How to overcome “This site can’t be reached” error message when accessing Microsoft sites via Chrome browser

Microsoft

If you are a Google Chrome user on Windows your browser may have failed you when you tried to access some Microsoft sites. You are not alone in this predicament. Many Chrome users on the Windows platform have reported a similar experience. Google Chrome just fails in establishing a connection to some official Microsoft websites.

The occurrence is more predominant when you try to access Windows Store via URL links. When you click on links to open the Windows Store on the Google Chrome browser you are met with the following error message;

This site can’t be reached.

(www.microsoft.com unexpectedly closed the connection

Chrome advices users to check their internet connection or reconfigure proxy and firewall settings. Unfortunately none of this recommended options solves the problem. Other Microsoft sites users are reporting a similar access problem include the Microsoft and Xbox store.

Luckily an easy fix has been presented by a guy by the name Paul Thurrott who faced a similar challenge (via Neowin). Paul Thurrott is a Microsoft reporter at Thurrott.com. The solution he offers, as posted on his twitter page, is clearing cookies on the Chrome browser.

A word of caution is that clearing cookies from the Chrome browser will also, most definitely, result in all saved passwords for various websites been deleted.

How to clear cookies

  • Launch your Google Chrome browser
  • Go to settings
  • On the settings page scroll to the bottom and click on Show advanced settings
  • Click on Privacy
  • Then click on Content settings
  • In the content setting page click on All cookies and site data
  • To clear all the cookies stored on your Chrome browser click on the Remove all option

For the time been you can use this method as we wait for official communication from either Microsoft or Google. Surprisingly, if you open this same sites using Edge, Microsoft’s own browser, they load with no hiccups at all.

Mr. Felix227 Posts

A Math Nerd and a Computer Geek. Currently a Windows 10 Insider. Interested in AI, big data and AR/VR. Takes a keen interest in developments in the tech, business and social media spheres.

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