Mozilla Firefox is the second most popular browser after Google Chrome. Like any other browser, Firefox is not free from SSL connection errors. You see the Ssl_error_rx_record_too_long error when you try loading a website on your Firefox browser. In most cases, this is a server-side problem making it even more confusing.
Luckily there are a few steps you can take to fix this error. In this article, we'll help you understand what the Ssl_error_rx_record_too_long error means and what you can do to fix it.
What is the Ssl_error_rx_record_too_long error?
The Ssl_error_rx_record_too_long error is an error that happens due to issues with the SSL certificate. This happens when the server's SSL certificate is not correctly configured or installed. That will cause communication problems between the SSL certificate and the client-side. It is an error exclusively seen on Mozilla Firefox. Therefore, if you're using another browser, you'll not see it but rather their alternative error messages. Technically, this error message shows that a connection has been established, but there is an improperly configured SSL certificate; hence the request is terminated. So, what causes this error?
What Causes the SSL_ERROR_RX_RECORD_TOO_LONG Error?
As said earlier, the Ssl_error_rx_record_too_long error is majorly caused by a problem on the server-side. The following issues from the server-side cause this problem:
- Misconfigured listening port- For a website to establish a secure connection, you should configure it to use Port 443. If not, you'll see this error message as the browser cannot complete the connection with the port on the server.
- Your browser does not support an adequate TLS version- This was a significant problem with TLS 1.2 but is also prevalent in TLS 1.3.
Therefore, when you see this error message, it was caused by any of the above issues.
Fix the SSL_ERROR_RX_RECORD_TOO_LONG Error in Firefox
Unfortunately, the Ssl_error_rx_record_too_long error does not provide any details that can help you solve the problem. It only mentions that the page you're trying to view can't display because the authenticity of the received data could not be verified. What makes it even more confusing is that it asks you to contact the website owners. This information does not help much and prevents you from accessing the page you're trying to view.
If you're facing this problem on our Firefox browser, here are the best ways you can fix it.
1. Clear your Browser History and Cache
Sometimes, your browser's cache may be responsible for this error. You can start by clearing your browser's history and cache to see whether it fixes this problem. You can bypass the cache by opening the website in an Incognito or Private Window. You can also press Ctrl+Shift+R to reload the webpage and see whether it works.
If need be, you can clear your browser history and cache by:
Step 1: Open your Firefox browser. Click on the three vertical lines at the top right corner.
Step 2: Click on Settings, then select the Privacy & Security tab
Step 3: Under the Cookies and Site Data, select Clear Data
Step 4: On the new popup window, select all options
Step 5: You can then click on the Clear button
Step 6: On the same Privacy & Security screen, look for the History section.
Step 7: Click on Clear History
After that, you can restart your browser and see whether the error message is gone. If the error persists, you can try the other solutions discussed below.
2. Update and reset your Firefox browser
You should ensure that you have the latest Firefox version installed. If you see the Ssl_error_rx_record_too_long error, you can try updating and resetting your Firefox browser. To update your Firefox browser.
Step 1: Open Firefox and click the Menu icon in the top right corner.
Step 2: Click on Help, then select About Firefox.
Step 3: A small window will appear showing whether you have the latest version of Firefox. If not, the updates will be downloaded automatically.
After installing the updates, check if you still see the error message. If the problem persists, you can reset Firefox to its default settings. This will get rid of any unwanted and harmful programs. To reset your Firefox browser:
Step 1: Type about:support in the address bar
Step 2: On the troubleshooting window, click on Refresh Firefox and then select confirm.
3. Disable your browser's extensions
Extensions add one or more functionalities to your Firefox browser. However, they could also affect the functioning of your browser. If you have adblockers, firewalls, and antivirus extensions, they could be the reason behind the SSL_ERROR_RX_RECORD_TOO_LONG issue. Therefore, uninstalling the extensions could solve the problem. You can disable your browser's extensions by taking the following steps:
Step 1: Click on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner to access the main menu.
Step 2: Choose the add-ons and themes option from the dropdown menu.
Step 3: Click on the Extensions tab. You can also press Ctrl+Shift+A to access the add-ons page.
Step 4: You can uninstall an extension by clicking the three dots next to its name and then clicking Disable.
You can then restart your browser and revisit the site to see if the error message still appears.
4. Open Firefox in Safe Mode
If that does not work, you can open Firefox in safe mode. To use safe mode:
Step 1: Click on the Menu icon and select Help
Step 2: You can then select the Restart with Add-ons Disabled option
Step 3: In the next window, select the Restart option
Step 4: Click on the Start in Safe Mode options
Step 5: Try to connect to the website to see if it opens in Safe Mode
5. Try using the HTTP protocol
Another simple fix is to visit the website with HTTP protocol rather than HTTPS. All you have to do is delete the ‘s' in the HTTPS part of the website address. This will switch to the HTTP protocol and help you bypass the security protocol and possibly eliminate the SSL_ERROR_RX_RECORD_TOO_LONG error.
6. Check your Proxy settings
A misconfigured proxy can also interfere with Firefox and cause the SSL_ERROR_RX_RECORD_TOO_LONG error. To determine whether that's the case, update your Proxy settings and check whether the error still appears. Though not advisable, you can also disable the Firefox proxy and check if the problem is still there. You can disable Firefox Proxy settings by:
Step 1: Click on the Menu icon on your Firefox browser
Step 2: Click on Settings
Step 3: At the bottom of the screen, under Network Settings, select Settings.
Step 4: Next, select the first option that says No proxy
Step 5: Click on the OK button and restart your browser
7. Change your TLS Preferences
As said earlier, your TLS settings could also cause this error. To fix the problem, you can update your TLS preferences. To do this:
Step 1: Open a new tab in Firefox, type about:config in the address bar, and press Enter
Step 2: On the next screen, you'll see a warning message. Click on Accept the Risk and Continue
Step 3: Type tls into the search bar and hit Enter
Step 4: Look for security.tls.version.max from the options and double click on it
Step 5: Update the TLS from 4 to 3.
Step 6: Restart your browser and try visiting the site again
8. Add the site to your trusted site list
If nothing has worked so far, your last resort is to add the website you're trying to visit your trusted sites list. To do this:
Step 1: Type internet options in the search bar of your Windows menu
Step 2: In the Internet Properties window, click on the Security tab, followed by Trusted Sites
Step 3: Click on the Sites button
Step 4: On the next window, enter the URL of the problematic website
Step 5: After that, click on Add, then select Close
Step 6: Click on Apply, then select OK
Conclusion
Slow network speeds and weak Wi-Fi signals are not the only problems you'll face while using the internet. Asa regular internet user, you'll experience various issues, including random SSL connection error popups in your browser. Therefore, if you saw the SSL_ERROR_RX_RECORD_TOO_LONG error popup on your Firefox browser, you'll have to resolve it fast to continue browsing. By following the troubleshooting steps discussed above, you can fix the error and get your browser working again.
