[SOLVED] ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED Error

The ‘err_network_changed’ error is often reported on Google Chrome. It also occurs as the message ‘your connection was interrupted’ or ‘a network change was detected’. While this is common on Google Chrome, it can happen on other browsers.

If you aren’t getting an error message, another sign of this error is that web pages will fail to fully load or that your connection seems jittery. The fixes provided in this article will work on all browsers which report this error.

Why do I see the ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED error?

This error occurs when your internet connection frequently disconnects and then reconnects. There are a number of reasons why this can happen.

It is usually caused by:

  1. Faulty settings on Windows
  2. Viruses affecting your browser
  3. An error on your Google Chrome browser
  4. Google Chrome is out of date
  5. Problems with your router
  6. Bugs on Windows
  7. Windows being out of date

As we’ve already said, normally an ‘err_network_changed’ message will appear on your screen. Or a message saying either ‘a network change was detected’ or ‘your connection was interrupted’.

How do I solve the ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED error?

Quick solutions

If you’re in a rush and need to load a webpage quickly, then there are a few ways you can work around the problem. These fixes will not fix err_network_changed in the long term but may allow you to finish what you are doing.

Reload the webpage

Refresh the page by pressing the circular icon in the top left-hand corner. If your connection was briefly interrupted then it may load in full if you press refresh.

Close and then reopen the browser

Bugs on your browser can be temporarily fixed by closing it and then reopening it. Press the red X in the top right corner and then start again.

Use a different browser

This problem is most frequently reported on the Chrome browser. If you have another browser installed on your computer, then use that instead. Other browsers, such as Microsoft Edge or Mozilla Firefox rarely report the err_network_changed error.

Things to do first

Before you try our in-depth solutions to try and fix the err_network_changed issue, you should do these things to make sure there isn’t a simple answer to the problem.

Scan for viruses and restart your computer

You should perform regular virus scans on your computer anyway. The err_network_changed network connection problem can be caused a virus. Run a virus scan to try and see if this fixes the problem. After it is complete, restart your computer and test your network connections.

Restart your router

The issue may just be an internet connection problem caused by your router.

  1. Turn your router off at the wall and unplug it
  2. Wait for at least 30 seconds and then plug it back in and power it back up
  3. Leave it for around five minutes. While you are doing this you should also restart your computer
  4. Finally, try browsing and see if the problem is resolved.

Note: If you are using a modem you should restart your modem as well. Follow the same procedure for your modem. If you’re using a router and a modem, then do this for both of them.

Update your browser and update Windows

If either your version of Windows or your browser is out of date this may be the route cause of the err_network_changed message.

  • On Windows 10 go to the Start Menu > Settings > Update and Security > Check for Updates. If an update is available, install it.
  • To update Google Chrome, Open the Chrome browser and click the More icon in the top right-hand corner. Choose Update Google Chrome. If this option isn’t available it means that you are up to date.

After you have finished, restart your computer and see if the problem is resolved.

Run the troubleshooter

The Windows Network Troubleshooter will also sometimes solve the problem quite quickly. This comes pre-installed on most versions of Windows.

On Windows 10

  1. Right-click on the internet icon in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen
  2. Select Troubleshoot Problems
  3. Follow the onscreen instructions
  4. If Windows is able to find a solution it will prompt you to fix the problem
  5. Click okay
  6. Wait for 5 minutes and see if the problem with your internet connection is resolved

If none of the quick fixes have worked you will have to fix err_network_changed using one of our in-depth solutions below.

In-Depth Solutions

Here are the in-depth solutions. These should resolve more serious problems.

Option #1: Delete unwanted networks

One cause of the err_network_changed error may be that your computer is set up for both a wired and a Wi-Fi network connection. Or it may be set up for another connection that you don’t use.

If this is the case your computer may be switching between the two network connections. It will report that a network change was detected each time it does this and you will suffer a loss of internet.

  1. Search for the Control Panel in the search bar
  2. Go to Network and Internet > Network Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings
  3. You should see a number of connections displayed
  4. Right-click on any that you don’t use and then click disable

This will often fix err_network_changed and is the first in-depth solution to try if you have this error occurring.

Option #2: Disable proxy servers

If you are using proxy servers, this may be causing a problem with your network internet connection. One way to fix err_network_changed is to disable proxy servers.

  1. Search for Control Panel in the search bar
  2. Go to Network and Internet > Internet Options
  3. Click on Internet Properties
  4. Select Connections > LAN settings
  5. If the checkbox for Use a Proxy Server for your LAN is marked, untick the box
  6. Click the checkbox for Automatically Detect LAN settings
  7. Select Apply and click ok

After you have finished you will have to restart your computer. Try browsing again and see if the err_network_changed message comes back.

Option #3: Flush your DNS cache

Your DNS cache is a collection of cached images and files from recent websites that you’ve visited. Your computer uses these files to work more quickly. Viruses, unauthorized domain names, and technical glitches can corrupt the cache and cause problems, particularly with the Chrome browser.

