Follow our comprehensive troubleshooting guide to identify and resolve common website access issues
If you're having trouble accessing a website, follow these troubleshooting steps systematically. Start from the top and work your way down until the issue is resolved.
Use SiteStatus.org to check the real-time status of the website. If we can access the site, the issue is likely on your end. If the website is down for us too, you'll need to wait for it to come back online.
Tip: Websites occasionally go offline for maintenance or due to server issues.
Cached data or corrupted cookies can prevent websites from loading correctly. Clearing them often resolves loading issues.
Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+Delete (Mac)
Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+Delete (Mac)
Safari menu → Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data → Remove All
Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete, select cached data and cookies
If the website isn't opening in your current browser, try accessing it using a different browser. This helps determine if the issue is browser-specific.
If the website is geo-blocked or restricted in your location, using a VPN may allow you to access it by changing your IP address.
Some websites restrict access based on geographical location—a VPN can help bypass these restrictions.
DNS issues can prevent websites from loading. Try changing your DNS settings to use a public DNS server.
Browser extensions can sometimes interfere with website loading. Try disabling extensions or use Incognito/Private mode where extensions are typically disabled by default.
Quick Test: Open the website in Incognito mode (Chrome) or Private Browsing (Firefox/Safari).
Overly restrictive firewall or antivirus settings can block access to certain websites. Temporarily disable them to test if they're causing the issue.
Remember: Re-enable your firewall and antivirus after testing for security.
Your computer stores DNS information to speed up connections, but this cache can become outdated or corrupted.
ipconfig /flushdns
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches
Network connectivity issues can often be resolved by restarting your router or modem. Unplug it, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Wait for the connection to re-establish before trying again.
Simply restarting your computer, smartphone, or device can resolve temporary issues. This clears temporary files and resets network connections.
Try accessing the website from a different device (smartphone, tablet) on the same network. If it works on another device, the problem is device-specific.
Connect to a different network (mobile data instead of Wi-Fi) to determine if your network is the issue. If the website loads on a different network, the problem is with your original connection.
The hosts file on your computer can sometimes block access to websites. Check if the website is blocked in your hosts file.
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
/etc/hosts
Open the file with a text editor and look for entries related to the website. Remove them or comment them out by adding a # at the beginning.
Using an outdated browser can cause compatibility issues with modern websites. Make sure your browser is updated to the latest version.
If none of the above steps work, there may be a problem with your internet connection or ISP. Your ISP might be blocking the website, or there could be a network issue. Contact their customer support for assistance.
If you've tried these steps and are still unable to access the website, the issue may be with the website itself. You may need to wait for it to be resolved by the website's administrators.
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