ERR_PROXY_CERTIFICATE_INVALID When Using VPN: How to Fix it

The main advantage of a full-spectrum VPN over a browser extension is that it integrates all applications. One VPN will bind them all, regardless of their browsers or other tools like Spotify or Popcorn Time.

However, as this case has shown, that integration might come in different shades of gray. Many users experienced issues with Chrome, as Google’s browser just won’t work when paired with a VPN.

This can be a grave problem, especially for most users who prefer Chrome over other browsers. Keep in mind that these fixes refer to VPN solutions rather than extensions.

Why VPN is not working in Chrome?

Usually, you can experience VPN issues on your browser due to different reasons such as an unstable Internet connection or cache data in your browser.

It’s possible that cached data stored in your browser interferes with your VPN client and thus blocks your server connection.

That said, using a VPN, either as software or as an extension in the browser, may generate problems, so follow us to solve this issue in Chrome.

What can I do if VPN isn’t working with Chrome?

1. Check the connection

1. Restart your PC, router, and modem.
2. Make sure your Wi-Fi is enabled. Also, try using LAN instead of Wi-Fi.
3. Flush DNS:
   • Open Command Prompt by right-clicking on the Start button.
   • In the command line, type the following commands and press Enter after each:
   •  ipconfig /release
   • ipconfig /renew
4. After that, type in the following command and press Enter:
   • ipconfig /flushdns
5. Close the Command line and look for changes.
6. Reset your Power settings to default.
7. Reset router to factory settings. 

Before we proceed with troubleshooting VPN and Chrome, respectively, let’s make sure that your connection is working as intended.

The underlying connection can and will occasionally be a problem, especially in Windows 10, which tends to break the connection with every new update.

There are various ways to confirm whether your overall connection is malfunctioning or the issue is closely associated with Chrome and VPN.

For starters, try running Chrome without the VPN. If the problem is persistent, even with an alternative browser, we advise you to try one of these steps and look for improvements:

2. Connect to a better VPN

First things first, choosing the right VPN can make all the difference. Why look for ways to repair Google Chrome and VPN issues when you can simply avoid them?

Our recommendation goes to ExpressVPN, a trusted VPN client perfectly suited to blend in with Chrome seamlessly.

Browser-friendly, ExpressVPN really has unmatched leverage regarding your safety on the web.

But it does not just secure your browser; thanks to the TCP/IP interface level, it extends its protection to all your apps.

This leading VPN provider relies on tunneling technology to provide multi-layered security. It uses encrypted tunnels to create multiple layers of privacy around you.

Besides its massive network of worldwide servers, the service is your number 1 choice for confidentiality, thanks to its strict zero-logs policy.

It might also be worth mentioning that these advanced features are packed in a very intuitive and easy-to-use interface, allowing you to connect your VPN client with just one click.

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3. Change servers

VPN-wise, the best thing you can do when the issues suddenly emerge is to change the server subtly.

Most free and premium VPN solutions offer a large variety of servers positioned all around the world.

So, if you’re experiencing issues with one server, the alternative one will likely resolve the halt.

Some of the most used ones tend to get overcrowded, while temporary server failure is also possible.

The procedure is relatively simple on all available VPNs, so you should have an easy time switching back and forth between the available servers.

On the other hand, in case you’re still stuck with the same issues and unable to connect through VPN and seamlessly use Chrome, make sure to check the additional steps we provided below.

4. Clear Chrome’s browsing data

1. Open Chrome and press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open the Clear browsing data menu.
2. Check the Cached images and files box.
3. Click on the Clear Data button.
4. Close Chrome, re-enable VPN, and try connecting again.

Like any other browser, Chrome will accumulate large chunks of data in order to speed up the browsing experience and preserve your history.

However, piling up the cache and cookies will often lead to slowdowns. It might also affect VPN integration and even prevent the connection through the secure tunnel.

In order to avoid this, we recommend clearing your cache and moving from there. Of course, make sure to preserve your passwords or write them down. Here’s how to clear the browsing data on Chrome: 

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5. Disable Chrome proxy

1. Open Chrome.
2. Click on the 3-dot menu and open Settings.
3. Scroll down and expand the Advanced options section.
4. Scroll to the bottom and click on Open proxy settings under the System section.
5. Select LAN settings.
6. Uncheck Automatically detect settings.
7. Uncheck the Use the proxy server for your LAN box.
8. Confirm changes and run your VPN and then Chrome.

