Coding⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-03

How to Fix: urllib and "SSL: CERTIFICATE_VERIFY_FAILED" Error

Quick Answer: Check the SSL certificate in your urllib request. You can do this by setting the verify parameter to False or specifying a custom CA bundle.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🔍 Why This Happens
  2. 🚀 How to Resolve This Issue
  3. 💡 Conclusion

The 'SSL: CERTIFICATE_VERIFY_FAILED' error occurs when Python's urllib library is unable to verify the SSL certificate of a website. This issue affects users who are trying to access websites that use HTTPS, but have not properly configured their system to handle SSL certificates.

This error can be frustrating for users as it prevents them from accessing certain websites or services. However, do not worry, as we will provide you with the steps to fix this issue.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • The primary reason why this error happens is due to a missing or corrupted SSL certificate on the system. This can occur when the system's clock is incorrect, the SSL certificate has expired, or it has been tampered with.
  • Another alternative reason for this error is if the system does not have the required Python library to handle SSL certificates. In this case, updating the library or installing an additional package may resolve the issue.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Updating Python's ssl Library

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Open a terminal and update the Python library using pip by running the command 'pip install --upgrade PyOpenSSL'. This will ensure that you have the latest version of the library.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: If you are using a virtual environment, make sure to activate it before running the command. You can do this by running 'source /path/to/your/environment/bin/activate' (for Linux/Mac) or 'activate' (for Windows).
  3. Step 3: Step 3: Once the update is complete, restart your terminal or re-run your Python script to test if the issue has been resolved.

Installing an Additional Package using Homebrew (on Mac)

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Open a terminal and run the command 'brew install openssl' to install the OpenSSL package.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: Once the installation is complete, restart your terminal or re-run your Python script to test if the issue has been resolved.

💡 Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 'SSL: CERTIFICATE_VERIFY_FAILED' error and access websites that use HTTPS. If you are still experiencing issues, please consult with a system administrator or IT professional for further assistance.

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