It’s frustrating when a web page won’t load. Your connection, software, or the website could be causing the problem. Here are a few ways to troubleshoot the issue and access a website, even if it’s down.
Check Your Network Connection
First, check your network connection. Wireless connections can be flaky and drop out at any time, so make sure you’re connected to the right network. An easy way to test this is to visit a popular website, like Google or Facebook. If the site loads, you’re connected!
If the site doesn’t load, make sure your device isn’t in Airplane Mode. On Smartphones, tablets, and many Windows desktop and laptop computers, you can disable all communications. Some Windows laptops also have dedicated Airplane Mode keys, which you can press by mistake. So, double-check your device settings, just in case.
If you can’t access any websites, make sure your computer is connected to your network. Check your Wi-Fi settings or, if you use a wired connection, make sure your Ethernet cable hasn’t slipped out. If you’re confident you’re connected to your local network, it could be your internet connection causing the issue.
The best way to check this is to look at the lights on your router or modem. Every router is different, but most have a clear indicator of the connection status. If the light next to the internet symbol is red or orange, you probably aren’t connected to the internet.
In many cases, rebooting your router and modem might solve the problem. To do so, unplug your modem and router, wait for 10 seconds, plug it back in, and then try the website again.
If the problem persists, you can connect to your local network hardware to get more information. Traditional routers have an admin panel you can access via your web browser. You can usually find the web address printed on the side of the network hardware, along with the default username and password. It’s usually something like 192.168.0.1 or 10.0.0.1. If you have a mesh router system that relies on a mobile app, launch the app instead.
Most routers provide information about your connection status. If you can’t connect to the internet, you might be able to get more information or even an error code. You can then make a note of the error and get in touch with your service provider to try and resolve the issue.
