ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID is a puzzling Chrome error you may encounter when trying to open a specific website (it is also common in other browsers, such as Edge or Opera). The problem often appears on certain websites while the other pages open without issues. What is ERR CERT AUTHORITY INVALID, and how to fix it? This article will provide the necessary answers.
Why Does ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID error occur?
The ERR CERT AUTHORITY INVALID error happens when your Chrome browser cannot find or verify the website’s security certificate. Certificates are necessary to ensure your browsing safety and prevent data theft. A missing or invalid certificate can signal an insecure connection between the website and the client since the browser cannot correctly encrypt the data. As a result, bad actors can intercept traffic and steal your information. Therefore, do not ignore the ERR CERT AUTHORITY INVALID error, especially when opening banking websites or other pages with sensitive data.
How to fix ERR CERT AUTHORITY INVALID?
Before you start fixing the ERR CERT AUTHORITY INVALID error, ensure the problem appears on all devices regardless of the platform or browser. Try accessing the page from your smartphone or tablet (using another Wi-Fi network or cellular data can also help). If the error appears on all devices, all you have to do is sit back and wait. Website owners sometimes forget to extend their security certificates. In such a case, you can do nothing to fix the ERR CERT AUTHORITY INVALID error. Waiting a couple of hours or days may resolve the issue. You can also contact website support and ask for details.
Referer. Take a look at our article on how to restore bookmarks in Chrome.
If the ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID error appears only on your computer, then the device is probably missing the necessary certificates. Contact the website support and ask if they provide security certificates. Most often, this is necessary on niche websites with specific security requirements.
- Once you have the certificate, press Win + R and type certmgr.msc. The command will launch Windows’ built-in Certificate Manager.
- Go to Trusted Root Certification Authority > Certificates.
- Click Action > All Tasks > Import.
- Follow the on-screen instruction and find the downloaded certificate when prompted to add it to the manager. If you cannot find the certificate, switch the view to All files.
- Restart your computer and try opening the website again.
Here are a few more general tips that may help you fix the ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID error and similar problems when browsing the internet:
- Ensure you have the correct date and time on your computer. Incorrect dates and time will result in certificate conflicts and broken websites.
- Keep your browser up to date. Install the latest available updates if possible.
- Keep your Windows up to date. If your Windows copy is unsupported, move to a newer release if possible. Alternatively, ensure your browser developer still provides security updates. If no, switch to another browser.
- Keep your antivirus up to date. Viruses can reroute traffic to steal your data, resulting in the ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID. If the problem happens only on your computer, check it for malware.
That is it. We hope this article helped you fix the ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID error.
