Quick Summary
The "ERR_EMPTY_RESPONSE" error in Chrome signifies that the server you're trying to reach isn't sending any data back to your browser. This results in Chrome being unable to load the webpage because it receives nothing to display.
Common Causes
- Server Issues: The server hosting the website may be down, overloaded, or experiencing technical difficulties. In these cases, the server may not be able to send a proper response to the browser's request.
- Network Connectivity Problems: Intermittent or unstable network connections can prevent the server's response from reaching your browser. This could be due to issues with your Wi-Fi, router, or internet service provider (ISP).
- Browser Cache and Cookies: Corrupted or outdated cached files and cookies stored by your browser can sometimes interfere with the proper loading of web pages. These stored files might be preventing the website from delivering a response.
- Firewall or Antivirus Interference: Your firewall or antivirus software might be blocking Chrome from receiving the response from the server. This is more likely if they incorrectly identify the website as malicious.
- Proxy Server Issues: If you are using a proxy server, it may be malfunctioning or misconfigured, causing it to fail to properly forward data between your browser and the website server.
- Chrome Extensions: A malfunctioning or poorly coded Chrome extension can sometimes interfere with network requests and cause empty responses.
Step-by-Step Fixes
Method 1: Check Your Internet Connection
Step 1: Ensure that your computer is connected to the internet. Try opening other websites to verify your connection is working.
Step 2: Restart your modem and router. Power them off, wait 30 seconds, and then power them back on.
Step 3: If you are using Wi-Fi, try connecting via Ethernet cable to rule out Wi-Fi issues.
Method 2: Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
Step 1: In Chrome, click the three dots in the top-right corner.
Step 2: Go to More tools > Clear browsing data...
Step 3: Select All time for the time range.
Step 4: Check the boxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
Step 5: Click Clear data.
Step 6: Restart Chrome and try accessing the website again.
Method 3: Disable Chrome Extensions
Step 1: In Chrome, type chrome://extensions in the address bar and press Enter.
Step 2: Disable all extensions by toggling the switch next to each extension to the off position.
Step 3: Restart Chrome and try accessing the website again.
Step 4: If the website loads correctly, re-enable extensions one by one to identify the problematic extension.
Method 4: Check Firewall and Antivirus Settings
Step 1: Check your firewall settings to ensure that Chrome is allowed to access the internet. Look for any blocked applications in your firewall configuration.
Step 2: Temporarily disable your antivirus software and try accessing the website again. If the website loads correctly, your antivirus software may be blocking it. Add an exception for Chrome or the website's URL in your antivirus settings.
Step 3: Re-enable your antivirus software after testing.
Method 5: Check Proxy Settings
Step 1: In Chrome, click the three dots in the top-right corner and select Settings.
Step 2: Search for "proxy" in the settings search bar and select Open your computer's proxy settings.
Step 3: Ensure that the proxy settings are configured correctly, or disable the proxy server if you are not using one.
Step 4: If you are using a proxy server, contact your network administrator to ensure that the proxy server is functioning correctly.
Method 6: Flush DNS Cache
Step 1: Open the Command Prompt as administrator (Windows) or Terminal (macOS).
Step 2: Type ipconfig /flushdns (Windows) or sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder (macOS) and press Enter.
Step 3: Restart Chrome and try accessing the website again.