How to Solve the Problem of Not Being able to Access a Certain Website

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-02 13:14

This article explains what to do when you are unable to access a particular website. If the website works normally using different computers, connections, smartphones and tablets, then the problem is most likely with your device or network connection. There are some quick fixes that can fix most common problems, but in some cases you may need to work a little harder.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Troubleshooting

Step 1. Find out if the website is offline

• If the website is offline, there isn't much you can do to fix it other than wait for it to come back online. Try to check after letting some time pass to see if the situation has changed. If you are sure that the website is back online, but you still can't access it, clear your browser cache and try again.
• In some cases the cause of the problem lies in the part of the network that connects your computer to the website in question and not the website itself which is fully functional and online. If you are certain that the website you are trying to visit is online, continue reading to try to fix the problem.

Step 2. Try to access the website under consideration using a different device or network connection

If using a different device or another internet connection the website loads normally, it means that the problem is related to the device or browser you are using. On the contrary, if the site is still unreachable, it is very likely that the problem concerns the website itself or the network to which it is connected.

If possible, try to access the website in question using another device connected to the same network (for example your home Wi-Fi network) then carry out the same test using a different internet connection (for example the mobile data connection)

Step 3. Try to access the website using the browser's incognito mode

If the requested page appears without any problems, it is likely that the cause of the previous malfunction is due to an extension or a plugin installed in the browser. If using the incognito mode of the browser, the requested page loads normally, you can solve the problem by disabling the browser extensions, deleting the cookies or restoring the default configuration settings of the browser. The following explains how to activate the incognito browsing mode of the most popular internet browsers:

• Computer:

  • Chrome, Edge and Safari:

    press the key combination Command + Shift + N (Mac) or Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows).

  • Firefox:

    press the key combination Command + Shift + P (Mac) or Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows).

• Mobile devices:

  • Chrome:

    Tap the button with three vertically aligned dots next to the address bar, then select the option New tab in disguise.

  • Safari:

    tap the button with two slightly overlapping squares located in the lower right corner of the screen, then select the option Private visible in the lower left.

  • Samsung Internet Browser:

    tap the button with two slightly overlapping squares at the bottom of the screen, then select the item Activate Secret Mode.

  

  Step 4. Restart your device (computer, smartphone or tablet)

  In some cases, a simple restart can fix the problem. After restarting the device, try to log in to the website again.

  

  Step 5. Temporarily disable the antivirus software

  The latter could negatively interfere with the browser's ability to access certain web pages. Try disabling the antivirus software, then try loading the webpage again.

  • If you are able to access the website when the antivirus software is disabled, it means that there is a firewall rule or some other program setting that blocks access to that specific website. Remember that this could be automatic protection activated by the fact that the website could pose a security threat to the device and the data it contains. If you are sure that the site is safe and reliable, open the antivirus software interface, locate the settings section related to access control of websites and apps and make any necessary changes.
  • Make sure to re-enable the antivirus after the control test is complete.

  

  Step 6. Verify that your computer's date and time are correct

  If a security-related error message appears when you try to access a specific website, it is likely that the date and time on your computer, smartphone, or tablet is incorrect. Check your computer or mobile device's system clock to make sure it's set to the correct date, time, and time zone.

  • If the time or date on your Windows computer is incorrect, click on an empty spot on the taskbar, select the option Change date / time, then activate the "Set date / time automatically" slider. At this point click on the button Synchronize to synchronize.
  • If you are using a Mac and the date or time is incorrect, go to the menu Apple, select the item System Preferences, click on the icon Date and time, then click the lock icon so you can make any changes you want. Select the "Automatically set date and time" checkbox. If your Mac is connected to the internet, it will always be able to use the correct date and time.

  

  Step 7. Make sure that no parental control restrictions are active

  If you are using software of this type, it may block access to certain websites. If you have access to the program, disable it and try visiting the website again.

