ERR_CONTENT_DECODING_FAILED Chrome Solutions

In this article, I will discuss solutions for the ERR_CONTENT_DECODING_FAILED error in Chrome.

Clear browser cache: Sometimes, outdated or corrupted cache files can cause the “err_content_decoding_failed” error in Chrome. To fix this, go to Chrome settings, navigate to “Privacy and security,” click on “Clear browsing data,” and select “Cached images and files” before hitting the “Clear data” button.

Understanding the ERR_CONTENT_DECODING_FAILED Error

The ERR_CONTENT_DECODING_FAILED error is a common issue that occurs when a web browser is unable to properly decode the content of a website. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including problems with the server, the website’s code, or the browser itself.

If you encounter this error, here are a few solutions you can try:

1. Clear your browser cache: Sometimes, corrupted or outdated cache files can cause decoding issues. Clearing your browser cache can help resolve this problem.

2. Disable browser extensions: Certain browser extensions can interfere with the decoding process. Try disabling any extensions you have installed and see if the error persists.

3. Check your antivirus software: Some antivirus programs have built-in features that can interfere with website decoding. Temporarily disable your antivirus software and see if the error is resolved.

4. Update your browser: Outdated browser versions may not have the necessary updates to properly decode website content. Updating your browser to the latest version can help fix this issue.

5. Disable gzip compression: Gzip compression is a technique used to reduce the size of website files. However, certain configurations can cause decoding problems. Disabling gzip compression in your server settings may help resolve the error.

Err_content_decoding_failed is a frustrating error that can occur in Chrome, reminding us that even the most advanced technology can have its flaws.

Causes of the ERR_CONTENT_DECODING_FAILED Error

Clear Browser Cache

Open Chrome settings by clicking on the three dots in the top right corner of the browser window.
Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
Scroll down and click on “Advanced” to expand the advanced settings.
Under the “Privacy and security” section, click on “Clear browsing data”.
In the popup window, select the “Basic” tab.
Make sure the “Browsing history” and “Cached images and files” options are checked.
Click on the “Clear data” button to clear the browser cache.

Disable Content Compression

Open Chrome settings by clicking on the three dots in the top right corner of the browser window.
Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
Scroll down and click on “Advanced” to expand the advanced settings.
Under the “Privacy and security” section, click on “Content settings”.
Scroll down and click on “Automatic downloads”.
Toggle off the “Ask where to save each file before downloading” option.
Scroll down and click on “Additional content settings”.
Under the “Privacy and security” section, click on “Preload pages for faster browsing and searching”.
Toggle off the “Use a prediction service to load pages more quickly” option.

Disable Antivirus or Firewall

Open the antivirus or firewall program installed on your computer.
Access the settings or preferences of the program.
Look for options related to web protection or content scanning.
Disable any options that may interfere with the decoding of web content.
Save the changes and exit the antivirus or firewall program.

Disable Browser Extensions

Open Chrome settings by clicking on the three dots in the top right corner of the browser window.
Select “More tools” from the dropdown menu.
Click on “Extensions” to access the extensions page.
Toggle off the switch next to each extension to disable them temporarily.
Restart Chrome and check if the ERR_CONTENT_DECODING_FAILED error persists.

Reset Chrome Settings

Open Chrome settings by clicking on the three dots in the top right corner of the browser window.
Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
Scroll down and click on “Advanced” to expand the advanced settings.
Scroll down to the “Reset and clean up” section and click on “Restore settings to their original defaults”.
Click on the “Reset settings” button in the confirmation popup.
Restart Chrome and check if the ERR_CONTENT_DECODING_FAILED error is resolved.

Methods to Fix the ERR_CONTENT_DECODING_FAILED Error

Open Google Chrome.
Click on the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the browser window.
Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
Scroll down and click on Privacy and security in the left sidebar.
Click on Clear browsing data.
Choose the time range for which you want to clear the data.
Check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
Click on the Clear data button to clear the cache and cookies.
Restart Google Chrome and check if the error is resolved.

Method 2: Disable Browser Extensions

Open Google Chrome.
Click on the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the browser window.
Select More tools from the dropdown menu.
Click on Extensions.
Toggle off the switch next to each extension to disable them temporarily.
Restart Google Chrome and check if the error is resolved.

