Your Connection Is Not Private Microsoft Edge: Solutions

Your connection is not private Microsoft Edge can be caused by a variety of problems, including wrong or invalid SSL certificates, wrong DNS settings, and more. While this issue can happen on any computer, it’s quite common on devices with old hardware or browser.

Fortunately, there are many different ways you can resolve this issue. Let’s take a look at some of the common reasons why this problem occurs as well as how to fix them and get your Edge browser working fine in no time.

The Causes of Insecure Connections on Microsoft Edge

Your connection is not private is an issue that occurs when you use HTTPS. Browsers tend to send requests to the servers where websites are hosted. They verify the certificate installed on the website to ensure that it’s safe. If there’s a conflict between both, you’ll get the said error.

Below are some causes of the unsecured error messages you’re getting in your browser:

– SSL Connection Error

SSL certificate errors are the most common reasons for insecure browser connections. Secure Sockets Layer, otherwise known as SSL, is a certificate of sorts used by websites that utilize HTTPS connections. HTTPS connections offer better security than HTTP connections, hence the addition of the “S.”

When the error happens, it’s because your browser is unable to determine a secure way to open the webpage even though the webpage is supposed to provide the security to authorize the connection.

– Outdated Browser

If you’re running an outdated Edge browser, you may end up getting the “connection is not private” error. The reason is that the website you’re trying to view might have updated its security certificate while your browser is still stuck using an old one that doesn’t match the new one of the website.

– Incorrect Date and Time

As silly as that may sound, an incorrect date and time on your device or browser can cause you to experience the “connection is not private” error. As we’ve mentioned, website SSL certificates always go through updates, so if your device’s time doesn’t match the recent update of the website’s security, you’re likely to experience this issue.

– Antivirus Issue

If you have an antivirus protecting your internet browsing, an incorrect setting might cause you to experience insecure connection issues. Sometimes, it’s not even an incorrect setting, but your antivirus program is doing more than it should. Simply deactivating or reconfiguring your antivirus might help fix the issue.

– Server Error in the Website

The issue might not be your browser’s fault but a fault on the website owner’s part. If the website’s server is experiencing an error, then there’s a chance you’ll get the “connection is not private” error.

– Browser Cookie or Cache Errors

If you have corrupted browser cookies or caches, then there’s a good chance you’ll run into the “connection is not private” error.

Simply clearing out your browser cookies can help you fix the issue.

How to Fix Connection Is Not Private in Microsoft Edge Error?

You can fix the connection is not private in Microsoft edge error by simply reloading the page or restarting your computer. In addition to that, updating your browser and setting the right date and time also serve as viable solutions. In addition, you can also proceed manually.

There are many solutions you can choose when trying to decide how to fix your connection is not private on Microsoft Edge. Let’s start with the easy ones and then dive deeper into the more complex or technical ones:

– Run a Simple Reload

Reloading the website is the easiest solution you can try. You can also close your browser, restart it, and then try loading the website again. There’s a good chance that the owner of the website is in the process of re-issuing its SSL certificate or your Microsoft Edge browser was just bugging out, which is why you’re getting something like “your connection is not private net::err_cert_authority_invalid.” Running a simple reload or waiting a few minutes and retrying the website might help you solve the problem.

– Restart Your Computer and Network

Restarting your computer and network router can also help you resolve the insecure connection error. This is an option you want to try when you have no unsaved work while using a cloud service. Restarting your computer and router will clear up any temporary bug or cache that might be causing you to get the issue.

– Update Your Browser

If you have an outdated browser, you can run into an insecure connection error, as the browser may not be able to identify the recent certificates used by the website you’re trying to visit. You can update your Microsoft Edge browser by following the steps below:

1. Open your browser and tap the three-dot menu at the top right corner of the screen.
2. Navigate to “Help and feedback” and choose “About Microsoft Edge.”
3. Your browser should immediately start scanning for an update once the next window is open.
4. If it doesn’t, click on the “Check for update” button.
5. If there’s an update, your browser will download it automatically.
6. Once the update has been downloaded and installed, restart your browser and check to see if the issue has been fixed.

