Error 138: Cannot access the network

What if a message with the error message 138 appears instead of the usual start page in the Chrome browser? It says that Chrome has no access to the network, so an internet connection is not possible. Usually the cause lies in your firewall.

The firewall regulates access to a network

• The term firewall comes from English. Literally translated it means fire wall, and its real model comes from the fire walls of medieval castles.
• A firewall protects a network and makes unauthorized access from outside impossible if it is set correctly.
• However, the firewall can also cause the error 138 if Chrome does not have access to the Internet because all outgoing connections from its own network are blocked.

Error 138 - how to set up Windows firewall correctly

1. To get access to the firewall, log in to your PC as an administrator.


Google Chrome: Error 138 - what to do?

Google Chrome is a very popular and, above all, fast internet browser. It comes ...

2. Click with the left mouse button on the start button at the bottom left or alternatively press the left Windows key once.
3. In the "Search programs / files" search field, enter "Windows firewall" and select the entry "Let program communicate via Windows firewall".
4. In the dialog that opens, look for the entry for the Chrome program and check both boxes.
5. If Chrome does not appear in the list, add it by clicking the "Allow other program" button. Then an Explorer window opens in which you can search for and select the chrome.exe program.

Other programs may be blocking Chrome as well

• If you use an Internet security suite, this can also have a firewall. If that's the case, you'll need to allow Chrome to access the internet in this firewall.
• Some antivirus programs also offer a firewall. Here you need to set the firewall rules for Chrome correctly to avoid error 138 and to allow access to the network.