NetCheck

Website not loading? Here’s what to do

Updated 2026-10-02 · NetCheck guides

When one website won’t open, the first question is: is it down for everyone, or just you? Start with our website down checker — then work through this list.

If the site is down for everyone

There’s nothing wrong with your internet. Wait a while and check again — our checker has a “re-check every minute” option. Check the company’s social media or status page for updates, and avoid repeating payments on banking or shopping sites until they’re back.

If it’s just you: 10 fixes, in order

  1. Check the address. .co.za and .com are different websites. Try typing the address rather than using an old bookmark.
  2. Hard refresh. Press Ctrl + F5 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac).
  3. Try a private window. If it works there, a cookie or browser extension is the problem — clear the site’s cookies or disable extensions one by one.
  4. Try another browser or device. This tells you whether the issue is your device or your network.
  5. Switch networks. Turn off Wi-Fi and use mobile data. If it works, your home network or provider is involved.
  6. Turn off VPNs, proxies and ad-blockers. Some sites block VPN traffic or break with aggressive blockers.
  7. Flush your DNS. Windows: ipconfig /flushdns in Command Prompt. Mac: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder in Terminal. Phones: toggle flight mode.
  8. Change DNS servers. Set your device or router to use 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8. This often fixes sites that fail only on one provider.
  9. Check your device’s date and time. A wrong clock causes security-certificate errors on secure sites.
  10. Restart your router. Off at the wall for 30 seconds.

Parental controls and content filters

Some routers, antivirus programs and provider packages include content filtering that can block sites by mistake. If a site is blocked only at home, check these settings.

Still not working?

If the site works on mobile data but not on your home connection, even after changing DNS, contact your provider and tell them exactly which site and what error you see. Our diagnosis tool can also check whether popular services are reachable from your connection.

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