Chrome network error · -202 · Certificate
ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID
Chromium's description
The server responded with a certificate that is signed by an authority we don't trust. The could mean:
1. An attacker has substituted the real certificate for a cert that contains their public key and is signed by their cousin.
2. The server operator has a legitimate certificate from a CA we don't know about, but should trust.
3. The server is presenting a self-signed certificate, providing no defense against active attackers (but foiling passive attackers).
Chrome shows it as net::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID, error -202. puppeteer and Playwright report the same name when a page fails to load in Chromium.
Common causes
- A self-signed certificate, common on development servers, routers and internal tools.
- A missing intermediate certificate in the server’s chain.
- An antivirus, corporate proxy or public Wi-Fi portal that intercepts HTTPS.
- A wrong system date, or an outdated operating system without current root certificates.
How to fix ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID
- Check the system date and time and update the operating system.
- On public Wi-Fi, open any HTTP page first to complete the login portal.
- Site owners: install the full chain (certificate plus intermediates), or use a free certificate from Let’s Encrypt.
- Do not click through the warning on sites where you enter passwords or payment details.
ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID in the screenshot API
Certificate errors do not stop a render: the API's browser accepts the certificate and captures the page the server sends, so a screenshot of a site with this error works. It does not tell you whether the certificate is valid; use an SSL checker for that.
Only the page's own load can fail a render. An image, script or frame of the page that fails with a network error does not: the page is captured as the browser shows it without that resource.
Check whether a website loads
Frequently asked questions
What does ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID mean?
How do I fix ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID?
Is a screenshot that fails with ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID billed?
Other common errors
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