Few errors annoy internet users more than seeing “This site can’t be reached” suddenly appear on the screen. You type a website address, press enter, and instead of the page loading, the browser gives up and shows you this vague message. It feels like a dead end, especially when you’re trying to get important work done or open a site you have visited many times before.
The message seems simple, but many different issues can trigger it. Sometimes the problem is on your device or browser. Sometimes it’s caused by your network, router, or DNS settings. And in other situations, the issue is on the website’s server. The key to solving the problem is understanding where the connection is failing.
Before you panic, remember one thing: “this site can’t be reached” almost always has a fix.
How to Fix “This Site Can’t Be Reached”
When people search how to fix this site can’t be reached, they’re usually looking for one guide that explains every possible reason the error appears and how to solve it quickly. Below is a complete, practical walkthrough — simple enough for non-technical users but detailed enough to fix even recurring issues.
1. Restart Your Internet Connection
The most basic reason for the error is also the most common: your internet connection drops temporarily or your modem/router glitches. Simply restarting your connection often solves the issue instantly.
Try this:
- Turn off Wi-Fi on your device and reconnect.
- Restart your modem or router: unplug it, wait 30–60 seconds, plug back in.
- Reboot your computer or smartphone.
Often, the moment your network refreshes, the site loads normally again.
2. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
If you’re seeing this site can’t be reached Chrome, the issue might be inside the browser. Chrome saves cached files to help websites load faster, but those stored files can become outdated or corrupted. When that happens, Chrome may fail to load certain sites.
To clear the cache:
- Open Chrome
- Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Clear browsing data
- Select cached files (and optionally cookies)
- Clear them and restart Chrome
After clearing the cache, many websites load normally again.
3. Flush DNS Cache
Your device stores DNS information locally. DNS is what tells your browser how to find the website server. If the DNS information becomes stale or corrupted, the browser can’t reach the site and shows the error message.
Flushing DNS resets those records.
On Windows:
- Open Command Prompt
- Type: ipconfig /flushdns
- Press Enter
On macOS or Linux, DNS flushing commands differ, but the idea remains the same: refresh old DNS entries so the browser fetches fresh information.
This simple reset often solves major connection problems.
4. Change Your DNS Servers
A big reason people see chrome this site can’t be reached comes from slow or non-responsive DNS servers provided by your internet provider. When your ISP’s DNS is malfunctioning, your device can’t translate domain names into server IPs.
Switching to a faster, more stable DNS fixes this.
Popular options:
- Google DNS
- Cloudflare DNS
- OpenDNS
Changing DNS servers is done through your computer or router settings. After switching DNS, websites often load faster and more consistently.
5. Disable VPN, Proxy, and Firewall Rules
Many users don’t realize that VPNs and proxies can block websites unintentionally. Also, strict firewall rules — installed by antivirus tools, corporate networks, or even Chrome extensions — may prevent certain connections from reaching their destinations.
To test if this is the cause:
- Turn off any VPN
- Disable proxy settings
- Temporarily pause your antivirus firewall
- Reload the website
If the page loads successfully afterward, you’ve found the blocker. You can then adjust the settings or whitelist the website.
6. Disable Browser Extensions
Another common culprit behind this site can’t be reached chrome is browser extensions. Some extensions, especially those related to security, ad-blocking, or privacy, interfere with certain websites.
Try this:
- Open Extensions in Chrome
- Turn off all extensions
- Restart browser
- Try loading the website
If the site loads, re-enable extensions one by one to identify which one is causing the issue.
7. Reset Chrome Settings or Reinstall Chrome
If Chrome is the problem — not the website and not your internet — resetting Chrome to its default configuration often helps.
Steps:
- Go to chrome://settings/reset
- Choose “Restore settings to their original defaults”
- Restart Chrome
If problems continue, reinstalling the browser provides a clean slate and fixes deep browser-level corruption.
This Site Can’t Be Reached on Mobile (Android & iPhone)
Many users search for this site can’t be reached mobile, and the causes on mobile devices are sometimes different from desktops. A weak connection, misconfigured network settings, or cached mobile data can cause the same error.
Here’s what to do.
1. Check Your Mobile Internet or Wi-Fi
Start with the simplest fix:
- Toggle airplane mode on and off
- Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data or vice versa
- Forget the Wi-Fi network and reconnect
- Restart your phone
Phones often hold onto weak network states, and a quick reset solves the problem.
