How to troubleshoot time related errors on secure websites

No one has helped translate this article yet. If you already know how localizing for SUMO works, start translating now. If you want to learn how to translate articles for SUMO, please start here.

Certificates for secure websites (the address begins with https://) are valid only for a certain period of time. If a website presents a certificate with validity dates that don't match the date on your computer's clock, Firefox can't verify that it is secure and will show you an error page.

Such issues can often be fixed by setting the correct date, time, and time zone on your computer system. If this does not solve the problem, it could be caused by other issues, such as a misconfigured web server or an expired certificate.

List of time-related error codes you may encounter

Note: A Your Computer Clock is Wrong error page almost certainly means that your computer's clock is set to the wrong date. Some time-related errors will show a Warning: Potential Security Risk Ahead error page, described in this article. For other time-related errors, you'll get a Secure Connection Failed or Did Not Connect: Potential Security Issue error page, described here.

Fx67YourComputerClockIsWrong

Click Advanced… on the error page to view the error code. One of the following error codes will indicate that the secure connection couldn't be established due to a time-related error:

SEC_ERROR_EXPIRED_CERTIFICATE
SEC_ERROR_EXPIRED_ISSUER_CERTIFICATE
SEC_ERROR_OCSP_FUTURE_RESPONSE
SEC_ERROR_OCSP_OLD_RESPONSE
MOZILLA_PKIX_ERROR_NOT_YET_VALID_CERTIFICATE
MOZILLA_PKIX_ERROR_NOT_YET_VALID_ISSUER_CERTIFICATE

The text on the error page will warn you when Firefox detects that your system date and time is probably wrong and will also show the date and time currently set in your system. If the clock settings are incorrect you should set it to the right time as explained below. Even if the displayed time settings seem to be correct, you should make sure that the time zone settings of your system match your current location.

Set your system clock to the correct time

Time-related errors on secure websites caused by a skewed system clock can be resolved by setting your correct date, time and time zone:. Change your date and time settings from the clock on the Windows taskbar or follow these instructions:

  1. Click the Windows Start button or press the Windows key Windows Key.
  2. In the Start menu, select Settings.
  3. In Settings, select Time & language.
  4. In the Date & time section you can review the current date and time settings. To change your settings click on Change below Change date and time or expand the Time zone dropdown menu.
    If your system is set to manage the time and time zone automatically, you cannot make manual changes.
  5. If you are done with your changes, close the Settings window.
  1. Click the Windows Start Button or press the Windows key Windows Key.
  2. Type Date in the search bar.
  3. Select Change the date and time in the side menu.
  4. Click Sync Now to sync your computer's time with the time server.

If the Sync Now button is greyed out, clicking it shows an error message, or it doesn't solve the problem, follow these steps:

  1. Click the slider next to Set time automatically to set it to 'off'.
  2. Click Set the date and time manually and in the window that opens, manually set the correct date and time.
  1. From the Start Screen, click the Desktop tile. The Desktop view will open.
  2. From the Desktop, hover in the lower right-hand corner to accests the Charms.
  3. Select Control Panel from the Settings charm. The Control Panel window will open.
    Control Panel - Win8
  4. In the Control Panel window, click on Clock, Language, and Region and then Date and Time.
  5. The panel that opens shows the current date and time settings. To change your settings click the Change date and time or Change time zone button.
  6. To confirm your changes click OK.
  1. Click the Windows Start button or press the Windows key Windows Key.
  2. In the Start Menu, click Control Panel.
    Control Panel - Win7
  3. In the Control Panel window, click on Clock, Language, and Region and then Date and Time.
  4. The panel that opens shows the current date and time settings. To change your settings click the Change date and time or Change time zone button.
  5. To confirm your changes click OK.
  1. Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
  2. In the System Preferences window, click on Date & Time.
  3. The panel that opens shows the current date and time settings. In order to adjust them, disable Set date and time automatically, manually enter the date and time and click Save to confirm your changes.
  4. In order to review your time zone settings, click on the Time Zone tab. In order to adjust your time zone, disable Set time zone automatically using current location, click onto your approximate location in the map and select the city closest to you in the dropdown panel.
  5. If you are done with your changes, close the Date & Time window.

For more information see Apple's If the date or time is wrong on your Mac article.

Note: If the clock on your device constantly resets after you power it off, this might indicate that the battery cell that runs the real-time clock is getting low or is empty. Please consult your manufacturer's manual on how to replace the CMOS battery.

Contact the website owner

If you get a time-related error on a secure website and you have already checked the correct settings of your system’s clock, please contact the owner of the website which you can’t access and inform them of the problem. The website owner might need to renew the expired certificate, for example.

Was this article helpful?

Please wait...

These fine people helped write this article:

AliceWyman, philipp, Joergen, Lan, Joni, Artist, YD, PGGWriter, PossiblyHuman, Bithiah, lisah933, remixes_markup0c, cortezluzirene2021
Illustration of hands

Volunteer

Grow and share your expertise with others. Answer questions and improve our knowledge base.

Learn More

Related Articles

todo: title

Secure connection failed and Firefox did not connect

This article explains why you may see a Secure Connection Failed or a Did Not Connect: Potential Security Issue error page, and what you can...

todo: title

What do the security warning codes mean?

When Firefox connects to a secure website (the URL begins with HTTPS), it must verify that the certificate presented by the website is valid and...