If you’ve configured a proxy server on Chrome or it’s automatically configured, we advise you to turn it off. Proxy servers and VPNs are not good friends, as one tends to block the other.

Also, it’s advised to disable the proxy extensions (they mostly are advertised as VPNs, which they’re not in the true sense of the word) if you use a desktop client VPN.

Follow these instructions to disable Chrome proxy:

Proxy server issues are pretty annoying. Make them a thing of the past with the help of this guide.

These steps should show you how to disable Chrome extensions:

1. Open Chrome.
2. Under the 3-dot menu, select More tools and then Extensions.
3. Remove all proxy-related privacy extensions and restart Chrome.

6. Reconfigure DNS

Instead of using the automatically generated DNS, you can try to apply general Google DNS. Follow these steps to reconfigure DNS on your PC:

1. Right-click on the Connection icon placed on Taskbar and open Network & Internet settings.
2. Click on the Change adapter options.
3. Right-click on your default connection adapter and open Properties.
4. Highlight Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
5. Mark Use the following DNS server addresses.
6. Under the Preferred DNS server, insert 8.8.8.8.
7. Under the Alternate DNS server, insert 8.8.4.4.
8. Confirm changes and close Adapter settings.
9. Navigate to VPN settings and make sure to enable VPN to change DNS settings only when in use.
10. Restart your PC and look for changes.

Usually, everything works fine with the automatic acquisition of the IP address, but it’s worth trying to change it.

Also, this action, in combination with the VPN’s own reconfiguring, resolved issues for a lot of users.

Is your DNS server not responding on Windows 10? Don’t worry—we’ve got the right solution for you.

7. Disable antivirus temporarily

Antivirus solutions went a long way from simple anti-malware solutions. Nowadays, they come in suits, with all kinds of system monitoring and optimization tools and, foremost, third-party firewalls.

Those can come in handy, especially if you need an extra layer of online security.

However, they also tend to block various connection-dependent services and their subsidiaries. For example, they might block your VPN and thus prevent internet access through Chrome.

To resolve this, you can disable them permanently or whitelist the VPN and Chrome.

This procedure differentiates various solutions, so we advise you to check your VPN’s support website for detailed insight.

Also, you should check the Windows-native Firewall and create an exception for the VPN at hand. 

8. Reinstall Chrome and VPN

1. In the Windows Search bar, type Control and open Control Panel from the list of results.
2. From the Category view, click Uninstall a program under Programs.
3. Right-click on your VPN solution and Uninstall it.

Finally, if none of the previous solutions helped you, you can try reinstalling both Chrome and VPN and proceeding from there.

Both applications can be affected by various changes in the Windows ecosystem, making them quite prone to errors inflicted by updates.

For that reason, we recommend a clean reinstallation as a last resort in this matter.

VPNs, like any other software, are sometimes vulnerable to flaws that prevent you from removing the VPN connection from your PC.

Since this may happen, you may need to take many actions to completely uninstall the utility from your PC, as many VPN providers leave files behind.

We recommend using CCleaner third-party uninstaller to clean all remaining files and registry entries the VPN has made and restart your PC.

After the uninstallation is complete and there are no remnant files, download the latest version of the VPN of your choice and install it.

Different users complained about issues regarding VPN usage with the Google Chrome browser and keep in mind that the above solutions are ideal in such cases:

• Touch VPN is not working in Chrome
• CyberGhost Chrome extension is not working
• NordVPN Chrome extension is not working
• PureVPN Chrome extension is not working
• Browsec VPN not working
• Urban VPN Chrome is not working
• err_proxy_certificate_invalid when using ZenMate
• Surfshark Chrome extension is not working
• Tunnelbear Chrome extension is not working
• Betternet VPN not working in Chrome
• VPN not working in incognito
• Hoxx VPN is not working

That should do it. Don’t forget to send a ticket to your VPN provider if the issue persists. The package price includes support, so make sure to ask for a resolution from the responsible providers.

If you have additional problems, check our guide to see how to resolve err_proxy_connection_failed error.

In case you have an alternative solution we forgot to enlist or have questions regarding the ones we enlisted, feel free to share it with us. You can do so in the comments section below.