The “Windows does not have sufficient information to verify this certificate” message is about Windows struggling to trust a security certificate. This can happen for a bunch of reasons: maybe your system’s clock is off, the DNS settings are flaky, some cached data is messing with things, or there’s a mismatch with the cert chain. Basically, Windows needs to ensure the security of the website or app you’re trying to access, but something’s blocking that.
This isn’t always a big deal — sometimes it’s just a matter of fixing the time or clearing out old cache, but other times, it’s a sign that the system isn’t properly updated with the latest certificates from trusted authorities. The good news is, there are some straightforward things to try that have helped others get around this error without tearing their hair out. Let’s walk through the methods. Just a heads up: some of these options work better on certain setups. Keep in mind, Windows can be a little quirky with security stuff, so don’t be surprised if one fix works on one machine but not the next.
How to Fix the Certificate Verification Error
When your system’s clock is out of sync, it can totally throw off certificate validation
Certificates have a defined validity period, and if your PC’s date or time is wrong—even by a few minutes—it can look like the cert is expired or not yet valid. That’s an easy one to check and fix, but it does help Windows evaluate certificates properly.
- Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
- Go to Time & Language > Date & Time.
- Make sure the toggle for Set time zone automatically is on, then click Sync now—sometimes it’s a little delayed, but it can fix the trust issues.
- Verify that your system date and time are accurate. If they’re way off, manually set the correct values or reboot your PC to let Windows sync with an internet time server.
On some setups, this fixes it after a reboot, but other times, it might still linger if the system clock is frequently screwed up due to BIOS issues or OS glitches.
Switch to a better DNS server — because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary
If your DNS provider is slow or blocking secure updates, Windows might not be able to fetch the necessary certificate details. Changing DNS to something reliable like Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) can help clear this up.
- Press the Windows key to open the start menu.
- Type Control Panel and hit Enter.
- Navigate to Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. Then click Change Adapter Settings on the left side.
- Right-click your active connection, choose Properties.
- Scroll down to Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), select it, then click Properties.
- Choose Use the following DNS server addresses. Enter
8.8.8.8and8.8.4.4in the fields. - Click OK, then close all windows, and restart your connection or PC to make sure the new DNS kicks in.
Clear the browser cache and cookies — because cached data sometimes gets stale and causes conflicts
Cached website data helps pages load faster, but when that data is corrupted or outdated, it can throw off HTTPS certificates. Clearing site-specific data often nixes these errors.
- Open your browser’s menu (like the three dots in Chrome).
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
- Select Clear browsing data.
- Pick a time range, ideally All time.
- Check the options for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Once done, give the website another shot. Sometimes, just fresh cache and cookies clear out the root of the problem.
Use Incognito Mode to test if cached data or extensions are causing trouble
Incognito or private browsing creates a fresh session with no cookies or cached data. If the error disappears, it points to cached data or browser extensions messing with verification.
- In Chrome, click the three dots > New Incognito Window.
- In Firefox, click the hamburger menu > New Private Window.
- Navigate to the problematic website or app and see if the certificate error pops up again.
This isn’t a permanent fix, but it helps diagnose whether the problem is with saved browser data.
If all else fails, reset your network settings — because Windows loves to complicate stuff
Resetting network settings wipes out old DNS caches, proxies, VPN configs, and resets everything to default. Sometimes, weird network configs can prevent proper cert validation.
- Click the Start Menu and type Network Reset. Hit Enter.
- This opens Network Settings. Click Reset now.
- Confirm the reset, then reboot your PC — yes, even if it prompts you to restart, do it.
After reboot, check if the error’s gone. If not, it might be worth manually updating your certificates or even downloading missing ones directly from the certificate provider’s website. Sometimes the chain gets broken, and you have to manually install a missing piece to restore trust.
All in all, it’s kind of a pain, but these fixes have helped users survive the scary certificate errors without throwing everything out the window. Good luck, and fingers crossed this shaves off a few hours for someone. Hope it works for you!
Summary
- Make sure your date and time are correct
- Switch to a reliable DNS server like Google DNS
- Clear your browser cache and cookies
- Try incognito mode to bypass cache issues
- Reset network settings if nothing else works
Wrap-up
Fixing certificate trust errors often comes down to simple things like syncing your clock or replacing bad DNS. If these methods don’t work, it could be a deeper issue with missing or invalid certificates, but most of the time, these steps resolve the problem. Not sure why it works, but on one machine it was the DNS change, and on another, clearing the cache fixed it. Just part of Windows weirdness. Hopefully, this helps some poor soul out there struggling with those annoying cert errors!