This wikiHow teaches you what to do when you can't access certain websites. If you can access it via another computer, phone, tablet, or a different network, the problem may be with the computer or network you're using. However, there are some quick solutions that can deal with most problems, which unfortunately require a more complicated process.
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Part 1 of 3: Troubleshooting
Step 1. Find out if the site is really having problems
- If a site is down or has issues, there's nothing you can do but wait for the site to be active again. Recheck the site after a certain amount of time to see if there have been any changes to the site. If the site is back up, but you still can't access it, clear your browser cache and try again.
- Sometimes, the site works as usual, but the network between the computer and the site is experiencing problems. If the site is still up and running, keep reading this segment to troubleshoot the issue you're having.
Step 2. Visit the site via another device or network
If the site can load on another device, the problem may be with the device or web browser being used. If a site won't load on any device, it's possible that the site or its network is having problems handling external connections.
If possible, try loading the site through other devices connected to the same network (e.g. a home WiFi network), as well as devices not connected to the network (e.g. via a cellular data plan)
Step 3. Try visiting the website via an incognito, private, or secret window
If the site loads normally on other devices, it's possible that one of the plug-ins or web browser extensions is making the site inaccessible. If your site can load via a private browsing window, you can usually work around the issue by disabling browser extensions, clearing cookies, or returning your browser to its default settings. Here's how to open private, incognito, or secret windows in different browsers:
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Computer:
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Chrome, Edge, and Safari:
Press shortcut Command ” + “ Shift ” + “ N ” (Mac) or “ Control ” + “ Shift ” + “ N(PC).
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Firefox:
Press shortcut” Command ” + “ Shift ” + “ P ” (Mac) or “ Control ” + “ Shift ” + “ P(PC).
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Mobile device:
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Chrome:
Touch the three-dot icon next to the address bar and select “ New Incognito tab ”.
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Safaris:
Tap the two overlapping squares in the lower-right corner of the screen, then tap “ Private ” in the lower-left corner of the screen.
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Samsung Internet:
Touch the icon of the two rectangles that are stacked at the bottom of the screen, then select “ Turn on Secret mode ”.
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Step 4. Restart your computer, phone or tablet
Often times, the problem can be solved by restarting the device. After the device restarts, try visiting the site again.
Step 5. Temporarily disable the antivirus program
Antivirus programs can interfere with loading certain websites. Try disabling the program and reloading the site.
- If the site can load when the antivirus program is disabled, it's possible that firewall rules or other settings in the program are blocking the site you want to access. Keep in mind that this blocking is done because the site you want has a problem. If you're sure the site is safe, open your antivirus program, look for the segment to allow or block websites and apps, and make the necessary changes.
- Make sure you re-enable your antivirus program after you finish testing the connection.
Step 6. Check the computer's date and time settings
If you see a security-related error message when you try to load the site, it's possible that the date and time on your computer, phone, or tablet are inaccurate. Check your computer or mobile device's clock to make sure it's set to the correct time and date.
- If the time or date is not correct on your Windows computer, click the time indicator on the taskbar, select “ Date and time settings ”, and slide the “Set time automatically” switch to the on or “On” position. After that, click " Sync now ” to resynchronize the clock.
- If the time or date is incorrect on your Mac, open the menu Apple, choose " System Preferences ", click " Date & Time ”, and select the lock icon so you can make changes. Check the box next to "Set date and time automatically". As long as you are connected to the internet, your computer will always display the correct date and time.
Step 7. Make sure no parental controls are enabled
If you have a parental control program, it is possible that the program is blocking access to some sites. If you can access the program, disable the parental control program and try visiting the site again.
Step 8. Run an anti-malware scan
If your computer has a virus or some kind of malware, you may not be able to access certain sites. When a problem occurs, some sites don't load or you are redirected to another website! When running an antivirus or anti-malware scan, the security program will guide you through the process of securing your computer and hopefully regaining access to websites.
Part 2 of 3: Troubleshooting Web Browsers
Step 1. Use a different browser
If the site loads normally on other devices, but not on the web browser you're using (even in private or private mode), try a different browser. If you only have one browser installed, you can quickly download and install another free browser like Firefox, Chrome, or Opera, and then try to access websites through that new browser.
If the site can load in another browser, try disabling the ad blocker in the browser you normally use, and clearing your browser's cookies. Sometimes, ad blockers and expired cookies prevent websites from loading smoothly
Step 2. Make sure JavaScript is enabled
By default, JavaScript is enabled in the web browser. If JavaScript is turned off, you may have difficulty loading popular sites. Check your browser settings to make sure JavaScript is enabled:
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Computer:
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Chrome:
Click the three-dot menu icon, select " Settings, and click " Advanced ” on the left pane. Click " Site settings ” in the "Privacy and security" section, If JavaScript is not enabled, click on options and select " Allowed ”.
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Edges:
Click the three-dot menu icon and select “ Settings " Click " Cookies and site permissions ” in the left pane and search for "JavaScript" in the "All Permissions" section. If you see the status " Allowed ", JavaScript is enabled. If not, click an option and slide the switch to the on or “On” position.
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Firefox:
Type about:config into the address bar and confirm the continuation of the action. Enter "javascript.enabled" into the search field and make sure the entry is set to the "True" option. If not, double click the word “ false ” to change it.
