Quick Ways to Fix "This Site Can't Be Reached"

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Troubleshoot the "This site can't be reached" error in Chrome
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What do you do if you see an error message saying the site you're trying to view can't be reached? This might be an error 404 or just "This site can't be reached." For browsers like Chrome, a handy code at the bottom of the message tells you why there's an error, but other browsers, including Edge and Firefox, are more vague. Read on to learn more about what to do if you can't connect to a site in Chrome or other web browsers.

Fixes for "This Site Can't Be Reached"

To resolve this error message, check your Internet connection, restart your router, turn off VPNs, proxy servers, and extensions, or flush your DNS settings. You'll see this error message when your browser is unable to connect to the website, like if it's down or your Internet connection is not working.

Section 1 of 4:

Why can't I reach a site?

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  1. Look at any error codes for answers, but there are a few reasons why you're getting this error. Common Chrome errors include :
    • ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED – The web address you've entered doesn't exist. Make sure you have the correct URL without any typos.
    • ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED – A VPN might be blocking your connection, so turn it off and try again.
    • ERR_CONNECTION_RESET – Your connection was reset as the page was loading. Click the refresh icon at the top of the page to reload it.
    • ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT – The page took too long to load. Your connection might be too slow, or the page is extremely busy.
    • Your Connection Is Not Private – You'll see this error when you go to a page that's supposed to be secure but doesn't have a secure connection. Pages that accept payment information are usually expected to be secure, but if the site doesn't start with "HTTPS," the error appears.
    • Aw, Snap! – A lack of resources or a bad plugin will cause the sad-face image with this error message. You can update or uninstall the bad plugin to see if the page will load. [1]
  2. 2
    Generally, "This site can't be reached" is one of these errors:
    • DNS resolution errors.
    • Misconfigured Internet, network, or firewall settings.
    • An overall Internet failure
    • Slow Internet, or connections that time out.
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Section 2 of 4:

Common Fixes for "This Site Can't Be Reached"

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  1. 1
    Check if the site is down. You want to see if the site isn't loading for just you, or if others are experiencing issues as well. Use sites like Down for Everyone or Just Me to determine if the site is working properly. If it is, you can continue troubleshooting. If the site is down for everyone, you can only wait until it is working again.
  2. 2
    Check the URL for spelling errors. Even accidentally switching letters in the URL will prevent the page from loading. For example, entering wikiwho.com into the search bar will not open wikiHow . Check for typos and spelling errors and try again.
    • You might also have the wrong ending. For example, spectrum.com is different from spectrum.net.
  3. 3
    Restart your Internet connection. This fix might sound too easy, but it might do the trick. Just unplug your router and modem or gateway (if they are combined), wait a few seconds, then plug everything back in.
    • Most ISPs (internet service providers) suggest waiting a full minute before plugging everything back in so the Internet can reset. [2]
  4. 4
    Disable your VPN or proxy. While these are beneficial to protect your online privacy, they can also cause errors on some pages, which can prevent them from loading. To fix this, disable your VPN or proxy server and reload the page.
  5. 5
    Disable your firewall and antivirus. These can interrupt your connection, causing the site to give you an error. Many safety precautions are very helpful to keep your computer safe while browsing the Internet, but if you're confident that the site you're trying to visit isn't malicious, follow these steps to disable OS firewalls and antiviruses.
    • Windows 11/10 :
      • Open Settings and go to Firewall & network protection (Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > Firewall & network protection).
      • Click your network (domain, private, or public).
      • Click the toggle next to "Microsoft Defender Firewall" to disable it. It'll display "Off" when it's disabled. [3]
    • Mac: Open System Settings and click Network > Firewall . You can toggle it to enable and disable it. [4]
  6. 6
    Disable browser extensions. Some extensions can interrupt your connection with a site, causing the "This site can't be reached" error. To fix this, disable them:
    • Chrome: Click the jigsaw puzzle piece next to your address bar and select Manage Extensions. You can also click the three-dot menu and select Extensions > Manage Extensions. Go through the list of installed extensions and click Remove to get rid of them. [5]
    • Edge: Select Extensions to the right of your browser bar, then click the three-dot menu and click Remove from Microsoft Edge > Remove. [6]
    • Safari: Go to Safari > Settings > Extensions , click the extension, and click Uninstall . [7]
    • Firefox: Click the three-line menu and select Add-ons and themes > Extensions . Click the three-dot menu icon next to an extension, then click Remove. [8]
  7. 7
    Clear your browser cache. Your browser's save data, like images, to make your future visits faster. However, all this saved data can be data-hogging and make your browser too slow. If the saved data is corrupted, it can cause the "This site can't be reached" error. Here's how to clear the browser cache on various browsers:
    • Chrome: Press Ctrl + Shift + D to open the "Delete browsing data" window and make sure "Cached images and files" is selected. Then click Delete data .
    • Safari: Open Safari Settings, then go to the Advanced tab. Check the box next to "Show features for web developers," then select the Develop option in the menu at the top of your screen. Select Empty Caches for All Profiles. [9]
    • Edge: Go to Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data and press Ctrl + Shift + D. [10]
    • Firefox: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Clear Data and make sure the box next to "Temporary cached files" is checked, then click Clear. [11]
  8. 8
    Flush your DNS cache. This works very similarly to a browser cache, but instead your computer stores IP addresses for the sites you visit so it doesn't have to look them up all the time. Outdated or corrupted information can prevent the page from loading in your browser, so clear the cache to fix this.
    • Windows 11 & 10: Open Command Prompt and enter ipconfig /flushdns . You should see a "DNS flushed successfully" reply.
    • Mac: Open Terminal and enter {{kbd}sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder}}. Enter the computer's password and you will be done!
  9. 9
    Change your DNS servers. Your ISP assigns you a random DNS server for the duration of your connection. However, you can configure this for a static DNS. You need a static DNS address before you can continue. Google offers a DNS address, 8.8.8.8, for free. Here is how you can do this, depending on your OS:
    • Windows 11 & 10: Open Control Panel and click Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings. Right-click your current connection, then select Properties . Click Internet Protocol Version 4(or 6) and click Properties . Enter the new DNS addresses under the "Use the following DNS server addresses," then close all the windows by clicking OK .
    • Mac: Open System Settings and click Wi-Fi > Details > DNS > + > and enter the static DNS address that you want to use, like 8.8.8.8.
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Section 3 of 4:

