Today we will know how to fix the err_ssl_version_or_cipher_mismatch problem. Despite the complex and intimidating appearance of the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error to beginners, it is easy to resolve.
Verify SSL/TLS certification
First, you need to check the validity and expiration date of your website’s SSL/TLS certificate. Your SSL/TLS certificate may be responsible for the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error if it is outdated or invalid.
You can use various online tools to test the SSL certificate for your website, such as Qualys SSL Labs, which will grade the SSL connection and indicate any inconsistencies with the web server.
The program will also let you know if the SSL/TLS certificate needs to be updated if it is out of date. The Qualys SSL Labs tool is easy to use. Enter your website URL, take a seat and relax as the tool prepares its server test results.
The SSL/TLS certificate will be evaluated by the program during testing to ensure that it is reliable and valid. Next, it will look at three important aspects of server configuration: protocol support, cipher support, and key exchange support.
When the tool finishes, it will calculate the test results and give you a grade (eg “A” or “B”). Using Qualys SSL Labs, you can find more issues that are known to cause ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH errors.
Check for a certificate name mismatch
Your SSL certificate serves as proof that your website is completely legitimate. The certificate name and your domain name must match. A reputable CA (Certificate Authority) must issue SSL certificates.
According to SSL Labs, a discrepancy can be any of the following:
Despite sharing an IP address with another website, the intended site does not employ SSL.
Although the website is no longer active, the domain still points users to the previous IP address, which is now used by another website.
A content distribution network (CDN) used by the website does not support SSL.
The website for which the domain name alias is used has a different name, but the alias was outside the certificate.
Verify that an outdated or unsupported version of TLS is being deployed
TLS version 1.2 or above should be ideally used by all hosting providers. Because some users are using older web browsers and operating systems that continue to support an earlier version of the TLS protocol, you must ensure backward compatibility.
TLS version 1.3 was released in August 2018 and offers improved security and faster transfer rates. If your hosting company doesn’t support at least TLS 1.2, it might be time to find another one to fix the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error.
Delete cache and cookies from your browser
Many local SSL certificate issues can be resolved by clearing the cache and cookies in your web browser. Depending on the browser and operating system you are using, the method for doing this may differ.
To do this, most browsers have the CTRL+SHIFT+DELETE hotkey combination. Be careful when doing this because if you don’t uncheck this setting when you delete your browser data, you may lose your saved logins and browsing history.
If you’re using Chrome, follow these instructions to clear the cache:
- In the upper-right corner of the browser, tap the ellipsis, then select “Settings.”
- Scroll down the list of preferences and find the “Privacy and Security” section
- Select “Clear Browsing Data” from the menu.
- A new window will appear; Select the “Cached Photos and Files” option.
- Select the deletion period from the drop-down menu before tapping the “Clear Data” button.
- Chrome must be restarted to complete the operation.
After clearing the cache visit your website to see if the error is resolved. If the problem persists, you may need to use your browser’s ‘Clear SSL State’ option from the OS settings to fix the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error.
Disable your firewall or antivirus software
If you have misconfigured your firewall or antivirus software, this can be one of the causes of the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error. The reason is that improper configuration or software credentials can cause false warnings and label a secure site as dangerous.
It is recommended that you temporarily disable the antivirus program to see if it is the cause of the error to prevent worse problems. However, removing the automatic SSL scanning capability from the antivirus software should eliminate the problem notification without shutting down the antivirus system completely.
Enable TLS 1.3 support
Between your browser and the server, TLS provides security. This layer directly replaces SSL technology. TLS 1.3 is already supported by the majority of online browsers including Google Chrome. If you are using an older version of Chrome, to enable TLS support in your browser, take the following steps:
- Activate Google Chrome.
- In Chrome’s address bar, type ://flags and then press Enter.
- Type TLS in the search box to find it.
- TLS 1.3 support must be set to enable.
The website you want to access may sometimes use TLS 1.0 or TLS 1.1. Newer browsers will reject the connection and may display the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error.
A feature in newer versions of Google Chrome makes it mandatory to deprecate previous TLS versions However, by doing the following, you can disable it to connect to a website using an earlier TLS version:
- Activate Google Chrome.
- In Chrome’s address bar, type ://flags and then press Enter.
- Look for TLS.
- Deprecation of older TLS versions must be enforced
- Click or press on it and select Disable from the drop-down menu.
Use Cloudflare to set up SSL
A misconfiguration of Cloudflare and SSL settings can be one of the causes of the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error. The SSL Labs program will show that the certificate is incorrect when it causes the error message.
If the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CHIPER_MISMATCH error remains?
The mentioned techniques should help you fix the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error, though sometimes, they may not.
For example, the problem can also be caused by outdated operating systems or browsers. A simple test to see if this is the problem is to visit the website using a different, up-to-date device. If it works, then the problem is with your operating system or browser.
Earlier browser versions may not support TLS 1.3 and other contemporary software versions However, it is also possible that an old OS version is responsible because modern browsers no longer support them.
Reinstalling the browser may still fix the problem. Install the latest browser version from the official website after uninstalling the old version from your device However, if you are using an older OS like Windows Vista or XP, reinstalling the browser will not solve the problem.
These operating systems may not work with the latest browser versions. If so then you must update the operating system to the well-liked Windows 10.
Conclusion
A browser verifies the SSL certificate every time a person tries to access a website. They do this to ensure that the website is authentic and have established proper protocols to ensure the security of user connections. This method, also known as TLS, ensures secure communication between a user’s device and a web server. Throughout this process, what happens if a web server or browser cannot implement a standard SSL protocol version or cipher suite? In this situation, the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error notification will automatically be displayed by the browser. The causes of the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error are different; However, there are simple tricks you can use to fix the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error easily.
