How to use it
- Read the live status above. It tests Google Search from outside your network.
- Open the official Google Search Status Dashboard page for confirmed incidents.
- If Google Search is up, work through the fixes below, cheapest first.
- Press the report button if it still fails, so other visitors see it.
Is Google Search down for everyone or only for you?
Google Search is made of several parts: the search page you see, the results service behind it, and the suggestions that appear as you type. Many people also type searches into the browser address bar, so a browser setting can look like a Google problem. Gmail, Maps and YouTube run on other services, so they can work when search does not.
Our check requests google.com and a tiny connectivity endpoint at google.com/generate_204 from outside your network. If both answer, Google is reachable. Google also keeps an official Search Status Dashboard, which lists incidents in crawling, indexing and serving.
The live check on this page requests www.google.com and www.google.com from our servers every few minutes. A normal answer from those addresses means the service is reachable from outside your network. It does not prove that every feature inside Google Search works, which is why the problem reports and the fixes below matter.
What usually breaks with Google Search
Search page will not load
The browser shows a timeout or a DNS error. This is often your network, your DNS server or a browser extension.
Results are empty or slow
The page opens but results stay blank or take a long time. Cached data or a broken extension is a common cause.
Unusual traffic notice
Google shows a reCAPTCHA and says unusual traffic was detected from your network. This is Google protecting itself from automated searches.
Suggestions and features
Autocomplete, Images or Maps tabs fail while the main web results work. These are separate features and can fail alone.
Mobile app issues
The Google app or Chrome on a phone shows a blank feed or an offline notice even when the network is fine.
How to fix Google Search when it only fails for you
Start at the top. The first steps are the cheapest and fix most cases that are not a real outage.
- Run a search on another device. Use a phone on mobile data. If it works, your home network or computer is involved.
- Try a private window. In Chrome press Ctrl+Shift+N (Cmd+Shift+N on Mac). If search works there, an extension or cookie is the cause.
- Clear browser cache and cookies. In Chrome open Settings, Privacy and security, Delete browsing data, and clear cached images and files for the last 24 hours.
- Turn off extensions one by one. Ad blockers and privacy tools can block parts of the results page. Open chrome://extensions and switch them off to test.
- Solve the reCAPTCHA. If the unusual traffic notice appears, complete the check. If it keeps coming back, scan the computer for malware and turn off any VPN.
- Change your DNS server. If google.com will not resolve, set your device or router to use a different public DNS service, then restart the browser.
- Update the browser. An old browser can fail on the current results page. Update Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari and retry.
- Check the Google app. On Android or iPhone, update the Google app from the store, then force close it and open it again.
If none of this helps and the live check above shows the service as up, read our guide on why a website is not loading, or see how to flush DNS.
Common Google Search error messages
| Message or code | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Our systems have detected unusual traffic from your computer network | Google sees automated looking searches from your network. Malware, a shared network or a VPN can cause it. | Solve the reCAPTCHA. If it repeats, turn off the VPN, scan for malware, or ask the network administrator. |
| Your client has issued a malformed or illegal request | Google's help describes this as a browser setting, extension or app interfering with the request. | Disable extensions, try a private window, and clear cache and cookies. |
| No connection | The device or browser cannot reach the internet. | Check the connection, restart the device and try another network. |
Official Google Search status and support
The company itself has the final word on outages. Check Google Search Status Dashboard for confirmed incidents and use Google Search Help if your account has a problem that is not an outage. We are not affiliated with Google Search.
Facts and menu names on this page were checked against the official sources below on October 25, 2026. Apps change their menus, so a setting may sit in a slightly different place in your version.
- status.search.google.com
- support.google.com/websearch/answer/86640
- support.google.com/mail/answer/7036382
Other services people check
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if Google is down or if it is just me?
Run the live check on this page. If Google answers from our server but not for you, test another browser or a phone on mobile data. A site that loads there points to a local cause.
Where can I see official Google Search outages?
Google publishes incidents on the Google Search Status Dashboard at status.search.google.com. It focuses on search systems for site owners and also shows serving problems.
Why does Google ask me to prove I am not a robot?
Google shows the notice when traffic from your network looks automated. Google's help page says malware, shared networks, VPNs and some providers can trigger it.
Is Google down if Gmail works?
Not necessarily. Gmail and Search are different services. One can fail while the other keeps working.
Why does search work in the app but not the browser?
A browser extension, saved cookie or search engine setting is likely at fault. Test a private window and reset the default search engine.