2. Clear Chrome Cache on Mobile
Chrome on mobile devices collects cached site data the same way it does on desktops. Clearing it improves loading reliability.
Steps:
- Open Chrome
- Go to Settings → Privacy → Clear browsing data
- Clear cached files
- Restart app
After clearing cache, websites usually load correctly.
3. Check Date & Time Settings
It sounds strange, but incorrect date/time settings on a phone can prevent secure websites from loading. SSL certificates rely on accurate time. If your phone clock is wrong, your browser may refuse to connect.
Simply turn on Automatic date & time and retry.
4. Disable Any VPN, Proxy, or Private DNS
Mobile VPN apps can block or reroute your traffic incorrectly. Some devices also have private DNS settings that cause trouble.
Turn off:
- VPN
- Private DNS (if enabled)
- Proxy settings
Reload the website after disabling these.
5. Reset Network Settings (Mobile)
If nothing works, the mobile network settings may be corrupted. Resetting them often fixes this site can’t be reached mobile instantly.
This will reset:
- Wi-Fi
- Mobile data
- Bluetooth
- DNS
- Network permissions
After the reset, reconnect to Wi-Fi and try loading the page again.
Common Variants of the Error
When Chrome fails to load a site, it may show specific error codes alongside this site can’t be reached. Although the message stays the same, the underlying reasons differ.
Some common technical codes include:
- DNS lookup failures
- Connection timed out
- Connection reset
- Server refused connection
- Network unreachable
Knowing the specific code helps narrow down the cause, but even without it, the fixes above usually solve the problem.
Why This Error Happens So Often
It might feel like Chrome shows this site can’t be reached more than other browsers. Chrome is stricter with DNS, HTTPS, and caching rules, which sometimes means it rejects connections other browsers might allow.
Other contributing reasons:
- Router performance issues
- Misconfigured DNS settings
- Browser extensions interfering
- ISP restrictions
- VPN interruptions
- Website server downtime
In many cases, the issue has nothing to do with you — the website itself may be offline or experiencing server problems.
How Website Owners Can Fix the Error
If you own a website and users report seeing this message, the issue might be on your server rather than their device.
Check the following:
- Domain registration is active
- DNS A records point to the correct server
- Hosting server is online
- Firewall isn’t blocking your visitors
- SSL is properly installed
- Website files aren’t corrupted
- Server isn’t overloaded
Fixing these ensures visitors don’t see chrome this site can’t be reached when trying to access your website.
Prevention: How to Avoid “This Site Can’t Be Reached” in the Future
You can reduce how often you encounter this error by keeping your digital environment clean and updated.
Here’s what helps:
- Use reliable DNS (Google or Cloudflare)
- Restart your router occasionally
- Keep Chrome and OS updated
- Clear cache every few weeks
- Avoid too many extensions
- Don’t stack VPNs or proxies
- Use stable internet instead of low-signal networks
- Regularly renew and check your website’s DNS records (if you’re a site owner)
These habits keep your connection fast, secure, and less prone to failure.
Conclusion
The “This site can’t be reached” message might look intimidating, but it usually points to simple problems that can be fixed in minutes. Whether it appears on your desktop, on Chrome, or on mobile, the solutions are almost always within your control.
By following the steps above — from restarting your network to changing DNS servers, clearing browser cache, disabling VPNs, or resetting Chrome settings — you can easily solve the issue. And if you’re a website owner, checking domain and server configuration ensures your visitors never face the same problem.
Understanding how to fix this site can’t be reached means you’ll never again feel stuck when Chrome or your mobile browser refuses to load a page. You now have a complete troubleshooting map — practical, detailed, and effective.
FAQs
A: This message usually appears when your device can’t connect to the website’s server. It may happen because of DNS issues, slow internet, caching problems, or temporary network interruptions.
A: It can be either. If other websites load fine, the issue is likely with that specific site. If nothing loads or only some sites fail, the problem is usually with your internet, DNS, or browser settings.
A: Chrome is stricter about DNS, HTTPS, and cache handling. When anything looks unstable, Chrome blocks the connection to protect users, which makes the error appear more frequently.
A: Yes, sometimes. VPNs can block certain websites, reroute your traffic to slow servers, or create conflicts with DNS. Turning off the VPN often solves the problem immediately.
A: Absolutely. Even with a strong internet, corrupted mobile cache, incorrect date/time settings, or private DNS issues can trigger “This site can’t be reached mobile.” Clearing the cache or resetting network settings usually fixes it.