How to Fix This site can't be reached (Google Chrome)
Quick Answer
The 'This site can't be reached' error indicates that your browser was unable to connect to the requested website. This often occurs due to network connectivity issues, incorrect DNS settings, or problems with the website's server. The fastest fix is to check your internet connection and restart your router.
What Causes This Error
- No internet connection or unstable network connection.
- Incorrect DNS (Domain Name System) settings or DNS server issues.
- Firewall or antivirus software blocking access to the website.
- Browser cache or cookies corruption.
- Proxy server misconfiguration.
- Website server is temporarily down or offline.
Step-by-Step Fixes
1Verify Your Internet Connection
- Check if other websites load correctly in your browser.
- Open a new tab and try accessing a different, well-known website like 'www.google.com' or 'www.youtube.com'.
- If other sites also fail to load, check your network cable connections if you are using a wired connection.
- If using Wi-Fi, ensure your device is connected to the correct network and that the signal strength is adequate.
- Restart your modem and router by unplugging them from their power source, waiting 30 seconds, and then plugging them back in. Wait for all indicator lights to stabilize before retesting.
2Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner to open the menu.
- Navigate to 'More tools' > 'Clear browsing data'.
- Set the 'Time range' to 'All time'.
- Ensure 'Cookies and other site data' and 'Cached images and files' are checked.
- Click the 'Clear data' button.
- Restart Chrome and attempt to access the website again.
3Disable Proxy Settings
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner and select 'Settings'.
- Scroll down and click 'System' on the left sidebar.
- Click 'Open your computer's proxy settings'. This will open your operating system's network proxy settings.
- For Windows: In the 'Proxy' section, ensure 'Automatically detect settings' is toggled 'On' and 'Use a proxy server' is toggled 'Off'.
- For macOS: Go to 'Network' > 'Advanced' > 'Proxies' tab. Uncheck all proxy protocols (e.g., Web Proxy (HTTP), Secure Web Proxy (HTTPS)) unless you specifically require them.
- Close the settings windows and attempt to access the website.
4Temporarily Disable Firewall or Antivirus
- Locate your antivirus software icon in the system tray (Windows) or menu bar (macOS) and right-click it.
- Look for options like 'Disable protection', 'Pause firewall', or 'Exit'. Select the option to temporarily disable it.
- If your operating system's firewall is active, navigate to your system's firewall settings (e.g., 'Windows Defender Firewall' on Windows, 'Security & Privacy' > 'Firewall' on macOS).
- Temporarily disable the firewall.
- Attempt to access the website. If the site loads, re-enable your security software immediately and investigate its settings to allow access to the specific website or Chrome.
- Remember to re-enable your antivirus and firewall software after testing to maintain system security.
Advanced Fixes
Flush DNS Cache and Renew IP Address
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator (Windows) or Terminal (macOS).
- For Windows: Type 'ipconfig /flushdns' and press Enter. Then type 'ipconfig /release' and press Enter. Finally, type 'ipconfig /renew' and press Enter.
- For macOS: Type 'sudo dscacheutil -flushcache' and press Enter. You may be prompted for your administrator password. Then type 'sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder' and press Enter.
- Close the Command Prompt or Terminal window.
- Restart your computer and attempt to access the website.
Change DNS Server Settings
- Open your network adapter settings.
- For Windows: Go to 'Settings' > 'Network & Internet' > 'Change adapter options'. Right-click your active network adapter (Ethernet or Wi-Fi) and select 'Properties'. Select 'Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)' and click 'Properties'.
- For macOS: Go to 'System Settings' > 'Network'. Select your active network connection (e.g., Wi-Fi or Ethernet), click 'Details', then go to the 'DNS' tab.
- Select 'Use the following DNS server addresses' (Windows) or click the '+' button under 'DNS Servers' (macOS).
- Enter preferred public DNS servers, such as Google's DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare's DNS (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1).
- Click 'OK' or 'Apply' to save the changes.
- Restart your browser and test the website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'This site can't be reached' mean?
This error message indicates that your web browser was unable to establish a connection with the server hosting the website you are trying to visit. This can happen for various reasons, including network problems, DNS resolution failures, or issues with the website's server itself.
Why does this error appear only for some websites?
If the error appears only for specific websites, it suggests the problem might be localized. This could be due to the specific website's server being down, a firewall or antivirus blocking only that site, or a DNS issue specific to that domain. It's less likely to be a general internet connection problem if other sites load.
Does restarting my router always fix this error?
Restarting your router can resolve many network-related issues that cause the 'This site can't be reached' error. It clears temporary glitches in your network hardware, renews your IP address, and refreshes your connection to your internet service provider. While not a guaranteed fix for all causes, it's a common and effective first step.
Is it safe to disable my antivirus or firewall temporarily?
Temporarily disabling your antivirus or firewall is a troubleshooting step to determine if these security programs are interfering with your internet connection. It is generally safe for a very brief period (minutes) to test a website, but you should re-enable them immediately afterward to maintain your system's security. Do not browse or download content while they are disabled.