Common Fixes If You’re the Site Owner

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  1. It's easy to skip this step if you've jumped to designing the site and hosting it so you can see it. Along with those important pieces, you also need to register the domain for others to see it.
    • To recap, your site needs to be registered, hosted, and have a website application to run.
    • The hosting site may offer to register your domain name , but you can also find more sites that offer that service by using a registrar.
  2. 2
    Renew an expired domain. If you notice that your site is getting visitors and then it's suddenly not, you might realize that the domain has expired. You need to renew it so others can visit your site again.
  3. 3
    Fix your domain's DNS records. In this case, everything looks ok (the domain name is registered and leads to a valid nameserver), but visitors still get an error whenever they go to your site.
    • Use tools like DNSWatch to see if your site is returning an error, then open your DNS zone editor and create the missing record needed to open your website.
  4. 4
    Turn Off DNSSEC. Your registrar, when you registered your domain name, may have enabled this automatically. However, this will cause your page not to load if the nameserver you're using does not support the cryptographic protection feature.
  5. 5
    Deactivate WordPress Plugins (for WordPress sites). Too many plugins can cause the page to error out, or there can be security plugins that are blocking certain users' IP addresses. To fix this, go to your WordPress dashboard and click Plugins . You can deactivate them there.
  6. 6
    Contact your hosting provider. Some providers include security settings, like firewalls, to protect their clients' websites from malicious threats and bots online. However, the "This site cannot be reached" error may pop up if a firewall or security feature is triggered.
    • Contacting your hosting provider will get them to look at your site and help you find the problem.
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Section 4 of 4:

Answers from Around the Web

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  1. A few redditors have noticed that doing the following will help: [12]
    • Force Chrome to update by uninstalling it and reinstalling it, even if Chrome says it is "up to date".
    • Close any open Chrome windows after installing it.
    • Re-open Chrome and you'll see a new "What's New" page.
  2. 2
    Check for patterns with crashes and avoid them. According to a forum on the Google help site , you can look at chrome://crashes and look for what seems to cause Chrome to crash. [13] If you notice a pattern (like Chrome crashes more often when a page is streaming a video ad), you can avoid it.
  3. 3
    Disable saved group tabs. If you notice that Chrome is crashing as soon as it starts, this redditor might have an answer for you. [14] Here's what you need to do:
    • Uninstall Chrome and reinstall it from the official site .
    • Open Chrome and log into your account when prompted.
    • Select "Yes" when asked to set up sync. Chrome will either crash instantly or after a few seconds:
      • If Chrome stays open for a few seconds:
        • Go to Settings > You and Google > Sync and Google services > Manage what you sync
        • Select "Customize sync"
        • Deselect "saved tab groups"
        • Restart Chrome.
      • If Chrome crashes immediately:
        • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and select End Task for Chrome.
        • Re-open Chrome and you'll see an error message near your profile picture.
        • Click the error and deselect "saved tab groups" in Manage what you sync .
        • Restart Chrome.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6271277?hl=en
      2. ↑ https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/restarting-your-cable-modem
      3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/firewall-and-network-protection-in-the-windows-security-app-ec0844f7-aebd-0583-67fe-601ecf5d774f
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/change-firewall-settings-on-mac-mh11783/mac
      5. ↑ https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/2589434?hl=en
      6. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/add-turn-off-or-remove-extensions-in-microsoft-edge-9c0ec68c-2fbc-2f2c-9ff0-bdc76f46b026
      7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102343
      8. ↑ https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/disable-or-remove-add-ons
      9. ↑ https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/clear-safari-cache/
      1. ↑ https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/learning-center/how-to-manage-and-clear-your-cache-and-cookies?form=MA13I2
      2. ↑ https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-clear-firefox-cache
      3. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/1jwnr7u/chrome_crashing_regularly_all_of_a_sudden/
      4. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/285366249/google-chrome-keeps-crashing-on-pc?hl=en
      5. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/1itxnog/chrome_startup_crash_fix/

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