How to Fix the “Safari Can’t Establish a Secure Connection to the Server” Error

Have you ever tried to open your bank, favorite store, or work portal – only to be stopped by this message?

“Safari Can’t Establish a Secure Connection to the Server.”

It’s frustrating, vague, and can block you completely – on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad.

But what does this error mean?

This guide explains what’s happening behind the scenes when Safari shows this message and gives you a step-by-step checklist to fix it. Whether the problem lies with your device or the website’s server, you’ll leave with a clear path to restore access.

Let’s start by understanding why this error happens in the first place.

What Causes the “Safari Can’t Establish a Secure Connection to the Server” Error?

When you visit a website on your browser, your computer encrypts the data so no one else on your network can read it. This encryption is done using a TLS/SSL handshake. If any part of this process fails, Safari will terminate the connection and display this error to protect you from potentially insecure communication.

The causes can range from a simple misconfiguration on your device to a serious problem with the website’s server.

In this article, we will proceed with troubleshooting in a logical order, from the most common and simplest fixes to more advanced, system-level solutions.

Let’s get started!

Common Fixes to Solve the Secure Connection Error

If you encounter the “Can’t Establish a Secure Connection to the Server” error, you should begin your troubleshooting process with these steps. The following solutions are entirely safe and non-destructive to your data and will successfully resolve the “secure connection” error in most situations.

1. Verify the Website Address and Reload the Page

The most straightforward fix is often to check the website’s domain name. Carefully check the URL in Safari’s address bar for any typos. A single misspelled character in a website’s domain name can direct your browser to an entirely different server or a server that does not possess a valid security certificate for the address you intended to visit, immediately triggering this security error.

If the web address is correct, the next step is to perform a “force reload” of the page. You can accomplish this by pressing the Cmd + R key combination on your keyboard or by clicking the reload icon in the address bar. This action instructs Safari to discard any temporary data stored for the page and request a completely fresh copy from the server. This can resolve transient network hiccups or minor glitches that may have interrupted the initial connection.

2. Check and Correct Your System’s Date & Time

An incorrect date or time setting on your computer or mobile device is the most frequent culprit behind this connection error. Secure browsing depends on accurate system time.

Secure websites use SSL/TLS certificates that are only valid for a specific period, which includes a defined start date and an expiration date. If your device’s clock is set to a date and time outside this valid range, Safari will correctly determine that the website’s certificate is invalid. As a security precaution to protect your information, Safari will refuse to establish the connection.

To resolve this, you should configure your device to automatically set its date and time using Apple’s reliable network time servers.

How to Fix on macOS (Ventura & later):

1. Navigate to the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings.

2. Click General in the sidebar, then choose the Date & Time option on the right.

3. Ensure the toggle switch next to “Set time and date automatically” is in the ‘on’ position.

4. Make sure the server is set to time.apple.com or another reliable source.

How to Fix on iOS / iPadOS:

1. Open the Settings application from your Home Screen.
2. Tap on General, and then select Date & Time.
3. Verify that the toggle for “Set Automatically” is enabled, which allows your device to sync its time with the cellular or Wi-Fi network.

3. Test the Issue Using a Private Window

To determine whether the connection error is caused by your browser’s stored data or extensions, you should try opening the website in a private Window. A Private Window creates a temporary, isolated browsing session that acts as a “clean slate.” Safari doesn’t use your browsing history, cookies, or cached data in a Private Window.

Additionally, it disables all third-party browser extensions you may have installed, such as ad blockers, security tools, or shopping assistants. Creating this clean environment allows you to test whether one of these components interferes with the secure connection process.

To perform this test, follow these instructions:

1. With Safari open, go to the File menu at the top of your screen and select New Private Window. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Shift + Cmd + N.
2. A new, dark-themed Safari window will appear, indicating you’re in Private Browsing mode.
3. In the address bar of this new private window, type or paste the website URL that was previously failing and press Enter.

Now, carefully observe the result, as it will tell you exactly where to look for the problem:

• If the website loads successfully in the Private Window: This confirms the problem is within your Safari profile. It confirms that the issue lies within your regular Safari profile and is caused by corrupted website data (cache or cookies) or an interfering browser extension. You should now proceed directly to Step 4 to clean up this data.
• If the error message appears again in the Private Window: This tells you that the problem is unrelated to your browser’s data or extensions. The cause is deeper, likely related to your device’s network settings, system-wide configurations, or an issue on the website’s server. In this case, you can skip the next step and move on to Network-Level Troubleshooting.

4. Clear Corrupted Website Data (Cache & Cookies)

If your test in Step 3 was successful, this step usually resolves it. Over time, the data that Safari stores to make websites load faster (the cache) and remember your login sessions (cookies) can become corrupted or “stale.” This outdated information can conflict with a website’s server when it tries to establish a new, secure connection.

We will first try a targeted approach, which is highly recommended as it will not log you out of other websites.

How to Clear Data for a Single Site (Recommended Method):

This removes data just for the affected site, leaving your data for all other sites untouched.

1. Open Safari and click on Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then select Settings (or Preferences on older macOS versions).

2. In the Settings window, navigate to the Privacy tab. This section controls how Safari handles website tracking and stored data.

3. Click the button labeled Manage Website Data…. This will open a new window showing all the websites that have stored data on your computer.
4. In the search bar in the corner of this window, type the name of the website causing the error (e.g., “example.com”).

5. Select the website from the list and click the Remove button.
6. Click Done. To ensure the changes take full effect, quit Safari (Cmd + Q) and reopen it. Now, try accessing the website again.

How to Clear All Browser History and Data (Use if the Targeted Method Fails):

If removing the data for the specific site did not work, you can take a more drastic step. This action will remove your browsing history and sign you out of all websites you are currently logged into.

1. In the Safari menu bar, click History, then select Clear History… from the bottom.
2. A small dialog box will appear. Click the dropdown menu next to “Clear” and select all history.

3. Click the Clear History button to confirm. This action comprehensively removes all history, cookies, and cached data from Safari.
4. After the process is complete, try visiting the website one more time.

Network-Level Troubleshooting

If the fixes mentioned above didn’t work, the problem may lie in your network configuration or filtering software. Follow these steps to continue the troubleshooting process

5. Disable VPN, Antivirus, or Firewall Software

If you are using any third-party security and network software that intercepts your network traffic to scan it. Then this “man-in-the-middle” position can sometimes interfere with the delicate TLS handshake.

1. Temporarily disable active VPN clients, antivirus programs (like Norton, Avast, McAfee), or third-party firewalls.
2. Quit and restart Safari completely.
3. Try visiting the site again.

These network security applications install their own “root certificates” to decrypt and inspect your traffic. If their software is outdated or misconfigured, it can break the connection to legitimate sites. If disabling one of them fixes the issue, you need to update that software or adjust its “SSL/TLS Inspection” settings.

6. Change Your DNS Servers

A Domain Name System (DNS) server is like the Internet’s phonebook. A slow, unreliable, or misconfigured DNS server can cause connection failures. These DNS issues can sometimes lead to routing problems or timeouts before the secure connection is established.

Most ISPs use their own DNS server to analyze and predict network traffic patterns, but these servers are sometimes poorly maintained, making them unreliable. If you use a custom DNS server, consider switching to a public DNS server such as Google DNS, Cloudflare, or Quad9, which are fast, reliable, and highly secure.

How to Change DNS on macOS:

1. Go to Apple menu  > System Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Click the Details… button next to your active network connection.
3. Select the DNS tab from the sidebar.

4. Click the + button and add the following servers:
   • 8.8.8.8 (Google)
   • 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare)
   • 9.9.9.9 (Quad9)
5. Click OK.

How to Change DNS on iOS / iPadOS:

1. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Tap the i (info) icon next to your network.

3. Scroll down and tap Configure DNS.

4. Select Manual, then Add Server to enter 8.8.8.8 and 1.1.1.1. Remove any old entries.
5. Tap Save.

Advanced System-Level Solutions

Please proceed with the following steps, fully understanding that they involve changes to your core operating system.

7. Update macOS and Safari to the Latest Version

One of the most useful steps to resolve secure connection errors is to ensure your entire operating system is up-to-date. A modern, secure website server may refuse to communicate with a browser that uses older, deprecated security protocols (like early versions of TLS), because older protocols are now blocked for security reasons. Updating your OS is the only way to ensure Safari can “speak” this language’s latest and most secure version.

Newer operating systems also include the latest version of the Apple Trust Store. It is a verified list of all the global organizations (Certificate Authorities) trusted to issue legitimate SSL/TLS security certificates. If a website is using a certificate from a newer authority that isn’t on your outdated list, Safari will be unable to verify its authenticity and will block the connection.

Therefore, when you perform a software update, you not only get security patches and new features but also refresh Safari’s core components and directory of trusted entities.

To check for and install updates on your Mac:

1. Navigate to the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings.
2. Click on General in the sidebar, and then choose Software Update.
3. Your Mac will automatically check for available updates. If one is found, follow the on-screen prompts to download and install it.

To update your iPhone or iPad:

1. Open the Settings app, go to General, and tap on Software Update.
2. Your device will check for and allow you to install any pending updates.

