When you visit a website with an ‘HTTPS’ prefix, you know that you are in a secure environment. The browser and the web server perform a series of steps, ensuring the validity of the certificate and SSL/TLS connection. Some of these security measures include the TLS handshake, the process of checking the certificate against the certificate authority, and the certificate decryption.

If the browser identifies issues—like incompatibility or a misconfiguration—it will display the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error message. Consequently, you will not be able to access the website.

If you want to learn how to fix the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error, then you’ve come to the right place. We will help you gain a better understanding of the problem and show you ways to eliminate it.

Why do I get the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error message?

In general, the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error usually shows up on older browsers or operating systems. However, there are still other factors that may cause this error. It is possible that one of the parties is having issues with their SSL certificate. After all, browsers like Chrome prevent users from loading a site if they have SSL certificate problems. If you’re using the same browser, don’t worry. We will also teach you how to get rid of the error code: ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH in Google Chrome.

Solution 1: Checking Your SSL Certificate

When you encounter the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error, one of the best ways to resolve the issue is by checking the SSL certificate installed on the site. You can go online and quickly find a free SSL check tool. All you need to do is submit the domain in the Hostname box, and after a few minutes, the tool will be finished scanning the SSL/TLS configuration of your site via your web server.

Solution 2: Accessing the Website with HTTP

You can also try accessing the website, using an ‘http’ prefix. If the problem persists, then the issue lies within the website. If you own the site, you must check the following:

  1. Is there an SSL certificate name mismatch? Make sure that the website’s name and alias match the actual site URL where the certificate is installed.
  2. Check if your server is using RC4 Cipher. If so, you must fix that.

As the owner of the website, you must ensure that your CDN supports SSL. Let’s say the website delivers content over SSL. The ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error will show up if the rest of the data is not over SSL. In most cases, all you need to do is configure your CDN correctly to fix this problem.

Solution 3: Enabling SSL3/TLS and Disabling QUIC Protocol

It is possible that there are issues with the SSL3/TLS and QUIC, prompting the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error to appear. So, if you are using Chrome, we recommend following the protocol fixes to resolve the SSL version/Cipher Mismatch. You will also find some solutions for Windows 10 computers, which allow you to clear certificates, ensure that your PC’s date and time are in sync with your timezone, and fix other issues.

If you’re using Edge or Internet Explorer, follow the steps below:

  1. Go to your taskbar, then click the Search icon.
  2. Type “Internet Options” (no quotes), then hit Enter.
  3. Go to the Advanced tab, then scroll down until you reach the Security section.
  4. Select the Use TLS 1.1 and Use TLS 1.2 boxes, then click OK.
  5. Exit the Internet Properties window.

If you’re using Mozilla Firefox, follow the instructions below:

  1. Launch Firefox, then type “about: config” (no quotes) inside the address bar.
  2. Press Enter on your keyboard.
  3. In the search field, type “TLS” (no quotes), then double-click security.tls.version.min.
  4. Change the integer value to 3. Doing so will allow you to force the protocol of TLS 1.3.
  5. Click OK, then restart Firefox.

Perform the same process for SSL.

Solution 4: Clearing the SSL State

If there is corrupted data stored on your PC, it may cause issues whenever you try to connect to certain websites. You can try to clear the SSL state to get rid of problems associated with cached certificates. This is a good solution for issues related to SSL connections. To clear the SSL state, follow the instructions below:

  1. On your keyboard, press Windows Key+R.
  2. Paste the following line inside the Run dialog box:

C:\Windows\System32\inetcpl.cpl

  1. Click OK.
  2. Once you see the Internet Properties window, go to the Content tab.
  3. Click the Clear SSL State button.

Now, you can try visiting the website again to see if the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error still shows up.

Solution 5: Using an Older Browser Version

It is important to use the latest version of your web browser. Doing so allows you to take advantage of the latest security measures and quality standards. However, it is worth noting that the latest browsers have been designed to reject outdated protocols and certificates. So, if you do not want to see the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error, it is best if you use an older version of your browser.

Keep in mind that you cannot have two versions of the same browser on your computer. So, you must uninstall the current version you’re using, then download and install the older version.

Solution 6: Using a New Operating System

The “change or die” ideology has always been true in technology. So, if you are using an old operating system, chances are, it cannot support the latest Cipher suites and newer technologies. It is worth noting that back in 2015, Google Chrome stopped providing support for Windows XP. If you do not want to deal with SSL certificate issues, it is best that you upgrade to Windows 10.

Solution 7: Disabling your Antivirus Temporarily

If you’ve tried the previous solutions and yet you still see the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error, we suggest disabling your antivirus temporarily. It is possible that your antivirus is creating a layer between your browser and web server, using its own certificates. This could be the reason why you are seeing the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error.

Pro Tip: To ensure that you will be able to browse through websites without issues, we recommend using Auslogics BoostSpeed. This tool tweaks non-optimal settings in your system, allowing the processes and operations to perform at a faster pace. It will also adjust your Internet connection settings, ensuring smooth browsing, better audio/video call quality, and faster downloads.

Can you suggest other tips on how to fix the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error?

Share them in the comments section below!