– Manually Proceed (Unsafe)

Once you get the error, your browser may give you the option to proceed manually to the website even though it considers the website to be unsafe. However, while this is a solution, we do not recommend it, even if you’re familiar with the website.

 If it’s a website where you don’t need to download anything or enter any sensitive information, such as login details, credit card details, etc., then you can proceed. However, if you’ll need to enter sensitive information or download stuff from the website, we recommend that you skip the website entirely.

The reason is that the website may have been hijacked, you’re on a domain that has been made to look exactly like the website you intend to visit, or you may have been redirected to a website that intends to compromise your internet security, baiting you to provide your sensitive information. If you’re accessing the website in a public space, make sure you don’t proceed to the website.

– Check to See if Your Date and Time Are Accurate

If your date and time are incorrect, you’re likely to get the connection is not private error in Microsoft Edge. Browsers are reliant on your computer’s clock and date settings to sync with and verify the certificates of the websites they visit. 

If you’re using your laptop for the first time or picking up hardware you haven’t used in a long time, then there’s a good chance you’ll have the date and time all messed up. You can reset your date on Windows by following the steps below:

1. Navigate to your computer’s taskbar and right-click on the time and date.
2. Choose the “Adjust date and time” option.
3. Toggle on “Set Time Automatically” in the next window.
4. You can also toggle on “Set time zone automatically” if you want.
5. Your time will be adjusted to one of Microsoft’s NTP servers.
6. Check to see that the time and date on your taskbar correspond with the current time and date.
7. If it doesn’t, go back to the time zone settings and manually change your time zone.
8. The time and date should be adjusted now.
9. Open your browser and try using the website again.

– Open the Website in Incognito Mode

Another option you can try is to open the website in incognito mode. Unlike Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge labels incognito as “InPrivate Window” so you want to open a new InPrivate window and try visiting the website to see if you’re able to.

Also, try to disable any recent extension you may have added to your browser, as that might be the reason why you’re experiencing the error. You can disable your Microsoft Edge extensions by following the steps below:

1. Open your Microsoft Edge browser and click on the three-dot menu in the top right corner of the screen.
2. Next, select “Extensions” from the list of options.
3. Choose “Manage Extensions” in the next window.
4. Tap the “Extensions” option on the right panel to get the list of extensions.
5. Navigate to the extension you want to deactivate and click on “Details.”
6. Toggle off the extension to disable it.

– Clear Browsing Data

Clearing your cache and cookies can also help you fix the insecure connection error message. However, once you clear your cache and cookies, you’ll have to re-login to all of your websites, so make sure to write down any passwords you may have forgotten or sync them with your password manager before you clear data on your browser. 

Once your passwords and login IDs are saved, follow the steps below to clear browser cache and data:

1. Open your Microsoft browser and tap on the three-dot menu.
2. Select “Settings” and choose “Cookies and site permissions” on the left panel.
3. Choose “Manage and delete cookies and site data” on the right panel.
4. Click on “See all cookies and site data.”
5. Then tap the “Remove all” button at the top right corner of the screen.
6. Choose “Clear” when you get a prompt, and all the cookies and cached data will be deleted from your browser.
7. Now go back to your address bar, enter the site you want to visit and check to see if the issue has been fixed.

– Change DNS Servers

If you’ve reconfigured your DNS to Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 or Google’s 8.8,8,8 and 8.8.4.4, then there’s a chance you’ll experience the SSL error codes as these DNS configurations are not your ISP’s servers.

