How to use it
- Enter the address that does not open.
- If our check reaches the site, it is up: follow the fixes for your error code below.
- If our check cannot connect either, the site is down for everyone.
What the message means
To show a page, your browser goes through three steps. It looks up the site's IP address in DNS, it opens a connection to that address, and it asks the web server for the page. "This site can't be reached" is Chrome's message when one of the first two steps fails, before any web server could send a status code such as 404 or 503. Chrome adds a code in capital letters under the message. That code is the useful part.
Error codes and what they mean
The descriptions below come from Chromium's own list of network errors, the source code shared by Chrome and Edge.
| Code | Chromium description | Usual cause |
|---|---|---|
| ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED | The host name could not be resolved. | Typo, expired domain, DNS problem |
| ERR_NAME_RESOLUTION_FAILED | An error occurred when trying to do a name resolution (DNS). | DNS server unreachable or broken |
| ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED | A connection attempt was refused. | Server not listening, wrong port, firewall |
| ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT | A connection attempt timed out. | Server down, traffic dropped by a firewall |
| ERR_CONNECTION_RESET | A connection was reset (corresponding to a TCP RST). | Proxy, antivirus or network filter cut the connection |
| ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE | The IP address is unreachable. This usually means that there is no route to the specified host or network. | Routing problem, private address, VPN split |
| ERR_INTERNET_DISCONNECTED | The Internet connection has been lost. | Your device is offline |
You may also see DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN. Chrome shows it after a DNS lookup that returned "no such domain". Treat it like ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED.
First: is the site down for everyone?
The check above connects from a data center, so it does not use your Wi-Fi, your DNS or your VPN. If it gets an answer, the website is up and the fault is on your side. If it reports that it could not connect or that the name does not exist, the site is down or the domain is broken, and only the owner can fix it.
Fixes, cheapest first
- Check the address. One wrong letter gives ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED. Type the domain by hand instead of using an old bookmark.
- Check that other sites open. If nothing loads, the problem is your connection. Google's Chrome help on connection errors also suggests restarting the modem and router and, on public Wi-Fi, completing the sign-in page.
- Turn off the VPN or proxy. A VPN with a dead exit server produces timeouts and resets for every site or only for some.
- Flush the DNS cache. An old or wrong DNS answer keeps sending you to the wrong place. Steps for Windows, Mac, Chrome, Android and iPhone are in how to flush DNS.
- Try Incognito and disable extensions. Google's help lists both, together with clearing browsing data, when pages do not load.
- Check firewall and antivirus. Web protection features can refuse or reset connections to sites they flag. Google's help suggests making sure they do not block Chrome.
- Try another network. Switch to mobile data. If the site opens there, your router, your provider's DNS or a network filter is the cause.
If you own the site
Match the code to the layer. NAME_NOT_RESOLVED means DNS: check that the domain has not expired and that the nameservers and A or CNAME records are right. CONNECTION_REFUSED means the server answers at the network level but nothing listens on port 443 or 80, so check that the web server runs. A timeout means packets are dropped, so check the firewall and the hosting status. Then test from outside with the website down checker.
Related pages
If the browser shows a number instead, see 502 Bad Gateway, 503 Service Unavailable or the full list of HTTP status codes. For a step by step guide to slow and blank pages, read why a website is not loading.
Frequently asked questions
What does "This site can't be reached" mean?
It is Chrome's message for a page that failed before any web server answered. The browser could not find the address, could not connect, or the connection broke. The error code under the message tells you which step failed.
Is the website down or is it my internet?
Run the check at the top of this page. It connects from our servers. If the site answers there, it is up and the problem is your connection, DNS, VPN or firewall. If our check cannot connect either, the site itself is unreachable.
How do I fix ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED?
Check the spelling of the address first. Then flush your DNS cache and restart the router. If only one network fails, switch the DNS server on your device or router to a public resolver your provider allows.
Why does the site work on my phone but not on my computer?
The phone probably uses mobile data or a different DNS and has no VPN, proxy or security software in the way. Compare the two, starting with the VPN and antivirus web protection on the computer.
Do other browsers show the same error?
They show their own wording. Edge is built on Chromium and uses the same codes. Firefox says "Hmm. We're having trouble finding that site" for DNS failures and "Unable to connect" for refused connections. The causes and fixes are the same.
Can a site block me and show this message?
A firewall that silently drops your traffic looks like a timeout, so yes. A normal block usually comes back as a 403 page instead. If our check reaches the site but you get a timeout, a firewall on your side or a block of your address is likely.