Method 3: Reset Chrome Settings

Open Google Chrome.
Click on the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the browser window.
Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
Scroll down and click on Advanced.
Scroll down to the Reset and clean up section.
Click on Restore settings to their original defaults.
Click on the Reset settings button to confirm.
Restart Google Chrome and check if the error is resolved.

Method 4: Update Google Chrome

Open Google Chrome.
Click on the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the browser window.
Select Help from the dropdown menu.
Click on About Google Chrome.
Chrome will automatically check for updates and install them if available.
Once the update is complete, restart Google Chrome and check if the error is resolved.

python import logging


def handle_error(error):

    # Log the error

    logging.error(f"An error occurred: {error}")
    # Perform additional error handling steps if required

    # For example, you can send an email notification or

    # display a user-friendly error message to the user.
# Usage example:

try:

    # Code block that may potentially raise an error

    result = 1 / 0  # Division by zero to trigger an error

except Exception as e: # Handling the error handle_error(e)

In this example, the `handle_error` function logs the error using a logging library. You can customize it to suit your needs, such as sending an email notification or displaying an error message to the user.

Clearing Browser Cache and Cookies

To clear your browser cache and cookies, follow these steps:

1. Open your web browser and click on the menu icon (usually represented by three dots or lines) in the top right corner of the window.

2. From the menu, select “Settings” or “Options.”

3. In the settings or options menu, scroll down and look for the “Privacy & Security” section.

4. Within this section, you should find an option to clear your browsing data. Click on this option.

5. A new window or tab will open with various options for clearing your browsing data. Look for checkboxes or options related to “Cache” and “Cookies.”

6. Check the boxes or select the options for clearing your cache and cookies.

7. Click on the “Clear” or “Delete” button to remove the selected data from your browser.

8. After the process is complete, close and reopen your browser for the changes to take effect.

Clearing your browser cache and cookies can help resolve issues like the “ERR_CONTENT_DECODING_FAILED” error in Google Chrome. It ensures that your browser fetches the latest versions of websites and prevents any conflicts caused by outdated or corrupted data.

By regularly clearing your cache and cookies, you can improve your browsing experience and maintain the security and privacy of your online activities.

When faced with the err_content_decoding_failed error in Chrome, remember to clear your cache and disable extensions, as these simple steps often resolve the issue.

Disabling GZIP Encoding

To disable GZIP encoding in Chrome and resolve the ERR_CONTENT_DECODING_FAILED error, follow these steps:

1. Open Chrome and go to the webpage displaying the error.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + I to open the Developer Tools.
3. In the Developer Tools window, click on the Network tab.
4. Refresh the webpage to start recording network activity.
5. Look for the file that is causing the error. It will be highlighted in red.
6. Right-click on the file and select Copy as cURL.
7. Open a new tab in Chrome and paste the copied cURL command into the address bar.
8. Add –compressed at the end of the command and press Enter to execute it.
9. The webpage should load without the ERR_CONTENT_DECODING_FAILED error.

If disabling GZIP encoding doesn’t resolve the issue, you can try clearing your browser cache or disabling browser extensions that might interfere with the decoding process. Additionally, make sure that your antivirus or firewall software is not blocking any necessary resources.

Remember to test the webpage in other browsers like Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Safari to ensure the issue is specific to Chrome.

If the problem persists, it might indicate a server-side issue related to GZIP encoding. In such cases, contacting the website administrator or hosting provider for further assistance is recommended.

Configuring DNS Server Addresses and Flushing DNS

Configuring DNS Server Addresses:

To configure DNS server addresses, follow these steps:

1. Open the Control Panel and select “Network and Internet” or “Network and Sharing Center.”
2. Click on “Change adapter settings” on the left-hand side of the window.
3. Right-click on your active network connection and select “Properties.”
4. In the Properties window, scroll down and double-click on “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).”
5. Select the option to “Use the following DNS server addresses.”
6. Enter the preferred and alternate DNS server addresses provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
7. Click “OK” to save the changes.

Flushing DNS:

To flush DNS, follow these steps:

1. Open the Command Prompt by typing “cmd” in the search bar and selecting “Command Prompt” from the search results.
2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: ipconfig /flushdns
3. Wait for the process to complete, and you should see a message confirming the DNS cache has been successfully flushed.

Flushing DNS can help resolve issues related to incorrect or outdated DNS records, which may cause the ERR_CONTENT_DECODING_FAILED error in Chrome.