Simply reconfiguring your computer to automatically get its DNS might be the solution you need. You can do so by following the steps below:

1. Tap on your start menu and choose the gear icon to enter your settings menu.
2. Choose the “Network & Internet” option on the right panel.
3. Now, go to the right panel and scroll down to “Advanced Network Settings.”
4. Choose “Change adapter options” on the next window.
5. If you have Windows 11, scroll to “Related settings,” select “More network adapter options,” and you’ll be taken to your network adapter window.
6. Now, right-click on your Ethernet adapter and tap on “Properties” from the resulting menu.
7. Next, scroll down to “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/Ipv4),” select it by clicking on it once, then choose the “Properties” option at the bottom right corner.
8. Choose the “Obtain an IP address automatically” option and select “OK” to save your settings.
9. Now, launch your Microsoft Edge browser, go to the website you intended, and check to see if the problem has been resolved.

– Disable Antivirus Software or VPN Temporarily

The next option you want to try is to deactivate your antivirus or VPN if you have an active one. These two programs can override or cause conflicts with your network’s settings, including blocking connections and certificates from SSL servers. Disabling them turns off their ability to scan for SSLs and fixes the insecure connection error.

– Check the Public Wi-Fi You’re Connected to

If you’re connected to a public Wi-Fi, there’s a good chance you’ll experience the connection is not a private issue. The reason is that most public WiFi is not configured to run properly over HTTPS. Also, if you connect to an airport or café’s website without agreeing to the sign-in portal’s terms and agreement, you may experience the error as well. What you want to do is:

• Connect to the public Wi-Fi
• Go to a non-HTTPS website, such as http://google.com
• You should get the sign-in page immediately.
• Accept the terms and conditions of the page and log into the network.
• Once you’re connected, try to see if you can access secure websites with HTTPS

– Check for Subject Alternative Domain

Another solution to try when you’re looking for your connection is not private Microsoft Edge bypass is to check the subject alternative domain. Every certificate has what is known as the Subject Alternative Name. This name allows the domain and every variation of it to be secured by the same certificate. If you’re trying to access a website using a variation of the website that isn’t secured by the certificate, you’re likely to experience the connection is not a private error.

For instance, https://www.google.com and https://google.com are treated as two different websites, even though the latter is a variation of the former. So if https://google.com isn’t secured by the certificate issued to https://www.google.com, you’re likely to experience an insecure connection problem when you visit google.com.

To know if a subject alternative name is a problem, you should see an error code like SSL_ERROR_BAD_CERT_DOMAIN. While it’s a less common issue in today’s internet world, there’s no writing it off as it can happen, especially when domain names are changed or moved to a new domain. Moved domains usually provide a NET::ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID error.

– Check the Certificate Type

If the website you’re trying to visit is using a certificate that doesn’t have the SHA-256 algorithm, then there’s a chance your web browser will encounter an insecure connection error. Simply click on the “Details” option when you get the error to know if it’s a certificate problem.

Most websites that provide the “connection is not private” error message use an algorithm different from the certificate SHA-256, such as SHA-1, which is no longer supported by most browsers in today’s world. So if the certificate algorithm is the problem, there’s nothing you can do until the website changes its SSL certificate.

– Update to a Recent Version of Windows

If you’re experiencing “your connection is not private Windows 7“, or you have an outdated or older Windows operating system, then there’s a chance that might be the reason why you’re experiencing connection is not private in Microsoft Edge.

You can update your operating system to a more recent version of Windows, such as Windows 10 or 11.

Conclusion

The solutions above are sure to help you in your journey to solve the “connection isn’t private” error in Microsoft Edge. Below is a quick summary to make sure you have all you need when trying to determine how to fix connection is not private:

• Make sure your browser and operating system are up to date.
• Note down your passwords and login IDs, or sync them with your password manager before clearing your cache and cookies.
• Disabling VPNs and antiviruses can help you resolve the error.
• If a website’s certificate has expired, there’s nothing you can do until the website renews its certificate.

Browser errors can be a headache, but the solutions provided above are likely to help you resolve the issue as they work for other browsers besides Microsoft Edge, including Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Remember to make sure your network configurations are correct, and your router doesn’t have any issues as well.