Google Chrome Error Code ERR_INVALID_REDIRECT: How to Fix It

Easy 10-30 minutes Medium Severity Verified June 2026
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Error Code
ERR_INVALID_REDIRECT
Brand
Google Chrome
Product Type
browser
Severity
Medium
DIY Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Fix Time
10-30 minutes
The ERR_INVALID_REDIRECT error in Google Chrome appears when the browser encounters a redirect URL that is malformed, points to an invalid location, or violates Chrome's redirect rules. This typically happens due to corrupted browser data, misbehaving extensions, misconfigured network settings, or a website that has set up a broken or infinite redirect chain. In most cases you can resolve this error yourself in just a few minutes without any technical expertise.
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Tools You'll Need

How to Fix Error Code ERR_INVALID_REDIRECT

  1. Reload the Page and Try a Different Network

  2. Clear Chrome's Cache and Cookies

    Clearing cookies will sign you out of most websites. Make sure you know your login credentials before proceeding.

  3. Disable All Browser Extensions

  4. Disable VPN or Proxy Settings

  5. Flush the DNS Cache

  6. Reset Chrome's Flag Settings and Disable Experimental Features

  7. Check for and Remove Malware Using Chrome's Built-In Scanner

  8. Reset Chrome Settings to Default

    This will reset your pinned tabs, startup page, and search engine preferences. Your bookmarks and passwords are not deleted.

  9. Update or Reinstall Google Chrome

    Before reinstalling, ensure your bookmarks and passwords are synced to your Google account so you do not lose them.
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When to Call a Professional

If you have followed every step above and the error still appears on multiple websites, the issue may stem from a deeper network configuration problem, a router firmware bug, or a corrupted operating system network stack. In that case, contact your Internet Service Provider to rule out network-level redirect filtering, or consult a professional IT technician who can inspect your system and router configuration in detail. If you suspect your business website is causing the error for visitors, consult your web developer or hosting provider to audit the server-side redirect rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes the ERR_INVALID_REDIRECT error in Chrome?
This error is caused when Chrome encounters a redirect URL that is malformed, empty, or uses a protocol Chrome does not accept. Common causes include corrupted cached redirect data, a browser extension interfering with URL handling, a VPN or proxy sending bad redirect responses, malware hijacking your browser, or a website that has misconfigured its HTTP redirect rules on the server side.
Does ERR_INVALID_REDIRECT mean the website is down?
Not necessarily. The error can be caused by your local browser or network rather than the website itself. Try visiting the same URL in a different browser such as Firefox or Edge. If it loads fine there, the problem is specific to your Chrome installation. If the error appears in every browser, the website itself likely has a broken redirect configuration.
Can a Chrome extension cause ERR_INVALID_REDIRECT?
Yes. Extensions that modify URLs, block ads, manage redirects, or route traffic through a VPN can interfere with how Chrome processes redirect responses. To test this, open Chrome's three-dot menu, go to More Tools > Extensions, and disable all extensions. If the error disappears, one of your extensions is the cause. Re-enable them one by one to identify the problematic one.
Will clearing cookies fix ERR_INVALID_REDIRECT?
It often does. Chrome stores cached redirect instructions from websites, and if these become outdated or corrupted they can produce an invalid redirect error. Clearing cookies and cached data forces Chrome to request fresh redirect information from the server. Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete, select 'All time' as the range, check cookies and cached files, and click 'Clear data'.
How do I fix ERR_INVALID_REDIRECT on my own website?
If visitors to your website are seeing this error, check your server's redirect configuration. Look for redirect rules in your .htaccess file (Apache), nginx.conf (Nginx), or your hosting control panel. Common mistakes include redirects that point to a relative path with no domain, redirect chains that loop back on themselves, or redirects that produce an empty Location header. Use an online redirect checker tool to trace the full redirect chain and identify where it breaks.

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