How to Fix "ERR SSL VERSION OR CIPHER MISMATCH" Error?
Written by Rimvydas Iliavicius on
How to Fix "ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH" Error That Occurs While Trying to Visit a Particular Website
Web browsers try to protect users and prevent them from visiting unsafe websites. The "ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH" message indicates that the visited website is unsafe and prevents it from loading.
This error can occur in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and other web browsers when attempting to visit a website that requires sensitive information such as credit card details, login information, etc. Browsers check the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate each time a connection attempt is made to a website.
SSL is a standard security technology used to establish an encrypted link between a web server and browser. Generally, these layers are used to establish a secure connection.
If the configured protocols on a particular website are not secure, you will be unable to visit that website and receive the "ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH" (or other similar error). This error might also occur when the website uses an outdated protocol version not considered safe.
This is an issue with the website, and you should not take any action other than to take note of the error for your online safety. If, however, you feel you must visit a website giving the "ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH" error, there are some workarounds to enable you to access it. The guide below describes several methods to bypass this error.
Video Showing How to Fix "ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH" Error:
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Configure the Minimum SSL/TLS Version
- Turn Off SSL Scan
- Use Older Browser Version
- Clear SSL State
- Video Showing How to Fix "ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH" Error
Configure The Minimum SSL/TLS Version
If you use an older version of Google Chrome (such as Google v44 and older), you can make Google Chrome ignore any warnings related to old SSL and TLL protocol versions. This will work with websites that are using older (outdated) certificates.
To configure the minimum SSL/TLS version, you will need to adjust Google Chrome flags. Flags (chrome://flags) is a place in Google Chrome where you can try out various new features that are still being tested. Bear in mind that these features can be unstable and might cause problems.
To access flags and configure the minimum SSL/TLS version, go to chrome://flags (type this address into the Google Chrome address bar and press Enter) and find the "Minimum SSL/TLS version supported" option. You can use the Google Chrome search bar that will quickly allow you to find this option.
Select the SSLV3 option from the drop-down menu and click the "Relaunch" button. Try to visit the website of interest and see if you still receive the "ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH" error.
Turn Off SSL Scan
If you have antivirus software (or other security software) installed on your computer, it will probably have an enabled SSL scan feature. This might be the reason for the "ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH" error. Turning this feature off might enable you to bypass this error.
If you are not sure whether there is such an option or cannot find one, we suggest that you temporarily disable the antivirus software. Read this article to find out how to disable specific antivirus software programs.
Use Older Browser Version
Using the updated (latest) browser version is important since the latest standards and security measures will be applied. The latest browsers are designed to reject old (outdated) protocols and certificates.
However, using an older version might be a way to avoid the "ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH" error. You cannot have two versions of the same browser installed, so you will need to uninstall the previous version and then download and install the older version.
If you are using Google Chrome for example, you could try to download an older version of Mozilla Firefox and vice versa.
Clear SSL State
The data stored on your computer might be corrupted and cause problems when connecting to a particular website. The wrong certificate information might be stored, and changes could have been made with another server's certificate - your system could be working with a stored version that is causing problems.
Clearing the SSL state eliminates the problems related to cached certificates and wipes the cache. This could be useful if you have problems with SSL connections and receive the "ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH" error.
To clear the SSL state, press Windows (Win) key + R (or right-click Start and select "Run" from the contextual menu) and type this line: "C:\Windows\System32\inetcpl.cpl", press Enter or click "OK".
The Internet Properties window will appear. Go to the "Content" tab and click "Clear SSL state". Try to visit the website giving the "ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH" error and see if clearing the SSL state solves the problem.
We hope this guide was helpful and you were able to fix the "ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH" error. If you know of other solutions to this problem not mentioned in our guide, please share them with us by leaving a comment below.
We do not recommend ignoring this error since ignoring and bypassing it can lead to serious problems. Your computer might be infected by malware or a virus, or hackers could take control of your system and data. You should think about security first.
You might be getting the "ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH" error because your web browser is trying to protect you and your personal information from an unsafe website. You must be sure that the website you are trying to access is safe.
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