If you get a timeout error or ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT when opening your website, it means the site took too long to respond. Websites typically establish communication with a browser within 30 seconds. If this exceeds the allowed time, the browser will terminate the connection.
This issue is common on WordPress websites and can occur due to the following reasons:
The server is not responding or taking to long to respond: You can verify the server status at Hostinger status page.
Issues within your WordPress website.
Once you've verified that the server is operational, here are some actions you can take to troubleshoot the 'Connection timed out' error in your WordPress website:
Increase PHP memory limit
If your website uses resource-intensive themes or plugins, you may exceed the PHP memory limit. Increasing this limit can often resolve the timeout error, just make sure that the new value falls within the maximum available memory allocated to your hosting plan.
Option 1 – Modify wp-config.php
Open the wp-config.php file using the File Manager and insert the following line:
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '128M')Replace 128M with the maximum available memory for your hosting plan.
Option 1 – Edit .htaccess
You can also increase the PHP limit from the .htaccess file by adding he following line right above the # END WordPress comment:
php_value memory_limit 128M
Make sure to save the changes after editing either file.
For more details, refer to this detailed tutorial: Fixing and increasing PHP Memory limit for WordPress.
Increase the maximum execution time
Maximum execution time is the total duration a PHP script can run on a website, usually set to 30 seconds by default. To increase the maximum execution time to 120 seconds, open the .htaccess file using the File Manager and insert the following line just above the # END WordPress comment:
php_value max_execution_time 120
Save the file and refresh your website to see if the issue is resolved.
Temporarily deactivate all plugins
Plugins can often conflict or malfunction, causing timeout errors. To identify the problematic plugin:
Option 1 – From the WordPress dashboard
Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard and go to Plugins → Installed Plugins.
Bulk-select all plugins, choose Deactivate from the dropdown menu, and click Apply.
Open your website in an incognito window to check if the error is resolved.
f the issue is fixed, reactivate the plugins one at a time and test your site after each activation to identify the conflicting plugin.
Option 2 – From the File Manager
If you cannot access the WordPress admin dashboard:
Open the File Manager or connect to your website using FTP.
Navigate to the wp-content folder.
Rename the plugins folder to plugins_disabled (or any other name) to deactivate all plugins.
Verify your website. If it works, rename the folder back to plugins, and then rename individual plugin folders one by one and test your site after each change to identify the problematic plugin.
Switch to a default WordPress theme
A poorly coded or incompatible theme can cause connection timeout errors. Switching to a default WordPress theme can help identify if your theme is the source of the issue.
Option 1 – From the WordPress dashboard
Navigate to Appearance → Themes in your WordPress Dashboard.
Activate a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Three or any another default WordPress theme.
Open your website in an incognito window to check if the error persists. If the issue is resolved, your current theme is likely the cause.
Option 2 – From the File Manager
If you cannot access the WordPress admin dashboard:
Open the File Manager or connect via FPT.
Go to the wp-content/themes folder and rename your active theme’s folder to deactivate it. WordPress will automatically switch to a default theme.
Consult a website developer
If the "Connection Timed Out" error persists after trying the methods described, it may indicate a deeper issue with your website's code. In such cases, consulting a professional website developer can save time and ensure your site is properly restored.
Developers can help debug custom code, fix configuration or database issues, resolve compatibility problems, and optimize your website for faster loading times.
Additional resources