Fix ERR_SSL_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID on Chrome
Quick Answer: The ERR_SSL_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID error in Chrome indicates that the browser cannot verify the website's SSL certificate against a trusted root certificate authority. This often happens due to an outdated system clock, an expired certificate, or a corporate proxy intercepting SSL traffic. First, verify your system's date and time are accurate. Then, attempt to access the site again; if the issue persists, inspect the certificate details via Chrome's Developer Tools to identify the untrusted issuer.
What Causes This Error
- System clock desynchronization: An incorrect date and time on the client machine can cause Chrome to incorrectly validate certificate validity periods.
- Untrusted or self-signed SSL certificate: The website is using a certificate issued by an authority not recognized or trusted by your operating system or Chrome's certificate store, or it's a self-signed certificate.
- Corporate SSL inspection/proxy: Enterprise network security solutions (proxies, firewalls) often intercept and re-sign SSL traffic with their own root certificate, which might not be installed on client machines.
- Expired or revoked SSL certificate: The website's SSL certificate has passed its validity period or has been explicitly revoked by the issuing Certificate Authority (CA).
- Antivirus/Firewall interference: Security software on the client machine can sometimes interfere with SSL connections, performing its own certificate inspection and causing validation failures.
- Outdated browser or operating system: An older version of Chrome or the OS might lack updated root certificate stores required to validate newer certificates.
Step-by-Step Fixes
Fix 1: Correct System Date and Time
On Windows, navigate to Settings > Time & Language > Date & time. Ensure "Set time automatically" and "Set time zone automatically" are enabled.,On macOS, go to System Settings > General > Date & Time. Verify "Set date and time automatically" is checked.,Restart your browser and attempt to access the website again to see if the certificate now validates correctly.
Fix 2: Install Corporate Root Certificate (for Enterprise Environments)
Contact your IT department to obtain the necessary corporate root CA certificate file (e.g., .cer, .crt, .der).,On Windows, open 'certmgr.msc', navigate to 'Trusted Root Certification Authorities' > 'Certificates', right-click, and select 'All Tasks' > 'Import'. Follow the wizard to import the certificate.,On macOS, open 'Keychain Access', select 'System' or 'login' keychain, then 'File' > 'Import Items...' and select the certificate file. Ensure its trust settings are configured for 'Always Trust'.
Fix 3: Clear Browser Data and Cache
Open Chrome, click the three-dot menu, go to 'More tools' > 'Clear browsing data'.,Select 'All time' for the time range. Check 'Cookies and other site data' and 'Cached images and files'.,Click 'Clear data'. Restart Chrome and try accessing the site again.
Fix 4: Disable Antivirus/Firewall SSL Inspection (Temporarily)
Access your antivirus or firewall software's settings panel.,Locate features related to 'SSL/HTTPS scanning', 'Web protection', or 'Encrypted connection inspection' and temporarily disable them.,Test the website in Chrome. If the issue resolves, re-enable the feature and consult your security software's documentation for configuring SSL exceptions or updating its root certificates.
Fix 5: Update Chrome and Operating System
To update Chrome, click the three-dot menu > 'Help' > 'About Google Chrome'. Chrome will automatically check for and install updates.,Ensure your operating system is up-to-date. On Windows, go to Settings > Windows Update; on macOS, go to System Settings > General > Software Update.,A fully updated browser and OS ensure you have the latest root certificate stores and security patches.
Advanced Fixes
Advanced Fix 1: Inspect Certificate Chain and Details
When the error occurs, click the 'Not secure' or 'Certificate error' icon in Chrome's address bar, then click 'Certificate is not valid' (or similar wording) to open the certificate viewer.,Navigate to the 'Certification Path' tab to examine the entire chain of trust. Identify which certificate in the chain (root, intermediate, or end-entity) is marked as untrusted or has an issue (e.g., expired, revoked).,Note the issuer of the untrusted certificate. This information is crucial for determining if it's a known CA, a corporate proxy, or a self-signed certificate, guiding further troubleshooting steps like importing a specific root certificate or contacting the website administrator.
FAQs
Q: What does 'ERR_SSL_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID' specifically mean?
A: This error means Chrome cannot establish a secure connection because it doesn't trust the Certificate Authority (CA) that issued the website's SSL certificate. It's akin to receiving an ID from an issuing body Chrome doesn't recognize as legitimate, preventing it from verifying the website's identity.
Q: Is it safe to bypass this warning by proceeding to the website?
A: Generally, no. Proceeding past this warning ('Advanced' > 'Proceed to...') is highly discouraged for public websites. It means you are instructing Chrome to ignore a critical security check, making you vulnerable to potential man-in-the-middle attacks where an attacker could intercept or tamper with your data. Only proceed if you fully understand the risks and explicitly trust the specific domain (e.g., a known internal server with a self-signed certificate).
Q: Why do I only see this error on some websites and not others?
A: This error is site-specific because it relates to the SSL certificate presented by that particular website. It could be due to that site's certificate being expired, self-signed, issued by a less common or untrusted CA, or a misconfiguration on their server. If other sites work, your browser and system are generally fine, and the issue lies with the specific site's certificate or how your network interacts with it.
Q: Can a VPN or proxy cause this error?
A: Yes, a VPN or proxy server can definitely cause this error. If your VPN or proxy performs its own SSL inspection or uses a custom root certificate that isn't installed on your system, Chrome will flag the re-signed certificate as untrusted, leading to ERR_SSL_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID. Temporarily disabling your VPN/proxy can help diagnose this.