Chrome "This Site Can't Be Reached" — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

"This site can't be reached" means Chrome could not find or connect to the website you typed. It is like sending a letter to an address that does not exist — the post office cannot deliver it. The cause might be a typo in the URL, a DNS problem, no internet connection, or the site being offline.

Affected Models

Google Chrome on Windows
Google Chrome on Mac
Google Chrome on Android
Google Chrome on iOS

Common Causes

Your internet connection is down or unstable
The website's domain name cannot be resolved (DNS failure)
The URL you typed has a typo or is incorrect
Your DNS cache has an outdated or wrong entry for this site
Your ISP is blocking or having trouble resolving the domain

How to Fix It

Double-check the URL you typed. Make sure there are no typos, missing letters, or wrong extensions (like .net instead of .com).

A simple typo is the number-one cause of this error. Look carefully before anything else.
Check that your internet is working. Open another website you know works, like google.com.

If other sites load fine, the problem is specific to the site you were trying to visit.
Restart your router and modem. Unplug both for 30 seconds, then plug back in and wait for them to reconnect.

This refreshes your internet connection and often resolves DNS lookup failures.
Flush your DNS cache. On Windows, open Command Prompt and run: ipconfig /flushdns

Stale DNS records can point Chrome to outdated or wrong server addresses.
Change your DNS servers to Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) in your network settings.

Your ISP's DNS can sometimes fail to resolve certain domains. A public DNS server is often more reliable.

When to Call a Professional

If this error affects every website you try to visit, you likely have no internet connection. Contact your Internet Service Provider if restarting your router does not restore service. If only one site fails, it is likely a DNS problem or the site itself is down.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this error mean the website is permanently gone?

Not necessarily. Websites go offline temporarily all the time for maintenance or technical problems. Try again in 10–30 minutes. If the site is gone permanently, you might find it archived at web.archive.org.

Why does this happen on my phone but not my laptop?

Your phone and laptop may use different DNS servers or different internet connections. For example, your laptop might be on Wi-Fi while your phone is on mobile data. Try connecting your phone to the same Wi-Fi network as your laptop and see if the problem persists.

Can my internet provider block websites and cause this error?

Yes. Some ISPs block certain websites, especially in countries with internet restrictions. If you suspect your ISP is blocking a site, a VPN can help you bypass the block. Using a different DNS server like 1.1.1.1 can also help in some cases.