You may be asked to verify a Captcha when you type a query in Google’s search box and hit the search button. When you see the error screen, you are asked to solve the CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell computers and humans apart).

Why does ‘Unusual traffic from your computer network’ appear?

You generally see the error screen when Google detects automated traffic. If you use any bot or script to send automated traffic to Google, you will see this screen.

Google Considers Automated traffic when you do these things:

  • Sending searches from robots, software, automated services, or search scrapers.
  • Using programs that send searches to Google to see how a website or webpage ranks on Google.

So, if you are doing these two things, you have a reason. But, apart from Google’s consideration, other factors trigger the ‘Unusual traffic from your computer network’ error. Here are some of them.

  • You are searching too quickly.
  • The use of third-party Browser Extensions.
  • Performing Google searches on a shared network.
  • You are using VPN or Proxy services.
  • Your PC has malware.

If you use any software or bot that sends automated traffic to Google, you can stop using it to fix the issue. Try these methods if you still get unusual traffic from your computer network error.

1. Resolve the CAPTCHA

Resolve the CAPTCHA

Along with the error, you also see an option asking you to confirm that you are not a robot. Tap on I’m not a robot to remove the error message.

You will be asked to solve an image captcha if you don’t see the ‘I’m not a robot’ option. Pass the test, whichever is displayed, to resolve the ‘Unusual traffic’ error message.

2. Slow down your Search

Using Google search too quickly resembles using a bot or programs to send automated traffic. If you Google too fast, you will see the ‘Unusual traffic from your computer network’ screen.

Most of the time, users see the error just because they are searching too quickly. In such cases, Google flags those searches as automated.

The best you can do is restart the web browser and slow down. You can use Google search for an unlimited time, but make sure it isn’t so fast that you appear as a bot.

3. Disable the VPN/Proxy Services

Disable VPN client

Using VPN or Proxy Services often leads to an ‘Unusual Traffic’ error on Google Search. This happens due to the flagged IP addresses assigned by the VPNs and Proxy services.

Also, VPN re-routes your traffic through an encrypted server, which makes it hard for Google to detect your actual location, forcing it to assume your connection as ‘Automated’ or ‘Bot’.

If you want to resolve the Google keeps asking to fill the Image Captcha problem, you need to turn off the VPN or Proxy services you’re using.

4. Flush the DNS cache

While the DNS cache has no direct link with the Google search error, flushing the DNS cache has helped many users deal with the same problem. You can try doing it as well.

1. Click on Windows search and type Command Prompt. Next, right-click on the Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

Run as administrator

2. Execute the command:

ipconfig/release

ipconfig/release

3. Next, execute this command:

ipconfig/renew

ipconfig/release

Restart your web browser and use Google Search again. This time, you won’t see Google Image Captcha again.

5. Clear the Browsing History

If the search engine keeps asking you to fill in the text or image captcha on every search, you must clear your browsing history. Since the search giant uses cookies to detect bots and automated software, clearing your browsing history and cookies would help.

1. Open the Google Chrome browser and click on the three dots at the top-right corner.

three dots

2. From the list of options that appears, select More Tools > Clear Browsing Data.

More Tools > Clear Browsing Data

3. Switch to the Advanced tab and select All time on the time range.

'All time'

4. Select Browsing History, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files. Once you have done this, click Clear Data.

Clear Data

6. Run an Antivirus Scan

Malware may run in the background and track all search queries. It may even steal your browsing data and PC information. Run a full scan with Windows Security to remove hidden malware triggering the error.

1. Open the Windows Security app from the Windows Search.

Windows Security

2. Switch to the Virus & Threat Protection tab.

Virus & threat protection

3. Click the Scan Options.

Scan options

4. Select ‘Full Scan’ and click Scan Now.

Scan now

The full scan may take an hour to complete, so don’t restart or turn off the computer if the process seems stuck.

7. Switch to a Different Web Browser

If the problem is with your IP address, you will be asked to solve the Image CAPTCHA regardless of which web browser you use.

However, if you’re asked to prove you’re not a bot due to incorrect browser settings, switching the web browser may help.

Switching the web browser has helped many users resolve the Google keeps asking to fill out an image CAPTCHA issue. So, if nothing has worked until now, you can also try doing it. Or else, you can wait until Google removes the speed breakers for you.

Google keeps asking you to fill image captcha can be problematic, especially if you are overly reliant on Google’s search engine. Most of the time, a restart, router reset, or the methods we have shared will get the problem fixed. If you need more help resolving the Google ‘Unusual Traffic’ error, let us know in the comments.

3 COMMENTS

  1. The intructions given under “4. Flush the DNS cache” are incorrect this will only release and renew the IP address of the machine if it is using DHCP.

    The correct command is:
    ipconfig /flushdns

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