Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

I receive the message "The connection has timed out, the server at www.google.com is taking too long to respond."Can anyone help with this?

  • 5 cavab
  • 234 have this problem
  • 3 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

When I try to access google pages, use google search, click on links in google search results, access my gmail account, and access my sky email account (because it uses google) I receive the message "The connection has timed out, the server at www.google.com is taking too long to respond." please can anyone tell me how to resolve this. It isn't an issue with virus software/ firewall settings because I have checked these and it hasn't been resolved with a DNS flush, clearing the cache, deleting temp files etc, or resetting internet option defaults because I have tried all these.

When I try to access google pages, use google search, click on links in google search results, access my gmail account, and access my sky email account (because it uses google) I receive the message "The connection has timed out, the server at www.google.com is taking too long to respond." please can anyone tell me how to resolve this. It isn't an issue with virus software/ firewall settings because I have checked these and it hasn't been resolved with a DNS flush, clearing the cache, deleting temp files etc, or resetting internet option defaults because I have tried all these.

Modified by hayjl

All Replies (5)

more options

I have been having this problem too, since last week (around December 22, 2011). Gmail.com, Maps.Google.Com, and News.Google.com works, but not the web search, nor image search, shopping....

It seems once in awhile they would work, last week. But, this week, they would not. This happens in all my Internet Browsers (Firefox, Opera, IE, Chrome).

I have checked my host file. I have checked the Internet Options. I got no virus. Not sure what else there is. Is there a solution?

more options

Is ANYONE even reading these messages??? I, too, have the same issue, the same error message, and I really need to be able to use Google.com!

more options

I originally posted this question so I can tell you no, no-one seems to respond to these posts :s.... I can tell you the only way I resolved the issue in the end was by doing a factory reset on my computer, sorry I can't be more help.

more options

Hello. I just received a solution to the same problem on a different website. I, too, was unable to connect to Google-affiliated services, even with clean returns on multiple anti-virus software. It turns out there was an infection causing my HOSTS file to redirect from Google to elsewhere. They had me empty my Temp folder, Temporary Internet Files folder, Java cache, FireFox cache, Flash cache, and also had me reset my HOSTS file. After all was said and done, I regain the connection to Google. I know this doesn't explain how to actually go about doing those things, but I don't think it's wise for me to give instructions (for fear of causing unintentional damage) - just thoughts. Hopefully this insight is useful, or can be explained better by someone more qualified.

more options

Which security software (firewall, anti-virus) do you have?


Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).


Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.

See "Basic Troubleshooting: Make a new profile":

There may be extensions and plugins installed by default in a new profile, so check that in "Tools > Add-ons > Extensions & Plugins" in case there are still problems.

If that new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.

See: