How to Fix “This site can’t be reached”: 2025 Step-by-Step

Load your browser, type in a URL, but only see “This site can’t be reached”? Whether you’re browsing at home, navigating corporate networks, or managing your own website, this error is frustrating. In this guide, we’ll break down the most common scenarios and easy-to-follow steps to get you back online quickly. 

It might show variations but the root causes are usually similar. We will help you troubleshoot effectively, whether the issue affects one site, all sites, or just your device. Let’s get successful browsing again.

What “This site can’t be reached” Means and Why it Happens

When a browser shows “This site can’t be reached,” it means your request never made it to the target server—or the server’s response never returned to your device. Common underlying HTTP codes include:

• ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED (DNS lookup failed)
• ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT (server didn’t reply in time)
• ERR_CONNECTION_RESET (connection was reset by peer)
• ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED (server actively refused connection)

Identifying the exact code helps zero in on the root cause:

Internet Connectivity Problems: No connection, a glitchy router, or an ISP outage can block access. If your Wi-Fi signal’s weak or your modem’s acting up, this could be it.

DNS Issues: The Domain Name System (DNS) translates website names into IP addresses that your browser can find. If a DNS server goes down or is misconfigured, you will be stuck.

Browser Hiccups: Cached data or cookies can get outdated, causing conflicts that stop pages from loading.

Security Software Blocks: Firewalls or antivirus programs might flag a site as risky and block it by mistake.

Website Downtime: Sometimes, the site itself is offline or misconfigured—beyond your control, but worth checking.

Home User Fixes

If you’re on your personal computer or home Wi-Fi, follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Verify Your Internet Connection

Open another website (like a search engine) to see if it loads. No luck? Your internet is the issue.

1. Try another site (e.g., a search engine). If it fails too, your connection is the culprit.

2. Restart router/modem: Unplug both for 30 seconds, then power them back on.

3. Switch to a different network: Connect via mobile hotspot to isolate your Wi-Fi.

Step 2: Clear Browser Data

Old data can confuse your browser, so clear it out.

1. Clear cache & cookies:

Chrome/Firefox/Edge: Settings → Privacy & Security → Delete/Clear Browsing Data → Select “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and other site data” → Delete/Clear.

2. Disable extensions that may inject code or modify DNS queries.

Step 3: Flush Your DNS Cache

Reset stored DNS info that might be outdated.

Windows: ipconfig /flushdns

macOS: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

Linux: sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches.

Step 4: Change DNS Servers

If your default DNS is slow or down, use fast, reliable public DNS.

• Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
• Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1

Windows: Network & Internet → Change adapter options → Properties → IPv4 → enter new DNS.

Mac: System Preferences > Network > Advanced > DNS.

Step 5: Check Security Software

Firewalls or antivirus might block the site.

Temporarily disable them (look in their settings or system tray), then try the site. If it works, add an exception for that URL and re-enable protection.

Step 6: Update or Switch Browsers

Ensure your browser isn’t outdated(Check for updates in Settings/About. Install if available), or test a different browser (e.g., switch from Chrome to Firefox).

Step 7: Reset Network Settings (Last Resort)

Reset everything network-related if all else fails.

Windows: Settings → Network & Internet → Status → Network reset → Restart.

Mac: Remove Wi-Fi networks in Network Preferences, then re-add them.

Corporate or Proxy Environments

In office networks or when using a VPN/proxy, additional layers can block connectivity.

Step 1: Disable VPN, Corporate Proxy, or Security Software

Temporarily turn off your VPN client or corporate proxy in browser settings. Temporarily disable corporate firewalls or antivirus to see if they’re blocking the site.

Step 2: Verify Proxy Configuration

Windows: Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy → Off for both manual and automatic.

macOS: System Preferences → Network → Advanced → Proxies → Uncheck all protocols

Step 3: Use an External Proxy to Test Reachability

A high-quality residential proxy (e.g., from GoProxy) can help determine if your corporate firewall or ISP is blocking the site:

bash

 

curl -x http://username:[email protected]:1080 http://example.com

If you get a 200 OK, the block is local—speak to IT or switch to a different network.

