Could not establish a secure connection to the server ipad

  • What is the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection to the server” alert?
  • How to fix “Safari can’t establish a secure connection” error on Mac

This article covers effective methods to stop the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection” warning page from appearing in the web browser on Mac.

What is the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection to the server” alert?

Apple has always tried to stay ahead of the security and privacy game through monolithic protection features built into its operating systems. It is probably the most successful across the board in wheedling dubious software out of its official app marketplaces so that the lack of vigilance on the user’s part doesn’t lead to infection or scams. Executing suspicious or crudely coded programs on a Mac is largely a no-go due to rigid Notarization controls which, at the very least, generate extra alerts as users try to open such samples. XProtect, the famous anti-malware instrument, isn’t embodied in a specific UI, but it is constantly on the lookout for applications whose signatures match known attributes of adware, spyware, Trojans, and other mainstream threats. This is only a fraction of Apple’s remarkable defensive modules.

Safari fits this context fully. When a user is trying to load a site that doesn’t follow proper data encryption practices, the browser will display an alert saying it can’t open the page. The reason indicated on this error screen is as follows: “Safari can’t establish a secure connection to the server”. Let’s see what causes this warning and figure out what to do about it.

Could not establish a secure connection to the server ipad

The primary reason for this blocking lies in the browser’s countermeasures for the theft of users’ sensitive data as they interact with websites. The use of the Transport Layer Security (TLS) technology, which is an advanced replacement for the better-known Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol, is the gold standard in the present-day Internet ecosystem. It makes a difference because it ensures that all information exchanged between one’s browser and a visited site is end-to-end encrypted. Digital certificates issued by certificate authorities (CAs) serve as proof of proper implementation of this mechanism.

If a malicious actor finds a way to intercept data that’s traveling back and forth between a user and a web page, TLS keeps these details unintelligible and makes them worthless for the third party. This way, things like passwords and personally identifiable information (PII) being entered cannot be mishandled. As is the case with any popular browser, Safari has effective algorithms in place to identify weak encryption or expired digital certificates, let alone instances where certificates are missing. Whenever a person tries to load such a site, the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection to the server” will appear.

However, sometimes the browser blocks users from going to well-known Internet resources as if their privacy techniques were inappropriate. Social networks, trusted news outlets, and other reputable sites may end up being inaccessible all of a sudden. Some people try clearing caches, history, and other website data, to no avail – the error page persists regardless. It turns out that the root causes for this predicament may go beyond crude traffic encryption, and they are often isolated to a specific Mac. Certain DNS server configurations, inconsistencies in the use of the IPv6 protocol, system clock inaccuracies, overprotection by antivirus software, or even buggy Safari activity after another update – all these may become catalysts for the problem. That said, if a specific site is getting the red light from the browser and won’t load because “Safari can’t establish a secure connection” to its server, be sure to try the fixes below.

How to fix “Safari can’t establish a secure connection” error on Mac

The following set of techniques should allow you to bypass the warning page that prevents you from visiting the website:

  1. Specify correct date and time settings
    • Go to System Preferences and select Date & Time.

      Could not establish a secure connection to the server ipad

    • Click the padlock icon and enter your admin password to be able to modify these settings. Check if the system clock details are accurate. If they aren’t, enter the correct information.

      Could not establish a secure connection to the server ipad

    • Also, make sure the Set date and time automatically option is enabled.
  2. Modify your DNS settings
    • Open System Preferences and select Network.

      Could not establish a secure connection to the server ipad

    • Click the Advanced button at the bottom right of the window.

      Could not establish a secure connection to the server ipad

    • Select the DNS tab. Remove all DNS servers listed there by clicking the “minus” sign.
    • Click the “plus” symbol and enter 8.8.8.8 Then, add one more server address, namely 8.8.4.4 These two are Google Publish DNS servers.

      Could not establish a secure connection to the server ipad

    • Click OK to put the changes into effect.
    • Restart Safari and check if the problem has been fixed.
  3. Instruct your Keychain to trust the site’s certificate
    • Open the site using another web browser, for instance, Google Chrome. Click View site information (padlock icon near the URL) and select Certificate.

      Could not establish a secure connection to the server ipad

    • Take a look at the name of the digital certificate used by the website.

      Could not establish a secure connection to the server ipad

    • Open Spotlight (the magnifying glass icon in the menu bar) and start typing “Keychain” in the search area. Once the top hits start appearing, select Keychain Access.

      Could not establish a secure connection to the server ipad

    • Click System Roots, find the certificate of the website you can’t access in Safari, and double-click it.

      Could not establish a secure connection to the server ipad

    • Expand the Trust section of the certificate settings. Next to the phrase that says, “When using this certificate”, select Always Trust.

      Could not establish a secure connection to the server ipad

    • Check if the issue has been resolved.
  4. Temporarily disable IPv6 protocol for your network
    • Open the System Preferences app once again and choose Network.

      Could not establish a secure connection to the server ipad

    • Click Advanced.

      Could not establish a secure connection to the server ipad

    • Hit the TCP/IP tab, locate the Configure IPv6 section, and select Manually as illustrated below.

      Could not establish a secure connection to the server ipad

    • Try to load the site in Safari.
  5. Make sure the site is on your antivirus tool’s whitelist
    • In some cases, the online security feature of a third-party AV solution may interfere with the normal web surfing routine. If none of the above methods has helped, open the application’s settings and check if there are any restrictions for visiting specific sites. In case you spot a quirk that may potentially block the page, turn it off or modify its functionality to let the URL flow through.

Why does my IPAD says Safari Cannot connect to server?

Why Does My Safari Says Cannot Connect to Server? Whenever you are unable to use a browser, such as Safari or Chrome on your device, the commonly occurring reason behind it is that the DNS server isn't responding. Moreover, your Apple device could be using an unreliable DNS server to surf the internet.

How do you fix couldnt establish a secure connection?

Couldn't Establish a Secure Connection on Android, Fix It Now.
Check If the Website is Working..
Connect to a Different Network..
Force Stop the Browser App..
Force Restart Your Android Device..
Wipe the Cache Partition..
Clear the Caches of Browser App..
Reset the Browser Apps Settings to Default..

How do I fix non secure sites on my IPAD?

Choose Action menu > Preferences and click Security. (The Action menu is near the upper-right corner of the Safari window, and looks like a gear.) Deselect “Ask before sending a non-secure form to a secure website.”