and router. Turn them off, wait for them to finish powering down, then turn them on and allow the status lights to settle. This is a reversible test; it does not prove that the hardware is defective.
- Try another device on the same network. If phones and other computers also cannot load sites, the problem is probably upstream of Chrome. If other devices work, concentrate on the affected computer.
Follow Chrome’s manual repair sequence
1. Update Chrome and restart it completely
Open chrome://settings/help or select the three-dot menu, Help, then About Google Chrome. Let Chrome check for an update and install it if offered. Select Relaunch, or quit every Chrome window and open the browser again. A tab reload alone is not a full restart.
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2. Test the page in Incognito
Open the three-dot menu and choose New Incognito window, or press Ctrl+Shift+N (Windows/Linux) or Command+Shift+N (macOS). Visit the same address.
If the page works in Incognito, return to a normal window and open ⋮ → Extensions → Manage extensions. Turn extensions off, reload the page, and re-enable them one at a time until the failure returns. Remove or update the extension that causes the conflict. If Incognito fails in the same way, extensions are less likely to be the cause.
3. Clear cached files and cookies
Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows/Linux) or Command+Shift+Delete (macOS), or go to Settings → Privacy and security → Delete browsing data. Choose a time range that covers the failure, select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, then confirm. Clearing cookies signs you out of many sites, so save any work first.
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4. Check firewall and antivirus rules
Security software can block Chrome’s connection even when the computer reports that it is online. Review the product’s blocked-app, web-protection, firewall, and quarantine history. Allow the installed Chrome application only if you recognize it and the rule is clearly blocking the browser. Do not disable protection permanently; if a temporary test is necessary, restore the protection immediately afterward. A work or school computer may be controlled by an administrator, who must change the rule.
5. Close unused tabs and unwanted tasks
Close tabs you are not using and quit applications that consume substantial memory. In Chrome, open ⋮ → More tools → Task manager to identify tabs or extensions using excessive resources, then select an item and choose End process. This addresses a browser that cannot create or maintain connections because the device is under heavy memory pressure; it does not repair an ISP outage.
6. Check VPN and proxy paths
A VPN, corporate proxy, filtering service, or browser security extension can interrupt socket creation. Temporarily disconnect a VPN or use the approved direct connection, then test again. On a managed network, do not remove policy settings; ask the administrator whether the proxy is reachable and whether Chrome is permitted. If the error disappears only when the VPN or proxy is bypassed, the service configuration—not Chrome’s cache—is the evidence-based lead.
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7. Reset Chrome settings
When updating, Incognito testing, clearing data, and security checks do not help, open Settings → Reset settings → Restore settings to their original defaults. Review the items Chrome will reset before confirming. This can disable extensions, clear temporary site data, and restore startup, search, and content settings; bookmarks and saved passwords are handled separately by Chrome’s account and profile systems.
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8. Reinstall only as a later option
Uninstalling and reinstalling Chrome is a final browser-level test, not a substitute for checking the network. Record any profiles or synchronization details you need first. If a newly installed browser still fails on every site, stop repeating reinstalls and investigate DNS, the router, security software, or the internet service instead.
When the exact code is a DNS resolution error
Use this branch when Chrome explicitly shows ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED or another hostname-resolution message, or when DNS tests show that names cannot be translated into addresses. Repeatedly reinstalling Chrome will not correct an unreachable resolver.
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Test the resolver from Windows
- Open Command Prompt.
- Run
nslookup example.com, replacing the domain with the site that fails. - Note which DNS server answers, whether an address is returned, and whether the request times out or reports a server failure.
Test from macOS or Linux
- Open Terminal.
- Run
dig example.com. - Check the
SERVERline, the returned address records, and any timeout orSERVFAILresult.
If queries time out, point to an unexpected resolver, or return answers that do not match the network you trust, contact the network administrator or ISP. DNS blocking, stale answers, and hijacking are possibilities, but the command output should guide the next step. A traceroute can help separate a general reachability failure from a DNS-only failure: on Windows use tracert example.com; on macOS/Linux use traceroute example.com. A route that never leaves the local network indicates a different problem from a successful route with only DNS lookups failing.
Review Chrome Secure DNS
Chrome normally uses automatic Secure DNS. Open Settings → Privacy and security → Security and find Use secure DNS. Chrome can fall back to an unencrypted lookup when automatic Secure DNS has trouble. You can inspect the selected provider, choose another available provider, or switch Secure DNS off temporarily while diagnosing persistent lookup errors. Treat that change as a test: restore a suitable setting after identifying whether the provider is responsible, and follow workplace or school policy on managed devices.
Use the symptom to choose the right layer
| Observed symptom | Most useful evidence | Reversible next action |
|---|---|---|
| One site fails; unrelated sites load | Other sites work and the same address fails repeatedly | Try another network, check the site’s status, or contact its owner |
| Every site fails on one computer | Another device on the same network loads normally | Test Incognito, extensions, security rules, VPN/proxy, and Chrome reset |
| Every device fails on the same Wi-Fi | Router connection or captive-portal status | Sign in to the portal, restart the modem/router, then contact the ISP |
ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED or DNS timeout |
nslookup or dig output |
Inspect resolver reachability and Secure DNS; escalate unexpected or blocked responses |
| Normal mode fails but Incognito works | Extension or profile-state difference | Disable extensions and re-enable them individually; clear site data |
ERR_SOCKET_NOT_CONNECTED persists across sites |
Exact Chromium label plus results from network and security tests | Check firewall/antivirus, VPN/proxy, router, and upstream connectivity rather than assuming DNS |
Platform and escalation notes
Windows
Use nslookup for DNS testing and tracert for path testing. Check both Windows security rules and any third-party firewall or antivirus product. If the computer belongs to an organization, policy may prevent changes; provide the administrator with the exact Chrome code and test results.
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macOS and Linux
Use dig and traceroute. Review system or network-manager proxy settings as well as browser extensions. A successful test in another browser narrows the issue toward Chrome’s profile or extensions, while failure in every browser points toward the network or resolver.
Chromebook and mobile
First test another site, reconnect to Wi-Fi, and complete any captive-portal sign-in. Update Chrome from the device’s normal update mechanism. Incognito testing and clearing Chrome’s browsing data remain useful; DNS-provider controls and security policies vary by device and administrator.
Quick Recap
When to stop troubleshooting locally
- The same address fails from multiple devices and networks: the website owner is the appropriate contact.
- DNS queries time out or return an unexpected resolver on a managed or ISP network: contact the network administrator or ISP.
- All devices lose access after a router restart, or the router cannot obtain service: report the outage rather than repeatedly resetting Chrome.
- A security product records a block that you cannot safely change: ask its administrator to review the event.
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