How To Fix This Connection Is Not Secure In Safari
You may have encountered an error message in Safari that says, “This connection is Not Secure.”
This blog post will explain the Safari error message, outlining several potential causes and offering various solutions to resolve the issue. You can also follow the steps here if you received Safari Can’t Establish a Secure Connection to the Server” Error

Possible Reasons Why Safari Shows This Connection Is Not Secure Error
There are a few reasons why this might be happening:
1. Website Doesn’t Have A SSL certificate
Websites using WordPress or other platforms that implement Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates to secure connections may face issues if the certificate is misconfigured, invalid, or expired.
As a result, website developers and owners must ensure their SSL certificate is up-to-date to allow Safari to establish a secure connection to their site.
This is because Safari needs to validate the SSL certificate, and if it detects any issues, it will prevent a secure connection and display an error message.
2. Incorrect Date and Time Settings
If your device’s date and time settings are incorrect, Safari may struggle to establish a secure connection with the server. Safari relies on accurate date and time information to validate SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificates. When these settings are off, Safari may fail to establish a secure connection, resulting in an error message. Can you check the date and time on your device?
3. Outdated Safari Version
Using an outdated version of Safari can lead to compatibility issues that prevent a secure connection. Newer versions of Safari contain updated fixes for security vulnerabilities. It might be helpful to reinstall the Safari app while connected to a VPN.
4. Proxy Interference
Proxy servers can disrupt Safari’s ability to establish a secure connection by conflicting with network settings and SSL certificates. To resolve this, go to your Home Screen, tap Settings, then Wi-Fi. Select the blue right arrow next to your network, scroll down, and disable the HTTP Proxy. Check if this resolves the issue.
5. Browser Cache and Cookies
Corrupted cache and cookies can also prevent Safari from connecting securely. These outdated files can interfere with SSL certificates, leading to an insecure connection. To clear your browser’s cache and cookies, follow these steps: Clear the history, cache, and cookies from Safari on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch – Apple Support.
6. Network Connectivity Problems
Network connectivity issues are a common cause of the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection” error. These problems can prevent Safari from making secure connections to servers, triggering this error message.
If your network is experiencing issues such as congestion, unstable Wi-Fi signals, or faulty routers, Safari may fail to establish a secure connection to the server.
How To Fix Safari This Connection Is Not Secure Error?
This section outlines potential solutions for resolving the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection to the server” error. The following workarounds may help:
- Verify if the Website is working
- Clear Your Browser Data
- Double-Check the URL
- Ensure Your Device’s Date and Time are Correct
- Change Your DNS Settings
- Disable Browser Extensions
- Turn Off IPv6
- Disable Firewalls and Antivirus Software
- Check the Keychain Trusts the Certificate
Verify if the Website is working
It’s always a good idea to check the website’s status to ensure it works properly on the Safari web browser. You can use a reliable website server checker tool like “Is It Down Right Now” for this purpose.
This easy-to-use tool allows you to check the status of any site effortlessly. Simply enter the website’s URL and press enter to see the results.
Clear Your Browser Data
When users browse websites, Safari stores data in the browser cache and cookies. If this data contains outdated information about the website’s SSL certificates, users may encounter the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection” error.
To prevent this issue, it’s essential to clear the browser data. Here’s how you can do that in Safari:
- Open the Safari browser.
- Go to Preferences > Privacy.
- Select “Remove All Website Data.”
- Choose which site data to delete, either all sites or only those you can’t access.
- Click the “Done” button at the bottom of the screen.
- To clear your browsing history, go to Safari > History > Clear History.
Afterward, revisit the website to see if the error is resolved.
Double-Check the URL
Double-checking the URL can help resolve the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection” error. Make sure to click on the URL to view the full web address and verify that the one you entered is accurate.
Ensure Your Device’s Date and Time are Correct
It’s important to ensure that the time and date on your Mac device are set correctly, as incorrect settings can interfere with Safari’s functionality and cause a server connection error.
