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Secure website certificates (those with addresses starting with https://) have a limited validity duration. If your computer's date doesn't align with a website's certificate validity dates, Firefox will display an error, as it can't confirm the site's security.
To resolve this, ensure your computer's date, time, and time zone are accurate. If the issue persists, it might be due to other factors like a server misconfiguration or an outdated certificate.
Table of Contents
List of time-related error codes you may encounter
Click 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:
- Click the Windows Start button or press the Windows key .
- In the Start menu, select .
- In Settings, select .
- In the section you can review the current date and time settings. To change your settings click on below or expand the dropdown menu.If your system is set to manage the time and time zone automatically, you cannot make manual changes.
- If you are done with your changes, close the Settings window.
- To adjust your date and time settings in Windows 11, begin by clicking the Windows Start Button or pressing the Windows key .
- Type in the search bar.
- Select in the side menu.
- Click to sync your computer's time with the time server.
- You could also choose a specific time zone by clicking on button and choosing the preferred time zone.
If the button is grayed out, clicking it shows an error message, or it doesn't resolve the problem, follow these steps:
- Toggle the switch next to if you do have it to disable automatic time setting.
- Click and select your preferred time zone.
- If you don't see the button and you see the , Click and a window will open, allowing you to input the correct date and time manually.
- After making the necessary changes, don't forget to click to apply your adjustments.
- From the Start Screen, click the Desktop tile. The Desktop view will open.
- From the Desktop, hover in the lower right-hand corner to access the Charms.
- Select from the charm. The Control Panel window will open.
- In the Control Panel window, click on Clock, Language, and Region and then Date and Time.
- The panel that opens shows the current date and time settings. To change your settings click the or button.
- To confirm your changes click .
- Click the Windows Start button or press the Windows key .
- In the Start Menu, click .
- In the Control Panel window, click on Clock, Language, and Region and then Date and Time.
- The panel that opens shows the current date and time settings. To change your settings click the or button.
- To confirm your changes click .
- Click the Apple menu and select .
- In the System Preferences window, click on Date & Time.
- 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 to confirm your changes.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
