Sometimes, when you try to open one of your favorite websites in Google Chrome, instead of the website, you see a message that says, “This site can’t be reached.“ This can be quite frustrating, especially when you are looking for important information.
This error means that Chrome is unable to connect to the website. This could be due to a weak internet connection, incorrect network settings, a DNS issue, or a problem with the website itself.
You can easily fix this from the comfort of your home. In this guide, we will show you 7 easy ways to fix the “This site can’t be reached” error in Chrome. Let’s take a look.
What Does “This Site Can’t Be Reached” Mean?
Whenever the message “This site can’t be reached” appears in Chrome, it means that your browser is unable to connect to the website you are trying to open.
Suppose you are trying to call a friend, but the call fails to connect due to a network issue. Similarly, when Chrome attempts to connect to a website but is unable to reach it for some reason, you see an error message instead of the website: “This site can’t be reached.”
Sometimes this issue is caused by the poor internet connection, while at other times the website’s server might be down.
Why Does Chrome Show “This Site Can’t Be Reached”?
There is not just one single cause for this error. It could be due to various issues related to your browser, computer, internet connection, or the website itself.
Here are some common reasons:
- Your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection may not be working properly.
- You may have typed the wrong website address, or the domain may have expired or never been registered.
- The website’s server may be offline.
- The website may have broken, missing, or incorrect DNS records.
How to Fix “This Site Can’t Be Reached”
Look, there’s no need to try complicated solutions. Let’s start with the first method and see whether the website opens or not; if it doesn’t, we’ll move on to the next method.
1. Check Your Internet Connection
First, you need to check your internet connection. If your computer is not connected to the internet, Chrome will not be able to open websites.
Sometimes, your computer might show that it is connected to Wi-Fi, but in reality, the internet may not be working.
You can also check the connection by connecting your computer to a different Wi-Fi network or by using a mobile hotspot.
If all websites except one are opening, it means your internet is working properly; the issue likely lies with that specific website.
2. Restart Your Browser and Computer
Sometimes, websites may fail to load due to a temporary issue in the browser. Restarting the browser can resolve minor problems.
First, close all open Chrome windows. Then, reopen Chrome and go to the website.
If the problem persists, restart your computer. Restarting can resolve temporary network issues.
3. Clear Your Browser Cache and Cookies
Browsers save information from certain websites so that those sites can load more quickly. This information includes cached images, files, and cookies.
Sometimes, this data becomes old or outdated, which can cause issues when trying to open a website.
Clearing your browsing data may help resolve this problem.
In Google Chrome:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete.
- Set the time range to All time.
- Tick Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
- Click Delete data, then restart Chrome and try again.
Note: Deleting cookies may log you out of some websites, after which you might need to log in again by entering your login details.
4. Flush the DNS Cache
The full form of DNS is ‘Domain Name System’. It works much like a phonebook. When you enter the name of a website, DNS converts it into a numerical format, which allows your computer to connect to that website.
If DNS data becomes corrupted or outdated, you’ll see errors like DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN errors. ‘Flushing’ the DNS removes this old information, enabling your computer to look up website addresses again.
- Click the Start menu and type cmd.
- Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
- Type the commands given below, and press Enter after each one:
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew- Wait until a message appears in Windows stating that the DNS resolver cache was successfully flushed.
- Close the window and restart your computer.
If you are still having an error, you can reset the network stack by using the commands netsh winsock reset and netsh int ip reset. Afterward, restart your system.
5. Change Your DNS Server
By default, Your computer use the DNS server provided by internet providers, which are often slow and unreliable. Using public DNS such as Google or Cloudflare can resolve this issue.
Google DNS Address:
| DNS Setting | Address |
|---|---|
| Preferred DNS | 8.8.8.8 |
| Alternate DNS | 8.8.4.4 |
Cloudflare DNS Address:
| DNS Setting | Address |
|---|---|
| Preferred DNS | 1.1.1.1 |
| Alternate DNS | 1.0.0.1 |
- Press Windows + R, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.
- Right-click your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and choose Properties.
- Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
- Choose Use the following DNS server addresses.
- Enter 8.8.8.8 as the preferred server and 8.8.4.4 as the alternate (these are Google’s). Cloudflare users can enter 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 instead.
- Click OK and try the site again.
6. Reset Your Network Settings
If none of the previous methods are working, there might be an issue with the network settings.
Resetting network settings restores network adapters and connection settings to their default state. This helps resolve hidden issues that are otherwise difficult to detect.
Note: Resetting the network removes Wi-Fi networks, passwords, and VPN connections, so make sure you remember your Wi-Fi password.
On Windows 11:
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Click Network & internet.
- Select Advanced network settings.
- Click Network reset.
- Click Reset now, then choose Yes to confirm.
On Windows 10:
- Press Windows + I and open Network & Internet.
- On the Status tab, scroll down and click Network reset.
- Click Reset now, then choose Yes.
Restart your computer, reconnect to Wi-Fi, and try opening the website again.
7. Disable Chrome Extensions
Extensions such as ad blockers, VPN add-ons, and security tools can sometimes block websites and interfere with connections.
The easiest way is to open an Incognito window by pressing Ctrl + Shift + N. This is because Chrome extensions are disabled in Incognito mode. If the website opens there, it means the issue is being caused by an extension.
To find it:
- Type chrome://extensions in the address bar and press Enter.
- Turn off all your extensions.
- Reload the website.
- Re-enable the extensions one by one until the error reappears. The extension that causes the problem to return is the actual culprit; therefore, remove it or keep it disabled.
What If “This Site Can’t Be Reached” Still Appears?
If the problem persists and the website does not open, there are a few other things you can check.
- Check the website address: Ensure that you have typed the correct website name.
- Try a different browser: Open the same website in Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or another browser. If the website works there, the issue might be related to Chrome.
- Check whether the website is down: Visit Is It Down Right Now to check if the website is working or temporarily down.
- Try a different internet connection: Connect your computer to another Wi-Fi network or mobile hotspot.
These additional checks will help you determine whether the problem lies with your computer, the network, the browser, or the website itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why does Chrome keep saying “This Site Can’t Be Reached”?
The “This Site Can’t Be Reached” message in Chrome appears because the browser is unable to connect to the website. This can happen due to internet issues, DNS errors, incorrect network settings, or because the website itself is not working.
2. How do I fix “This Site Can’t Be Reached” on Windows 10?
To fix this, first check your internet connection and restart your computer. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, clear your Chrome browsing data, flush the DNS cache, or change your DNS server. You can also reset your network settings if necessary.