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Why are my tracking links not working in Chrome and showing an error?

10 Marketer opinions1 Expert opinion6 Technical articles0 Resources

Summary

Tracking links malfunctioning in Chrome is a multifaceted issue with various potential causes. Expired or invalid SSL certificates are a primary concern, along with mixed content problems where secure HTTPS pages load insecure HTTP resources. URL redirection issues, such as too many redirects or redirects to non-secure pages, can also trigger errors. Other factors include browser extensions, CDN configuration issues, outdated cache/cookies, a poor domain reputation, ad blockers, and server misconfigurations. Additionally, HSTS can enforce HTTPS, and overall email deliverability plays a role in preventing links from being flagged. Tools like Qualys SSL Labs' SSL Server Test can help diagnose certificate problems.

Key findings

  • SSL Issues: Expired or invalid SSL certificates are a common cause; verify certificate validity.
  • Mixed Content: HTTPS pages loading HTTP resources (mixed content) are blocked by Chrome.
  • Redirection Problems: Excessive or non-secure redirects can cause Chrome to flag links as unsafe.
  • HSTS Enforcement: HSTS enforces HTTPS; an invalid certificate will block the connection.
  • Deliverability Impact: Poor email deliverability can lead to links being flagged and blocked.
  • Server Issues: Inconsistent server settings and configurations may affect how the links work for end users.

Key considerations

  • Check SSL Certificate: Use an SSL checker tool to verify the certificate's validity and expiration date.
  • Enforce HTTPS: Ensure all resources and redirects are served over HTTPS to avoid mixed content warnings.
  • Minimize Redirects: Reduce the number of redirects and ensure they are all secure.
  • Disable Extensions: Temporarily disable browser extensions to rule out conflicts.
  • Check CDN: Verify the CDN configuration and SSL certificate if a CDN is in use.
  • Clear Cache: Clear browser cache and cookies to resolve potential conflicts.
  • Monitor Reputation: Check the tracking domain's reputation to ensure it's not flagged as unsafe.
  • Disable Ad Blockers: Temporarily disable ad blockers to see if they're interfering with the links.
  • Verify Server: Ensure the link is configured on the server correctly.
  • Improve Deliverability: Address email deliverability issues to prevent links from being flagged.

What email marketers say
10Marketer opinions

Tracking links failing in Chrome and displaying errors can stem from several issues. Expired or invalid SSL certificates are a common culprit, as are mixed content problems where a secure HTTPS page loads insecure HTTP resources. URL redirection issues, such as too many redirects or redirects to non-secure pages, can also trigger errors. Other potential causes include browser extensions interfering with the links, CDN configuration problems, outdated browser cache and cookies, a poor domain reputation, and ad blockers blocking the links. Different server configurations can also play a part, as can HSTS settings which require HTTPS connections.

Key opinions

  • SSL Certificate: Expired or invalid SSL certificates on the tracking link's domain are a primary cause of Chrome blocking the links.
  • Mixed Content: Chrome blocks mixed content (HTTPS pages loading HTTP resources) by default. Ensure tracking links don't redirect to HTTP URLs.
  • URL Redirection: Excessive redirects, redirect loops, or redirects to non-secure HTTP pages can cause Chrome to flag links as unsafe.
  • Server Configuration: Inconsistencies in server configurations might lead to the SSL operating successfully on some but not others.
  • HSTS Configuration: Ensure HSTS is configured correctly or is not causing unexpected HTTPS requirements.

Key considerations

  • Check SSL: Verify the SSL certificate on the tracking link domain is valid and not expired using an online SSL checker tool.
  • Avoid Mixed Content: Ensure all resources and redirects associated with the tracking link are served over HTTPS.
  • Simplify Redirects: Minimize the number of redirects and ensure they all point to secure HTTPS pages.
  • Browser Extensions: Temporarily disable browser extensions to check if any are interfering with the tracking links.
  • CDN Configuration: If using a CDN, ensure it is properly configured and that the SSL certificate is valid for the CDN domain.
  • Clear Cache/Cookies: Clear the Chrome browser cache and cookies to eliminate potential data conflicts.
  • Domain Reputation: Check the tracking domain's reputation to ensure it is not flagged as unsafe.
  • Ad Blockers: Ensure ad blockers or privacy extensions aren't blocking the links.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Web Hosting Talk discusses that if a Content Delivery Network (CDN) is used for the tracking links, issues with the CDN configuration or SSL certificate on the CDN can cause errors in Chrome.

July 2024 - Web Hosting Talk
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum says that URL redirection issues could be the reason. Too many redirects, redirect loops, or redirects to non-secure (HTTP) pages can cause Chrome to flag the link as unsafe.

November 2021 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that an expired or invalid SSL certificate on the tracking link's domain can cause Chrome to display an error and block the link. Check the certificate using an online SSL checker tool.