If the error persists, problem may lie with the remote server or your proxy credentials.

Website Owner Diagnostics

If you manage the site and visitors report it “can’t be reached,” troubleshoot from the server side:

Step 1: Check DNS Records & Propagation

Verify your A/AAAA records point to the correct IP. Use tools like WhatsMyDNS.net to ensure global propagation.

Step 2: Confirm Domain & SSL

Ensure your domain is active and not expired. Test your SSL certificate (e.g., SSL Labs); expired or misconfigured certificates lead to handshake failures.

Step 3: Examine Server Status & Logs

SSH into your server and check web server logs (/var/log/nginx/error.log or /var/log/apache2/error.log). Look for “Connection refused”, “SSL handshake failed”, or PHP errors.

Step 4: Review Firewall & Security Rules

On Linux servers, run sudo iptables -L or sudo ufw status to check iptables or ufw rules that might block incoming traffic. If using a web application firewall (WAF), temporarily bypass it to isolate the cause.

Step 5: Restart Web Services & Clear Caches

Restart services:

bash

 

sudo systemctl restart nginx

sudo systemctl restart php-fpm

And clear server-side cache if using Varnish or Redis.

Advanced Network Troubleshooting for “This Site Can’t Be Reached”

For persistent or complex problems, dive deeper:

1. Reset TCP/IP Stack (Windows)

bash

 

netsh int ip reset

netsh winsock reset

2. Traceroute / MTR

bash

 

traceroute example.com        # macOS/Linux

tracert example.com           # Windows

mtr example.com               # Linux with mtr installed

Identify hops where packets drop or time out.

3. Check MTU Settings

Incorrect MTU can fragment packets excessively. Lower to 1400:

bash

 

sudo ifconfig eth0 mtu 1400   # Linux

4. Inspect Local Hosts File

Ensure no erroneous entries mapping your domain to a wrong IP:

Windows: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

macOS/Linux: /etc/hosts

Tailored Solutions

Users face this error in different contexts. Here’s how to adapt:

One Site vs. All Sites

One Site: If other sites work, it’s likely that site’s down. Check its status on a site like DownDetector or from another device. If it’s fine elsewhere, proceed with DNS or cache steps.

All Sites: Focus on Steps 1 (connection) and 7 (network reset).

One Device vs. Multiple Devices

One Device: Issue’s local—start with cache (Step 2) and escalate.

Multiple Devices: Router or ISP problem—restart modem or call your provider.

After a Change (e.g., Update or Proxy)

If the error began after installing software or proxy changes, revert those changes or disable the proxy (Step 3, Section 3).

Browser-Specific Fixes

Chrome: Disable extensions (Settings > Extensions > Toggle Off) to rule them out.

Firefox: Search and toggle "DNS over HTTPS" in Settings.

Edge: Reset settings (Settings > Reset) if extensions aren’t the issue.

Prevent “This Site Can’t Be Reached” with Proactive Measures

Keep this errors at bay with these best practices:

Monitor Uptime & DNS Health

Use synthetic checks from multiple locations; alert on failures.

Automate DNS Cache Flush

On critical systems, schedule a daily DNS cache reset to clear stale data.

Implement Load Balancing & Failover

Distribute traffic across multiple servers or regions; if one node fails, others serve requests.

Maintain SSL Certificates

Automate renewals via Let’s Encrypt or your CA to avoid expired-certificate blocks.

Use Reliable Residential Proxies

Testing from quality endpoints (GoProxy’s global residential nodes) ensures you see the user-experience in various regions, detecting geo-specific blocks.

Final Thoughts

The “This site can’t be reached” error doesn’t take long to fix. Start with simple checks—verify connectivity, clear cache—then escalate to DNS changes and advanced network resets. Website owners can quickly diagnose DNS or server-side faults via logs and configuration reviews. With this scenario-based approach, you’ll restore access swiftly and keep your site or browsing sessions running smoothly.

Need unblocked, reliable connectivity from around the world? Sign up for GoProxy’s residential proxy trial and test any site from multiple regions—risk-free!