Browser Not Loading Pages: Complete Fix Guide (2026)

Browser Not Loading Pages: Complete Fix Guide (2025)

You open your browser, type in a URL, and... nothing happens. Pages won't load, or you get error messages like "ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED," "This site can't be reached," or "DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG." Meanwhile, other apps on your computer connect to the internet just fine.

This is one of the most frustrating browser problems because it could be your browser, your network, or the website itself. We'll figure out which one and fix it.

More browser fixes: Having other browser issues? See our complete Browser Problems Troubleshooting Guide for crashes, slow performance, loading issues, and more.

💡 Tip: If you suspect the problem might be related to your browser crashing or running slowly, check our guides on Browser Keeps Crashing or Browser Too Many Tabs Running Slow.

Why Pages Won't Load

When a page won't load, one of these is usually blocking it:

1. DNS Issues (Most Common)

DNS translates website names (google.com) into IP addresses your browser can reach. When DNS fails, your browser can't find the website even if it exists.

Signs: "DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG" or "Can't find server" messages

2. Browser Cache Corruption

Cached website data speeds up loading but can become corrupted, preventing pages from loading.

Signs: Specific websites won't load, but they load in a different browser

3. Proxy Settings

If your browser is configured to use a proxy and that proxy is down or incorrectly configured, nothing loads.

Signs: No websites load, but you remember setting up a proxy at some point

4. Firewall or Antivirus Blocking

Your security software might be blocking legitimate websites.

Signs: All websites are blocked, or certain categories of sites won't load

5. Network Issues

Your router or internet connection has a problem.

Signs: No apps can access the internet, not just your browser

6. ISP or Website Server Problems

The website's server is down, or your ISP is having issues.

Signs: Error message mentions server connection, or site works in other browsers

Quick Fixes (Try These First)

Start here. These solve most page-loading problems.

Fix 1: Try a Different Browser

This immediately tells you if the problem is your browser or your network.

1. Open a different browser (if you normally use Chrome, try Firefox; if Edge, try Safari)
2. Try loading the same website

Results:

• Site loads in different browser? → Your main browser has a problem (DNS cache, corrupted cache, extensions)
• Site doesn't load in any browser? → Your network, ISP, or the website has a problem

Fix 2: Restart Your Router

Many network issues resolve with a simple router restart.

1. Unplug your router from power
2. Wait 30 seconds
3. Plug it back in
4. Wait 2 minutes for it to fully restart
5. Try loading a website

Fix 3: Flush Your DNS Cache

Your browser and computer store DNS information. When it's incorrect or corrupted, pages won't load. Flushing it forces your system to get fresh DNS information.

Windows:

1. Press Windows key + R
2. Type cmd and press Enter
3. Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter
4. You should see "Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache"
5. Close Command Prompt and try loading a website

Mac:

1. Press Cmd + Space to open Spotlight
2. Type "Terminal" and press Enter
3. Paste this command: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
4. Type your password and press Enter
5. Close Terminal and try loading a website

Linux:

1. Open Terminal
2. Type sudo systemctl restart systemd-resolved
3. Try loading a website

Fix 4: Check Your DNS Settings

Sometimes your DNS settings get changed (accidentally or by malware). Resetting to default usually fixes it.

Windows:

1. Right-click Start menu → Settings
2. Click Network & internet
3. Click Advanced network settings
4. Scroll to "DNS server assignment"
5. Click Edit
6. Select "Automatic"
7. Click Save

Mac:

1. Go to System Settings → Network
2. Find your network connection
3. Click Details
4. Go to DNS tab
5. Click the "+" button
6. Add 8.8.8.8 (Google DNS) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare DNS)
7. Click OK

Fix 5: Disable Proxy Settings

If you have a proxy configured, disabling it might fix the issue.

Chrome:

1. Click Menu (⋮) → Settings
2. Search for "proxy"
3. Click "Open proxy settings"
4. Make sure "Use a proxy server" is OFF

Firefox:

1. Click Menu (☰) → Settings
2. Go to Network settings
3. Under "Configure how Firefox connects to the internet"
4. Select "No proxy"
5. Click OK

Edge:

1. Click Menu (⋯) → Settings
2. Go to System and performance
3. Click "Open proxy settings"
4. Make sure proxy is disabled

Fix 6: Temporarily Disable Antivirus

If your security software is blocking websites, disabling it temporarily will confirm this.