To see if a corrupted DNS cache is causing your err_network_changed message, flush the DNS using Command Prompt.

  1. Search for Command Prompt in the search bar
  2. Open Command Prompt by right clicking and choosing Run as Administrator
  3. Once it’s open, type the following commands and press enter after each one:
  4. ‘ipconfig /flushdns’
  5. Then type in ‘ipconfig/release’
  6. And then type in ‘ipconfig/renew’
  7. Allow the process to finish by itself. It’s important that you allow the Command Prompt process to run and don’t stop it before it has finished.

This may fix the err_network_changed error message. Restart your computer and try browsing. Hopefully, your computer doesn’t report the ‘network change was detected’ or ‘err_network_changed’ message again.

Option #4: Clear browsing data

Clear browsing data on your Chrome browser and see if this resolves the issue. Browsing data can contain corrupted files, which affect your network connection.

  1. Open your Chrome browser
  2. Click on the menu icon in the top right corner and choose Settings
  3. Click Advanced > Privacy
  4. Click Clear Browsing Data
  5. Select All Time and click Clear Data

Allow the process to finish. This should clear all of your browsing data. Try browsing again and see if you get the err_network_changed message again.

Note: You can also use Command Prompt to clear browsing data. Open Command Prompt and type ‘ipconfig /flushdns’ and press enter.

Option #5: Use a different browser

The Chrome browser frequently reports the err_network_changed message. Instead of using Chrome, you could download and install a different browser.

Microsoft Edge works particularly well on Windows 10. Mozilla Firefox is another good alternative.

Option#6: Reinstall Google Chrome

If you are set on using Chrome, then try re-installing it.

  1. Search for the Control Panel in the search bar
  2. Click on Uninstall a Program
  3. Double click on Google Chrome
  4. Check the box saying Also Delete Your Browsing Data
  5. Click Uninstall

After you have finished you will need to reinstall Google Chrome. Search for it on the web and download and install it again. Having a fresh download of the latest version sometimes resolves the err_network_changed message.

Option #7: Update wireless network adapter drivers

Try updating your driver to see if internet access is down because your wireless network adapter drivers are out of date.

  1. Search for Device Manager in the search bar
  2. Go to Network Adapters and then to Wireless
  3. Right-click on it and select Update the Driver
  4. Your computer should automatically update your wireless network adapter drivers

Sometimes updating network adapter drivers will fix err_network_changed.

Option #9: Reset the Winsock catalog

Winsock is a programming interface and the supporting program which controls internet applications on Windows computers. If it is corrupted, performing a complete netsh winsock reset using Command Prompt can fix internet access and connection issues.

To perform this reset…

  1. Search for Command Prompt in the search bar
  2. Right-click on it and choose Run as Administrator Type ‘netsh winsock reset catalog’ and press enter
  3. Type the following command, ‘netsh int ip reset reset.log’ and press enter
  4. And then, enter ‘netsh int ip reset’ and press enter
  5. Allow the process to finish by itself. It’s important that you allow the process to run and don’t stop it before it has finished by itself

Hopefully, this will fix err_network_changed.

Option #10: Check your IP address and DNS server address

Issues that may be causing a problem are your IP address and DNS server address. If they are incorrect your connection will be lost.

  1. Go to the bottom right-hand corner of your screen and right-click on the network icon
  2. Choose Open Network and Internet Settings
  3. Click on Change Adapter Options
  4. In the next screen, select Properties and double click Internet Protocol Version 4 TCP (this is normally version 4 TCP IPV4)
  5. Inside Internet Protocol Version 4 you will see a tick box enabling you to choose your IP address and DNS server address settings to be set to Obtained Automatically
  6. Tick this box
  7. Click ok and exit

Hopefully, this works to fix err_network_changed. If not, then move on to our next fix.

Option #11: Manually change your DNS settings

You can try manually changing your DNS server addresses to an alternate DNS server. Instead of the ones you are using, use the following DNS server addresses provided below.

  1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box
  2. Type ‘control /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter’ and press okay
  3. On the next screen click Change Adapter Settings
  4. Right-click on Wi-Fi and select Properties
  5. On the next screen select Internet Protocol Version 4 TCP IPv4 and click on Properties
  6. On the next screen select
  7. Use the Following DNS Server Addresses
  • Preferred DNS Server 8.8.8.8
  • Alternate DNS Server 8.8.4.4

When you have finished click ok. Restart your computer and see if you are able to connect to the internet. If this procedure doesn’t work, make sure that you return to option #10 and set your DNS server and IP address to be obtained automatically. Problems with your DNS server or IP address can be complicated and it’s best to use automatic processes where possible.

Note: There is also a Google public DNS available. You can try researching this and see if using the Google public DNS, rather than your own will remove the err_network_changed message.

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