ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID

How to Fix “ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID”

SSL Certificate Error 📄 Chrome, Edge, Brave

⚡ Quick answer

ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID means the website's SSL certificate was not issued by a trusted certificate authority. Chrome does not trust the certificate and is blocking the connection to protect you.

First, check if your internet is working and what your current IP address is:

🔍 Check My IP Address →

What Causes the “ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID” Error?

Every HTTPS website uses an SSL certificate signed by a Certificate Authority (CA) that browsers trust. Chrome maintains a list of trusted CAs. ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID means the certificate for the site you are visiting was signed by a CA not on Chrome's trusted list. This happens when: the site uses a self-signed certificate (common on development servers and some routers), the certificate chain is broken, your antivirus is replacing the certificate with its own, your system's root certificates are outdated, or you are on a public Wi-Fi network that is intercepting your HTTPS traffic.

How to Fix It — 5 Methods

1 Check if this is a self-signed certificate (and proceed if safe) ▶

If you are accessing a known device like your home router admin page (192.168.1.1) or a local development server, the self-signed certificate is expected.

Click "Advanced" on the error page
Click "Proceed to [site] (unsafe)" — only do this if you know and trust the site
Never do this for public websites or sites you are not sure about

2 Check your system date and time ▶

Expired certificates and wrong system clocks both cause this error.

Windows: Right-click clock → Adjust date/time → enable "Set time automatically"
Mac: System Settings → General → Date & Time → set automatically
Restart Chrome

3 Update your operating system ▶

Outdated Windows or macOS installations have outdated root certificate stores, causing valid certificates to appear invalid.

Windows: Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates → install all
Mac: System Settings → General → Software Update
Restart and try again

4 Disable antivirus HTTPS scanning ▶

Antivirus programs that scan HTTPS traffic replace the server's certificate with their own. If their certificate is not trusted by Chrome you get this error.

Open your antivirus → settings → disable "HTTPS scanning" or "SSL inspection"
Try the site again

5 Check if you are on a captive portal or public Wi-Fi ▶

Public Wi-Fi (hotels, airports, cafes) often intercepts HTTPS traffic before you log in, causing certificate errors.

Try visiting http://neverssl.com — a plain HTTP site that triggers Wi-Fi login pages
Complete the Wi-Fi login
Then try your original site
Use a VPN on public Wi-Fi to prevent certificate interception

🔒

Some errors are caused by ISP blocks or network restrictions

A VPN bypasses them instantly by routing through a different server.

PureVPN → IPVanish →

✅ Fixed it? Visit tools.examineip.com to confirm your IP address and connection are working correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to click "Proceed anyway" on ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID?

Only if you know exactly what the site is — for example your own router admin page or a local development server. Never click "proceed anyway" on a public website you are not certain about, as the connection may be intercepted.

Does ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID mean the site is fake?

Not necessarily. It means Chrome does not trust the certificate. The site may be legitimate but using a self-signed or improperly configured certificate. However phishing sites sometimes trigger this error too.

How can I check a website's SSL certificate?

Click the padlock icon in the address bar → "Certificate is valid" to view full certificate details including who issued it and when it expires.

Learn More About IP Addresses & Privacy

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Last updated: March 30, 2026 • Report an error