1. Right-click your antivirus in the system tray
2. Select "Disable temporarily" (exactly how you do this varies by antivirus)
3. Try loading a website
4. If it loads, add your browser to your antivirus's whitelist rather than keeping it permanently disabled
5. Re-enable your antivirus

Advanced Fixes

If quick fixes didn't work, try these.

Fix 7: Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

Corrupted cached website data can prevent pages from loading.

Chrome:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (or Cmd + Shift + Delete on Mac)
2. Select "All time"
3. Check both "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files"
4. Click "Clear data"

Firefox:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (or Cmd + Shift + Delete on Mac)
2. Select "Everything"
3. Check "Cache" and "Cookies"
4. Click "Clear Now"

Edge:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (or Cmd + Shift + Delete on Mac)
2. Select "All time"
3. Check "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files"
4. Click "Clear now"

Fix 8: Reset Network Settings

Resetting network settings to default can fix deep DNS or proxy issues.

Windows:

1. Right-click Start menu → Settings
2. Click System → Troubleshoot
3. Click Other troubleshooters
4. Find "Network reset" and click Run
5. Click "Reset now"
6. Your computer will restart

Mac:

1. Go to System Settings → Network
2. Find your network connection
3. Click Details
4. Click TCP/IP tab
5. Click "Renew DHCP Lease"

Fix 9: Check Your Hosts File

Malware sometimes modifies your hosts file to block websites. Checking it is technical but important.

Windows:

1. Press Windows key + R
2. Type notepad C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts and press Enter
3. Look for any lines that shouldn't be there (besides the examples at the top)
4. Delete suspicious entries (lines should look like "127.0.0.1 localhost")
5. Save and close

Mac:

1. Open Terminal
2. Type sudo nano /etc/hosts
3. Look for suspicious entries
4. Delete them, then press Ctrl + O, Enter, then Ctrl + X to save

Fix 10: Try Alternate DNS Servers

Your ISP's DNS might be unreliable. Switching to a public DNS often fixes loading issues.

Google DNS:

• Primary: 8.8.8.8
• Secondary: 8.8.4.4

Cloudflare DNS:

• Primary: 1.1.1.1
• Secondary: 1.0.0.1

Windows:

1. Right-click Start → Settings
2. Network & internet → Advanced network settings
3. Click "DNS server assignment" Edit
4. Enter one of the DNS addresses above
5. Click Save

Mac:

1. System Settings → Network
2. Click your connection → Details
3. DNS tab
4. Add the DNS address
5. Click OK

When It's Not Your Browser

The Website Is Down

If the website won't load in any browser and other websites work fine, the website's server is down.

Check: Visit downforeveryoneorjustme.com and enter the website URL

Your ISP Is Having Issues

If nothing loads in any browser and you can't access the internet at all, your ISP might be having problems.

Check:

• Restart your router
• Check your ISP's status page
• Call your ISP to report the outage

Network Hardware Issues

If your router or modem is failing, no websites will load.

Check:

• Look at your router's lights (they should show connections)
• Restart your modem and router
• If the problem persists, contact your ISP

Error Messages Explained

"DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG" → DNS setting is wrong (run Fix 4)

"ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED" → Server isn't accepting connections (website down)

"This site can't be reached" → Browser can't find the website's server (DNS issue)

"Connection timed out" → Browser waited too long for server response (network issue)

"ERR_NETWORK_UNREACHABLE" → Your network isn't working (restart router)

Summary

Page loading issues usually come from one of three sources:

1. Your browser (DNS cache, browser settings, extensions)
2. Your network (router, ISP, DNS settings)
3. The website (server down, blocked by firewall)

Use the different browser test first — it immediately narrows down which category your problem falls into.

If pages still won't load after all these fixes: Contact your ISP, as the problem might be on their end. Or get help from a tech expert.

🆘 Still can't load pages? Get personalized help from a certified tech expert:

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