  

  Step 8. Scan your system with antimalware software

  If your computer is infected with a virus or other type of malware, you may have trouble accessing certain websites. In case of infection some web pages may not load or you may be redirected to unsolicited websites. When scanning with anti-virus or anti-malware software the program will guide you through a process of securing your entire computer which should also restore proper web access.

  Part 2 of 3: Troubleshoot Browser Issues

  

  Step 1. Use a different internet browser

  If the site in question loads correctly using another device, but does not open when using the internet browser (even in incognito mode), try using a browser other than the previous one. If there is only one browser on your device, you can download and install a second one quickly and easily by choosing from Firefox, Chrome or Opera that you can use to try to access the web page in question again.

  If using another browser the requested page is displayed without any problem, try disabling the adblocker of the browser you normally use and deleting the cookies. In some cases, adblockers and expired cookies can prevent a web page from loading correctly

  

  Step 2. Make sure JavaScript is enabled

  This feature is enabled by default on all browsers. However, if for any reason JavaScript has been disabled, you may have difficulty loading many of the most popular and well-known websites correctly. Check your browser configuration settings to make sure JavaScript is enabled:

  • Computer:

    • Chrome:

      click on the button characterized by three dots, select the item Settings, then select the option Advanced from the left panel of the page. Click on the item Site settings visible in the "Privacy and security" section. If the use of JavaScript is disabled, click on the item JavaScript, then enable its use.

    • Edge:

      click on the button characterized by three dots, select the item Settings. Click on the option Cookies and site permissions visible in the left pane of the window, then look for "JavaScript" in the "All permissions" section. If it says "Allowed", it means that the browser is configured correctly. Otherwise click on the "JavaScript" option and activate the corresponding slider.

    • Firefox:

      type the URL about: config into the address bar and confirm your willingness to access this page. Type the string "javascript.enabled" into the search field and make sure that the corresponding value is "True". If not, double-click on the value false of the parameter to change it.

    • Safari:

      click on the menu Safari, select the item Preferences, then click the tab Safety. If the "Enable JavaScript" checkbox is not checked, click on it to select it now.

  • Mobile Devices:

    • Chrome for Android:

      if you are using Chrome on iPhone / iPad, the use of JavaScript is always on and cannot be disabled. If you are using an Android device, tap the button with the three dots next to the address bar, choose the item Settings, choose the item Site settings, then select the option JavaScript. If the latter is disabled, activate it now.

    • Safari:

      launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad and select the item Safari. Scroll down the page and choose the item Advanced, then activate the "JavaScript" slider if it is not already active.

  • Samsung Internet Browser:

    press the button characterized by three lines, choose the item Settings, choose the option Advanced, then enable the use of JavaScript if it is disabled.

  

  Step 3. Reset Firefox or Chrome (and you're using a computer)

  If the problem persists, both Chrome and Firefox offer the option to restore the factory default configuration settings. This procedure can solve any problems that the other solutions offered did not solve. Please note that by restoring all custom settings and quick links, extensions and add-ons will also be disabled and all temporary web browsing data will be deleted.

  • Chrome:

    click on the button characterized by three dots, select the item Settings, then select the option Advanced from the left panel of the page. Click on the item Restore the original default settings found in the "Advanced" section, then click on the button Reset.

  • Firefox:

    using the Firefox browser click on the link below or paste it in the address bar: https://support.mozilla.org/it-it/kb/refresh-firefox-reset-add-ons-and-settings#. When prompted click on the link Reset Firefox to continue.

  Part 3 of 3: Troubleshoot the Local LAN Network

  

  Step 1. Reset the modem and network router

  If the site you are trying to consult is reachable using your smartphone or tablet and its cellular data connection, but you cannot access it using the Wi-Fi connection, try to solve the problem by restarting the network devices (modem and router). In some rare cases, data packets sent or received from the web could cause the modem or network router to temporarily block.