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Safaris:
Click the menu " Safari ", choose " Preferences, then click the tab " Security " If the "Enable JavaScript" option is unchecked, check the box now.
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Mobile Devices:
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Android version of Chrome:
If you're using Chrome on an iPhone/iPad, JavaScript is already enabled and there's no way to disable it. On Android devices, touch the three-dot icon next to the address bar, select “ Settings ", touch " Site settings, and select " JavaScript " If JavaScript isn't already enabled, you need to enable it now.
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Safaris:
Open the iPhone or iPad settings menu and select “ Safari " Swipe the screen and touch " Advanced ”, then slide the " JavaScript " switch to the on position if it isn't already.
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Samsung Internet:
Touch the three line menu icon, select “ Settings ", touch " Advanced ”, and enable JavaScript if you haven't already.
Step 3. Reset Firefox or Chrome (if you are using a computer)
If you still can't access the site, Chrome and Firefox offer a built-in option to restore the browser to its factory/original settings. This option can take care of issues that the other options in both browsers don't solve. All settings and shortcuts will be reset, extensions and add-ons will be disabled, and temporary site data will be deleted.
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Chrome:
Click the three-dot menu icon, select " Settings, and click " Advanced ” on the left pane. In the "Advanced" section, click " Reset and clean up, then select " Restore settings to their original defaults ”.
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Firefox:
On Firefox, click this link or copy and paste it into the address bar: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/refresh-firefox-reset-add-ons-and-settings#. Click Refresh Firefox ” to continue when prompted.
Part 3 of 3: Fixing Constraints on Local Network
Step 1. Reset the modem and router
If you can access certain websites over your phone or tablet's cellular data network, but can't access the same sites from your home network, try restarting your router and/or wireless modem. Traffic to or from certain websites may be blocked or blocked by the modem or router.
- Unplug the cable from the modem and router (if you have a separate device) and wait for about a minute. Modems and routers differ in their appearance, but usually have one or more flashing lights. Modems are generally connected to a coaxial or telephone jack on the wall of the house.
- Reconnect the modem to a power source and wait for it to turn on.
- Reconnect the router to a power source and wait for it to turn on.
- Try visiting the website again.
Step 2. Clear DNS cache
DNS (Domain Name System) is a service that translates web domain names into IP addresses so you can connect to websites. Your computer has a DNS cache that may be out of date or corrupted so you can't access certain websites. By clearing your DNS cache, you can re-access your favorite sites.
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Windows:
Press shortcut” Windows ” + “ R ”, type cmd, and press the “ Enter In the command window, type ipconfig /flushdns and press “ Enter ”.
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Macs:
Open the app Terminal from the folder " Utilities ”, type dscacheutil -flushcache and press “ Return " After that, type sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder and press the “ Return ” to restart the DNS service. You will be asked to enter an administrator password.
Step 3. Try a different DNS server
The DNS server set up on the device may be blocking the site you want to visit. This often happens when you use a DNS service provider that uses a security block list to block sites that are known to be suspicious. Usually, the computer is set to get DNS server information automatically, but you can specify a specific server if you want.
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Look for reliable public/free DNS servers, such as DNS servers from Google, Cloudflare, and OpenDNS. You will also need to record the IP addresses for the primary and secondary DNS servers.
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Google:
8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
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Cloudflare:
1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
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OpenDNS:
208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220
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Verisign:
64.6.64.6 and 64.6.65.6.
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Change DNS server on Windows computer:
Press shortcut” Windows ” + “ R ” and type in ncpa.cpl to open the Network Connections window. Right click the network adapter, select " Properties ”, tick “Internet Protocol Version 4” on the list and click the button “ Properties " To specify a server, select " Use the following DNS server addresses ” and enter the addresses of the servers you want to use. If the address is already specified, you can change it or try to get the DNS server address automatically to see if the problem can be solved.
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Change DNS server on Mac computer:
Open the "Apple" menu, click " System Preferences ", choose " Network ”, and click the lock icon to make changes. Click the connection used, select " Advanced, and click the tab " DNS". Enter the addresses of the servers you want to use. Once addresses have been assigned, you can move the new addresses to the top of the list or delete the old ones.
Step 4. Disable the proxy server
If your computer is set up to connect to the internet via a proxy server, and that server is not working (or specifically blocking certain websites), you may be able to bypass the proxy server.
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Windows:
Click the Windows "Start" menu, select " Settings, and click " Network & Internet " Click " Proxy ” at the bottom of the left column. If a proxy server is already set up and you don't want to use it, turn off the "Use a proxy server" option at the bottom of the screen.
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Macs:
Click the "Apple" menu, select " System Preferences ", click " Network ”, and select an active connection. Click the button " Advanced, select tabs " Proxies ”, and uncheck the proxies you don't want to use.
Tips
- If you can't access any sites at all, the problem might be with the internet connection you're using. Contact the technical support service of your internet service provider or local administrator so that you can get back to accessing websites on the internet.
- If a website is blocked by an antivirus program, DNS service, or proxy server, the blocking may be in your favor. The site you want to access may be able to damage your computer with malware, or contain malicious content.
- While it's rare, sometimes the backbone of a larger network has a problem that affects a large number of websites at the same time.
