Understanding the Secure Connection Failed Error

Encountering an SSL error on your website—such as a “Secure Connection Failed” message—can be confusing and even a bit overwhelming, especially if you're unsure what caused it or how to resolve it. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the possible causes of this error and provide step-by-step solutions to help you fix it and restore secure access to your website.

Secure Connection Failed

SSL received a record that exceeded the maximum permissible length.

(Error code: ssl_error_rx_record_too_long)

• What Does the Secure Connection Failed Error Mean?
• Troubleshooting the Secure Connection Failed Error
• Summary

What Does the Secure Connection Failed Error Mean?

This error typically means that SSL is not properly configured for your domain when attempting to load it securely using https://. In most cases, it indicates that the SSL certificate is either missing, not installed correctly, or needs to be reinstalled.

Troubleshooting the Secure Connection Failed Error

To resolve this issue, you’ll need to make sure that your domain has an active SSL certificate and that it is correctly set up in your Bluehost account.

• If you already have an SSL certificate, try reinstalling or reassigning it to your domain.
• If you do not have an SSL certificate yet, you will need to obtain one before your site can load securely over HTTPS.

For step-by-step instructions on getting and activating an SSL certificate in Bluehost, please refer to this article: What is an SSL Certificate, and How Much Does it Cost? 

Once your SSL is properly set up, the secure (HTTPS) version of your website should load without errors.

Summary

Resolving the “Secure Connection Failed” error ultimately comes down to ensuring that your website’s SSL certificate is properly installed, active, and correctly configured in your Bluehost account. Once your SSL is set up correctly, your site should load securely over HTTPS without any issues.