When it comes to web browsing, many Windows users prefer Google Chrome. It is fast and comes with awesome features. Recently, the Chrome users have complained about the Waiting for available sockets error that comes up while the user tries to stream any media with multiple tabs open.
The error starts showing up in the bottom left corner of the screen. It slows down the browser, any audio or video file that is being streamed freezes, and the user cannot resume the media files. If you are someone who is also struggling with this same error, then you have come to the right place. We will show you some effective solutions to solve the error on your own.
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What causes the Waiting for available sockets error?
By default, the Google Chrome browser, a Chromium-based browser, allows only six connections to be in use simultaneously. If you use six media or audio tags, then the 7th media will have to wait for a free connection. Even if one of the connections becomes free, the 7th media tag fails to connect automatically. This leads to the Waiting for available sockets error. The error stops your browser from working properly and starts creating havoc for other on-going media. You should waste no more time and start working your way down to the solutions given below.
Solutions to Fix the Waiting for available sockets error:
Solution 1: Restart your Chrome browser
If you haven’t tried already, you should restart your Chrome browser. Sometimes the error starts happening due to a minor bug that you can easily solve just by restarting your browser. Don’t worry about your open tabs; they will automatically reload after you relaunch your browser.
Now, close your Chrome browser, wait for a few minutes, then open the browser again. Start enjoying the audio or video that you were streaming before. If the error comes up again, go to the next solution.
Solution 2: Manually Reload a Chrome tab
Suppose you have already opened six tabs, then for the seventh tab, manually force the browser to create an available connection socket. Go to the tab where no media files such as audio, video, or images are playing. Then, you have to right-click anywhere on that tab and choose the “Reload” option. Your error is solved for that individual tab for now. But you have to be careful and don’t open several tabs while browsing.
Solution 3: Clear the cache and cookies
The cookies helps to load websites faster, and the cache files are responsible for containing data related to previous browsing history. If the cookies and cache data become corrupted, some web pages will start having problems while loading. It can also be another reason for the Waiting for available sockets error.
So, to solve the error, follow these steps and clear cookies and cache data from your Chrome browser.
- Open Google Chrome and go to the Menu icon.
- Choose Settings.
- Locate the Privacy and Security option.
- Select the Clear browsing data option.
- You can select a time range.
- Then, check both the boxes beside Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files option.
- Select the Clear data option
- After the process is complete, relaunch Chrome and check for the error.
Solution 4: Learn to Flush Open Sockets
The Waiting for available sockets error starts showing up in the Chrome browser when the connection sockets get overloaded. In order to fix this issue, you have to learn how to flush the sockets and make them available for your use.
Here’s a quick for you on flushing open sockets.
- Launch your Chrome browser.
- Then, you have to type “Chrome://net-internal” in the address bar and press Enter.
- The Connection settings page will open up.
- Choose the Sockets option in the left pane.
- In the right pane, click on the Flush Socket Pools option.
- Now, close the browser and relaunch it.
- See if the issue is resolved.
Solution 5: Use Third-party Audio Tool
In Chrome browser you are streaming multiple media files simultaneously, the browser allocates socket connection for every file, not surpass six connections. In this scenario, Chrome couldn’t handle the load and quickly freezes. To control such a situation the use of any third-party audio tools is inevitable.
A third-party audio tool will allow you to upload or play a number of music tracks. For example,
- Web Audio API: This is a Mozilla program. It is capable of controlling and playing versatile audio effects and music on the web. It provides features like audio source, spatial effects, and audio visualization.
- SoundJS: It is a JavaScript tool. It is easy to use and comes with powerful features like adding cross-browser sounds to games and projects.
Google Chrome browser is a trusted browser. It is faster than many browsers and comes with loads of options. But it also has its exclusive issues that don’t happen with other browsers.
Waiting for available sockets error is one of those infamous Chrome browser errors. Thankfully, the error is easy to solve. You can go through the solutions given above and see which one works to fight this error for you. We hope you will be able to solve the error and enjoy browsing again on your Google Chrome. If you have any queries or feedback, please write down the comment in the below comment box.