Google Chrome Error Code ERR_SYMANTEC_CERT_REQUIRES_TRANSPARENCY: How to Fix It

Easy 10-20 minutes Medium Severity Verified June 2026
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Error Code
ERR_SYMANTEC_CERT_REQUIRES_TRANSPARENCY
Brand
Google Chrome
Product Type
browser
Severity
Medium
DIY Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Fix Time
10-20 minutes
The ERR_SYMANTEC_CERT_REQUIRES_TRANSPARENCY error in Google Chrome means the website you are trying to visit is using an SSL/TLS certificate issued by Symantec (or one of its subsidiaries like GeoTrust, RapidSSL, or Thawte) that does not comply with Chrome's Certificate Transparency (CT) policy. Chrome requires that certain Symantec-issued certificates be publicly logged in a CT log to ensure trust and accountability. If the certificate is missing this transparency log entry, Chrome blocks access to the site and displays this error to protect you from potentially unverified connections.
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Tools You'll Need

How to Fix Error Code ERR_SYMANTEC_CERT_REQUIRES_TRANSPARENCY

  1. Refresh the Page and Check Your Internet Connection

  2. Check Your System Date and Time

  3. Update Google Chrome to the Latest Version

  4. Clear Chrome's SSL State, Cache, and Cookies

  5. Disable Chrome Extensions Temporarily

  6. Check if Your Antivirus is Intercepting HTTPS Traffic

    Only disable antivirus HTTPS scanning temporarily for testing. Re-enable it once you have identified whether it is the cause, or configure a proper exclusion rather than leaving it off permanently.

  7. Notify the Website Owner

    Do not proceed to the website by bypassing the error if it involves entering sensitive information such as passwords, payment details, or personal data. The connection cannot be fully trusted until the certificate issue is resolved.
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When to Call a Professional

If you are the website owner experiencing this error on your own site, contact your SSL certificate provider or hosting company immediately. You will need a new certificate reissued by a compliant Certificate Authority with proper Certificate Transparency log submission. This is not a DIY fix for the site owner — it requires action from your CA or hosting provider's technical support team. If you are a visitor and the error persists after all troubleshooting steps, avoid the site until the owner resolves the certificate issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the ERR_SYMANTEC_CERT_REQUIRES_TRANSPARENCY error dangerous?
The error itself is not dangerous — it is Chrome protecting you by refusing to load a site with an untrusted certificate. However, the underlying cause (a certificate that lacks transparency logging) means you cannot fully verify the site's identity. Avoid entering any personal or financial information on the affected site until the certificate issue is resolved by the website owner.
Why did Chrome start blocking Symantec certificates?
Google and other browser vendors lost trust in Symantec's certificate authority operations after discovering that Symantec had improperly issued thousands of certificates over several years. As a result, Chrome introduced stricter Certificate Transparency requirements for Symantec-issued certificates and eventually distrusted older Symantec root certificates entirely. Certificates issued before these policy changes that were not logged in a CT log now trigger this error.
Can I bypass ERR_SYMANTEC_CERT_REQUIRES_TRANSPARENCY to access the site anyway?
Unlike some other certificate errors in Chrome, ERR_SYMANTEC_CERT_REQUIRES_TRANSPARENCY does not present a 'Proceed anyway' option because Chrome enforces CT policy strictly. The only reliable fix is for the website owner to replace the non-compliant certificate with a new one from a trusted CA that meets CT requirements. Visitors cannot bypass this error through normal Chrome settings.
Does this error affect all browsers or only Chrome?
This specific error code is unique to Google Chrome because Chrome has its own Certificate Transparency enforcement policy. Other browsers like Firefox, Safari, or Edge may handle Symantec certificate trust differently and might not show the same error. However, many modern browsers have also reduced or removed trust in older Symantec root certificates, so the affected site may show related errors in other browsers as well.
How do website owners fix the ERR_SYMANTEC_CERT_REQUIRES_TRANSPARENCY error?
Website owners need to replace their Symantec-issued SSL/TLS certificate with a new certificate issued by a currently trusted Certificate Authority such as DigiCert, Let's Encrypt, Sectigo, or GlobalSign. The new certificate must be properly submitted to public Certificate Transparency logs at the time of issuance — modern CAs handle this automatically. After installing the new certificate, the error will be resolved for all visitors.

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