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WebSocket Connection Failed / SSL/TLS Error

Error: WebSocket connection failed / WebCrypto error / wss:// connection refused / HTTPS required

OpenClaw troubleshooting · Updated 2026

Error Message

Error: WebSocket connection failed / WebCrypto error / wss:// connection refused / HTTPS required

What Causes This

The browser or client can't establish a secure WebSocket connection to the gateway. This happens when accessing the dashboard remotely over HTTP (not HTTPS), or when SSL certificates are misconfigured for Tailscale Serve.

How to Fix It

Use HTTPS for remote access:

# Local access works fine over HTTP:
http://localhost:18789

# For remote access, use Tailscale Serve:
tailscale serve --https=443 http://127.0.0.1:18789
# Access at: https://your-machine.tail-net.ts.net

# Never expose port 18789 directly to the internet

# If using a reverse proxy (nginx/caddy), ensure:
# - SSL termination is configured
# - WebSocket upgrade headers are passed through
# - The proxy forwards to http://127.0.0.1:18789

# For mic/camera access in browser:
# HTTPS is required (browsers block mic over plain HTTP)
# Exception: localhost is always allowed

See Also