To set the correct time and date on your Mac, follow these steps:
- Click the Apple icon > System Preferences > Date & Time.
- This will allow you to verify that the date and time are correct.
- Click the “Time Zone” tab to sync your device to your current location.
After completing these steps, exit the window and check the website again to see if this solution resolves the issue.
Change Your DNS Settings
You can modify your DNS (Domain Name Server) settings to fix the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection” or This connection is not secure errors, as Safari relies on DNS settings when connecting to websites.
If your DNS server settings are incorrect, there is a high chance of encountering this connection error. Therefore, updating your DNS addresses can help prevent the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection to the server” message.
Follow these simple steps:
- Go to Apple > System Preferences > Network.
- Select your connection > Advanced > DNS.
- Click the (+) icon next to the IPv4 or IPv6 addresses.
- In the DNS tab, enter a new IP address, such as “8.8.8.8” and “8.8.4.4” to use Google’s Public DNS.
- Click “OK” and then check the website to see if the issue is resolved.
Disable Browser Extensions
When troubleshooting the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection” error, it’s important not to overlook the potential impact of browser extensions.
An extension or add-on might interfere with Safari’s ability to securely connect to websites. Therefore, it’s recommended to disable all browser extensions.
To disable extensions, go to Safari > Preferences > Extensions. You’ll see a list of active extensions on your screen. Uncheck the box next to each extension to deactivate it.
After disabling the extensions, revisit the site to see if the issue is resolved. If it is, you can enable each extension one by one and test the site again.
Turn Off IPv6
The Internet Protocol (IP) is a crucial set of rules that enables data to travel across the internet. The latest version of IP is IPv6.
If you’re using the older version, IPv4, you may encounter the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection to the server” error.
In this case, you should disable IPv6 by following these steps: Go to System Preferences > Network, then select your network connection and click Advanced.
Scroll down to the TCP/IP tab, click the dropdown menu under “Configure IPv6,” and select “Manually.” Click the “OK” button to complete the process of disabling IPv6. This should help resolve the connection error.
Disable Firewalls and Antivirus Software
You can temporarily disable firewalls and antivirus software to determine if they are causing the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection to the server” error. These programs may block access to websites, so turning them off briefly can help resolve the issue.
To turn off the firewall on a Mac, follow these steps:
- Click the Apple menu icon > System Settings.
- In the System Settings panel, select Network.
- Choose Firewall > click the toggle to deactivate the firewall.
On a Mac, antivirus software can be turned off in several ways, including through the App Interface, Menu Bar, Force Quit Menu, or System Settings.
To disable antivirus via the App Interface:
- Open the antivirus app > Settings > Quit or Stop Components.
Through the Menu Bar:
- Locate the app icon in the menu bar, right-click it, and select ‘Quit’ or ‘Stop.’
Via the Force Quit Menu:
- Press Command + Option + Escape.
- Find your antivirus software and click ‘Force Quit.’
Using System Settings:
- Go to System Settings > Network > Firewall.
- Use the toggle to disable the firewall associated with your antivirus software.
Check the Keychain Trusts the Certificate
To quickly resolve the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection to the server” issue, adjust settings in macOS’s Keychain Access app.
This app allows users to store passwords, certificates, and account details securely. To modify the settings in Keychain Access, follow these steps:
- When the error appears, visit the site and click the lock icon > View/Show Certificate > Details.
- Verify if Keychain trusts the SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate.
- With the details panel open, press Control + Space Bar.
- A Spotlight search bar will appear in the top-right corner of your screen.
- Type “Keychain” in the search field and select the “System Roots” option on the left.
- Locate the site’s certificate and go to the Trust section.
- From the dropdown menu next to “When using this certificate,” select “Always Trust.”
You should now be able to access the site without issues.
Conclusion
We hope you find our blog post helpful in understanding the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection to the server” or This Connection Is Not Secure errors.
I would also recommend that you read about best web browsers that are available on the Internet.
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