February 2022 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora recommends clearing the Chrome browser cache and cookies, as outdated or corrupted cache data can sometimes interfere with link functionality.

June 2022 - Quora
Marketer view

Email marketer from Online Marketing Gurus shares that ad blockers or privacy extensions can sometimes block tracking links. Try disabling these to see if the links start working.

November 2024 - Online Marketing Gurus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow explains that Chrome may be blocking mixed content (HTTPS page loading HTTP resources). This can happen if the tracking link redirects to an HTTP URL before redirecting to the final HTTPS destination.

September 2022 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that HSTS says "use https or gtfo" which means that the SSL certificate is expired and hence, gtfo.

October 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares a dig command output suggesting different servers might have different configurations, with some being well set and others not.

January 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Marketing Land shares that if the tracking domain has a poor reputation, Chrome may flag the links as unsafe. Check the domain's reputation using online tools to assess its trustworthiness.

January 2025 - Marketing Land
Marketer view

Email marketer from Super User suggests that certain browser extensions might be interfering with the tracking links. Try disabling extensions one by one to identify the culprit.

November 2022 - Super User

What the experts say
1Expert opinion

Maintaining good email deliverability is crucial to prevent tracking links from being flagged and blocked by browsers like Chrome. Poor deliverability can directly impact the functionality of tracking links within emails.

Key opinions

  • Deliverability Impact: Poor email deliverability can cause tracking links to malfunction.
  • Link Flagging: Browsers may block or flag tracking links due to deliverability issues.

Key considerations

  • Deliverability Monitoring: Monitor email deliverability metrics to identify and address potential issues.
  • Reputation Management: Maintain a good sender reputation to prevent emails and links from being flagged as suspicious.
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains the importance of maintaining good email deliverability to prevent emails and links from being flagged. Problems with deliverability can lead to links not working or being blocked by browsers.

March 2023 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
6Technical articles

Tracking links malfunctioning in Chrome are often due to underlying security issues related to HTTPS. Mixed content, where a secure HTTPS page loads insecure HTTP resources, is a common cause. HSTS enforces HTTPS connections, so an invalid SSL certificate will lead to blocked connections. SSL certificate problems like expiration, untrusted status, or name mismatch are significant factors. HTTP redirection issues can also disrupt the process. Tools like Qualys SSL Labs' SSL Server Test are helpful for diagnosing certificate problems.

Key findings

  • Mixed Content Blocking: Browsers block mixed content by default, where HTTPS pages load HTTP resources, to prevent security vulnerabilities.
  • HSTS Enforcement: HSTS enforces HTTPS connections, leading to blocked connections if the SSL certificate is invalid.
  • SSL Certificate Issues: Invalid SSL certificates (expired, untrusted, name mismatch) can cause tracking links to fail.
  • Redirection Problems: Issues with HTTP redirection processes can disrupt tracking link functionality.

Key considerations

  • Eliminate Mixed Content: Ensure all resources and redirects associated with the tracking link are served over HTTPS.
  • Validate SSL Certificate: Verify the SSL certificate is valid, trusted, and correctly configured for the domain.
  • Diagnose with SSL Labs: Utilize Qualys SSL Labs' SSL Server Test to diagnose SSL certificate and configuration issues.
  • Inspect Certificate Details: Inspect certificate details via your browser or DigiCert tools to ensure the certificate is not expired.
  • Check Redirection: Examine the HTTP redirection process to identify and fix any problems.
Technical article

Documentation from Qualys SSL Labs indicates you can use their SSL Server Test to diagnose SSL certificate issues with the tracking link's domain. It provides detailed information about the certificate's validity, chain of trust, and supported protocols.

March 2022 - Qualys SSL Labs
Technical article

Documentation from Mozilla Developer Network explains that HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) is a web security policy mechanism that helps to protect websites against protocol downgrade attacks and cookie hijacking. If the tracking domain has HSTS enabled, Chrome will enforce HTTPS connections. If the SSL certificate is invalid, then Chrome will block the connection.

March 2022 - Mozilla Developer Network
Technical article

Documentation from Google Developers explains that mixed content occurs when a secure HTTPS website loads resources over an insecure HTTP connection. Browsers block this content by default to protect users from security vulnerabilities.

September 2021 - Google Developers
Technical article

Documentation from IETF explains that HTTP redirection is a process in which one URL is automatically redirected to another. Problems with the redirection process can cause a tracking link to fail.

July 2024 - IETF
Technical article

Documentation from DigiCert explains that you can check the certificate on the tracking domain by inspecting the certificate details. An invalid date on the certificate may mean it is expired.

March 2025 - DigiCert
Technical article

Documentation from SSL Store explains a variety of reasons why a SSL certificate may not be working including; the certificate is not trusted, there is a mixed content error, the certificate has expired, the certificate name doesn't match the URL, there is an incomplete chain of trust and there are server configuration issues.

March 2025 - SSL Store

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