8. Inspect Keychain Access for Problematic Certificates (For Advanced Users)

Warning: This is a highly advanced troubleshooting step and should only be attempted if you are comfortable navigating core system utilities.

Your Mac’s Keychain Access is a secure digital vault that stores all your passwords, private keys, and security certificates. Occasionally, a manually installed, expired, or corrupted certificate within this vault can create a conflict that blocks a secure connection to a specific website. This is particularly common if you have previously installed a “self-signed certificate” for a local development server or a corporate network, as these can sometimes interfere with public web traffic.

Keychain Access is the heart of your Mac’s security. Deleting the wrong certificate (especially a “root” certificate) can cause widespread connection failures across multiple applications and websites. Therefore, you should only proceed if you strongly believe a specific certificate is the cause.

To carefully inspect and remove a rogue certificate:

1. Open Spotlight Search by pressing Cmd + Space, Keychain Access, and Enter.
2. Once the application is open, focus on the “Keychains” panel at the top left. Select the System keychain, which contains certificates that affect all users on the Mac.
3. In the bottom-left “Category” panel, click on Certificates to filter the main window’s view.
4. You will now see a list of all system-level certificates. Carefully scan this list for any entries related to the website you are having trouble with. Pay close attention to any certificates marked with a red ‘X’ icon, as this is a clear visual sign that macOS considers them expired or untrusted.
5. If, and only if, you locate a certificate that you are confident is the source of the problem (e.g., an expired certificate for that specific domain), you can attempt to remove it. Right-click on the certificate and select Delete.
6. Enter your admin password to confirm the change. After deleting it, quit and restart Safari to see if the issue is resolved.

Check A Different Website

If you have tried everything above and the error persists on only one specific website, the problem is likely on the server’s end. This can be due to any of the following reasons:

• Expired SSL Certificate: This is the most common server-side cause. The website owner forgot to renew their certificate.
• Insecure Protocol Support: The server might be using an old, insecure version of TLS (like TLS 1.0 or 1.1), which Safari now blocks by default.
• Certificate Name Mismatch: The certificate was issued for www.example.com, but the server is shop.example.com.
• Incomplete Certificate Chain: The server isn’t providing the necessary intermediate certificates for Safari to establish trust.

How to Verify a Server-Side Problem:

You can use a third-party SSL checker tool to verify if the problem persists on the server itself. Go to a site like SSL Labs’ SSL Test or Security Headers and enter the hostname of the website you can’t access (e.g., www.example.com). The tool will run a deep analysis of the server’s configuration. It will give you a grade (A+ to F) and point out specific errors like expired certificates or weak protocol support.

If the test reveals a problem, your only recourse is to contact the website’s administrator and inform them of the issue.

Final Thoughts

This guide covered the main causes behind the “Safari Can’t Establish a Secure Connection to the Server” error. By following the steps outlined above, you should be well-equipped to identify and resolve the issue from your end. For most users, these solutions will restore secure access to the websites you need.

However, if you are a website owner or server administrator who has landed here while scratching your head over this error on your own domain, you know firsthand that hosting a secure server is no easy task. Even small mistakes can cause downtime and frustrate users, directly impacting your credibility and business. This is precisely why RunCloud has built solutions to eliminate these complexities.

RunCloud provides a powerful server management panel that works with any cloud provider you choose, such as DigitalOcean, AWS, or Google Cloud. Its platform features a fully automatic SSL integration that deploys and renews Let’s Encrypt certificates without any manual intervention, ensuring you never have to worry about an expired certificate again.

Additionally, its integrated DNS manager simplifies the once-complex task of pointing your domains correctly, preventing the configuration errors that often lead to secure connection failures.

Prevent Errors Like This with RunCloud

If you’re managing your own server or building websites for clients, errors like “Safari Can’t Establish a Secure Connection” are more than just frustrating – they’re a sign that something’s misconfigured. In many cases, these issues are caused by expired SSL certificates, DNS errors, or mismanaged server settings.

RunCloud makes all of this easier.

• Automatic SSL: RunCloud issues and renews Let’s Encrypt certificates automatically – no manual setup, no downtime, no security warnings.
• Integrated DNS Manager: Configure domains properly with built-in tools that reduce errors and streamline deployment.
• User-friendly interface: Manage everything through a clean, modern panel – no need to log in to the terminal just to tweak settings or fix issues.
• Works with any cloud provider: Use RunCloud with DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, and more.

If you’re tired of manually fixing preventable problems – or worried your users might be seeing connection errors without your knowledge – it’s time to take server management seriously.

Get started with RunCloud – and keep your websites fast, secure, and always available.