  • Unplug the power cord of the modem and router (if they are two separate devices) and wait a few minutes. Each model of modem and router has its own specific characteristics and appearance, however they all have one or more indicator lights. Normally the modem is connected to the Internet via a coaxial cable, a twisted pair or a direct fiber optic cable.
  • Plug the modem's power cord back in and wait for it to complete the boot process.
  • At this point, connect the power cable of the router and wait for the latter to complete the start-up procedure as well.
  • Now try again to access the website in question.

  

  Step 2. Flush the DNS service cache

  The DNS service (from the English "Domain Name System") takes care of translating the domain names of Internet addresses into IP addresses, so that devices can communicate with each other. All computers are equipped with a DNS cache in which certain data is stored that over time can become corrupted or become obsolete, a scenario in which access to some websites may become impossible. Flushing, i.e. clearing data, of the DNS cache could be useful to solve the problem of accessing the websites you normally visit.

  • Windows:

    press the key combination Windows + R, type in the keyword cmd and press the key Enter. When the "Command Prompt" window appears, type the command ipconfig / flushdns and press the key Enter.

  • Mac:

    open a window Terminal by clicking on the appropriate icon in the folder Utility, type the command dscacheutil -flushcache and press the key Enter. At this point type the command sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder and press the key Enter to restart the DNS service. You will be asked to provide the password for the Mac administrator account.

  

  Step 3. Try using a different DNS server than the current one

  The DNS server your device is using may be causing the login problems you are having. This is a common scenario when using DNS servers that use blacklists to block access to potentially dangerous websites for the purpose of maintaining network security. Normally a computer is configured to automatically obtain the DNS server information to use, however you can also specify the IP address of the one to use.

  • Find a free, public DNS server such as Google, Cloudflare, and OpenDNS, then make a note of the IP address of the primary and secondary DNS servers.

    • Google:

      8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4;

    • Cloudflare:

      1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1;

    • OpenDNS:

      208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220;

    • Verisign:

      64.6.64.6 and 64.6.65.6.

  • Change DNS servers in Windows:

    press the key combination Windows + R then type the command ncpa.cpl and press the "Enter" key to open the "Network Connections" window. Click on the network connection to modify using the right mouse button, choose the item Property, select the item "Internet Protocol Version 4" from the list and click the button Property. To be able to configure the use of a specific DNS server, select the radio button Use the following DNS server addresses, then enter the IP addresses you noted earlier in the respective fields. If there are already IP addresses, you can replace them or you can choose to use those automatically provided by your internet connection manager to vitrify if this new configuration solves the problem.

  • Change DNS servers on Mac:

    access the "Apple" menu, click on the item System Preferences, click on the icon Net, then click on the padlock icon. Click on the network connection you want to change, then click the button Advanced and access the tab DNS. Enter the address of the DNS servers you want to use. If there are already addresses, you can enter the new one and then move it to the top of the list or you can opt to delete the servers already present.

  

  Step 4. Disable the use of the proxy server

  If your computer is configured to access the internet via a proxy server and the latter is unreachable for any reason (in some cases it is the websites themselves that block the use of certain proxies), to reach the requested page you will have to bypass the proxy server.

  • Windows:

    click on the Windows "Start" button, click on the icon Settings, then click the option Network and Internet. Click on the tab Proxy listed at the bottom of the left panel of the page. If you have configured the use of a proxy server, but you do not really need to use it, disable the "Use proxy server" slider located at the bottom of the right pane of the window.

  • Mac:

    click on the "Apple" menu, select the item System Preferences, click on the icon Net, then select the network connection you are using. Click on the button Advanced, choose the tab Proxy, then deselect any proxy servers you don't want to use.

  Advice

  • If you are unable to access any website in any way, there is most likely a problem with the network connection. In this case, contact customer service or the assistance of your internet connection manager or the administrator of the network you are using to try to solve the problem.
  • If access to a website is blocked by anti-virus software, DNS service, or a proxy server, there is most likely a valid reason for this restriction. Evidently the site you are trying to access may infect your computer with malware or viruses.
  • Although it happens rarely, sometimes some large arteries of the internet can experience problems whose effects affect a large number of websites at the same time.