Chrome’s “This site can’t be reached” page is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Read the ERR_* code beneath it, then compare whether one website, Chrome, one device, or the whole network is affected. That scope tells you whether to check the URL, restart networking equipment, repair Chrome settings, investigate DNS, or wait for a website outage.
Work through the checks below in order. They begin with reversible tests and move toward settings that can affect your network or security software.
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What “This site can’t be reached” means
Chrome displays the same headline for several different failures. Google Chrome Help identifies possible causes in five groups: device settings such as Airplane mode; device software such as a firewall or antivirus; network equipment such as a modem or router; browser issues such as cookies, extensions, or memory use; and website problems such as downtime or maintenance.
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| Chrome code | Meaning | Most useful first checks |
|---|---|---|
ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED |
Chrome could not resolve the hostname or IP address. | Check the address, test another site, and investigate the network or DNS path. |
ERR_INTERNET_DISCONNECTED |
The device has no internet connection. | Check Wi-Fi or Ethernet, then restart the modem and router. |
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT |
The page took too long to establish a connection. | Check the connection, VPN, proxy, security software, and whether the site is reachable elsewhere. |
ERR_CONNECTION_RESET |
The connection was interrupted. Unstable connectivity, an outdated browser, a VPN, or security software can be involved. | Update and restart Chrome, then test without extensions, VPN, or proxy. |
ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED |
The destination refused the connection or access was blocked. | Check whether the server is down and whether a local firewall, proxy, or network policy is blocking it. |
ERR_EMPTY_RESPONSE |
The site sent no data back to Chrome. | Reload, test another network or browser, and check for a site-side problem. |
Use scope to avoid guesswork
Before applying a fix, answer four questions: Does one site fail or several? Does the problem occur only in Chrome? Does it affect one device or every device on the network? Is it constant or intermittent? The pattern narrows the cause.
| Observed pattern | Likely area to investigate |
|---|---|
| One URL fails while other sites work | Typo, that website’s server, DNS for that hostname, or a route or policy affecting that host. |
| Several sites fail in Chrome, but another browser works | Chrome update status, extensions, cookies, cache, memory pressure, VPN, proxy, or security software. |
| All browsers fail on one device | Wi-Fi or Ethernet, device settings, modem/router path, DNS, VPN, proxy, firewall, or antivirus. |
| Every device on the same network fails | Router, modem, internet service, DNS service, or a broad website outage. |
| Only a work or school device fails | Managed proxy, filtering, firewall, or another administrator-controlled policy. |
| It fails intermittently | Unstable connectivity, a fluctuating VPN or proxy, overloaded equipment, or an intermittently unavailable site. |
Step-by-step fixes
1. Check the address and reload
- Read the address bar one character at a time. Correct misspelled domains, extra punctuation, and accidental spaces.
- Select the reload button or press
Ctrl+R. A transient server or connection interruption may clear on a second request. - Open a different, known-working website in a new tab. Note whether the failure is limited to the original address.
If only one site fails, do not immediately change system-wide settings. Continue with the single-site and cross-network tests below.
2. Verify the device connection
- Confirm that Wi-Fi is connected to the intended network or that the Ethernet cable is seated. Make sure Airplane mode is off.
- Try another website. If several fail, disconnect and reconnect Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Power-cycle the modem and router: unplug both, wait briefly, reconnect the modem, allow it to finish starting, then reconnect the router. Test Chrome again after the network returns.
If another browser also cannot load pages, Google says the network or the website may be responsible rather than Chrome itself.
3. Update and fully restart Chrome
- Open Chrome’s three-dot menu and choose Help > About Google Chrome. Allow any available update to install.
- Quit every Chrome window, wait a few seconds, and reopen Chrome. A window closed with the X can leave background processes running, so use the menu’s exit command when available.
- Retry the page and record whether the error code changes.
4. Test the page in Incognito
- Open the three-dot menu and choose New Incognito window, or press
Ctrl+Shift+N. - Enter the same address without copying a possibly malformed URL from the original tab.
If the page works in Incognito, an extension or stored browsing data is a strong suspect. Incognito is a diagnostic comparison; it does not repair the regular profile by itself.
5. Disable extensions, then identify the conflict
- Open the three-dot menu and choose Extensions > Manage extensions, or enter
chrome://extensionsin the address bar. - Turn off every extension temporarily and reload the page.
- If the error disappears, re-enable extensions one at a time, testing after each change. The last extension enabled before the failure returns is the likely conflict.
- Leave the conflicting extension disabled, update it if an update is offered, or remove it if you do not need it.
6. Clear browsing data when stored data is involved
- Open the three-dot menu and choose Settings > Privacy and security > Delete browsing data.
- Start with cached files and cookies for the affected site. If the problem persists, repeat the test with a broader time range.
- Close and reopen Chrome, then sign in again to sites that require authentication.
Deleting cookies can sign you out and remove site preferences. Save any needed information before choosing a broad history or cookie deletion.
7. Check VPN, proxy, firewall, and antivirus controls
A VPN or proxy changes the route Chrome uses. Firewall and antivirus software can block a destination or reset a connection. Temporarily disconnect a user-controlled VPN and retry. If you use a proxy, verify that its server and port are correct or test with the proxy disabled according to your organization’s policy.
Do not leave security protection disabled as a permanent fix. Re-enable antivirus and firewall protection after the test. If a security product reports that it blocked the site, use its documented allow-list process only when you trust the destination.
8. Compare another browser and another network
- Open the address in another installed browser on the same device. If it works there, focus on Chrome settings, extensions, stored data, or Chrome’s route through a VPN or proxy.
- If possible, connect the device to a different network, such as a phone hotspot, and try again. A page that works on the alternate network points toward the original router, ISP path, DNS service, or network policy.
- Test the same page from another device. If every device and browser fails, the website or internet service is more likely than a Chrome-only fault.
Choose the fix that matches the error code
ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED
This means Chrome could not translate the hostname into an address. Recheck the spelling first. Test several unrelated sites to determine whether resolution is failing broadly or only for one domain. Then compare another browser and another network. A failure limited to one network suggests its DNS service, router, VPN, proxy, or filtering policy; a failure on every network suggests the hostname or website may be unavailable.
Google Public DNS documentation notes that if dns.google itself cannot be opened, a network problem or blocking may prevent access to Google Public DNS. It recommends command-line diagnostics when reporting a DNS problem. Treat that as a diagnostic branch, not as a reason to change DNS automatically for every Chrome error. On a managed network, ask the administrator before changing DNS settings.
ERR_INTERNET_DISCONNECTED
Restore the device’s Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, check Airplane mode, and restart the modem and router. If other devices are also offline after the restart, contact the internet provider or network administrator. If only this device remains offline, inspect its adapter state and any VPN or proxy that may be intercepting traffic.
ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT
A timeout can come from a slow or unreachable server, a broken route, unstable local connectivity, or filtering. Reload once, test another browser, and try another network. Disconnect a VPN temporarily and review firewall or antivirus blocks. If the same site times out from multiple devices and networks, waiting for the site owner to restore service is more appropriate than repeatedly changing Chrome.
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A reset means the connection was interrupted after it began. Update and restart Chrome, then compare Incognito with the normal profile. Disable extensions and test without a VPN or proxy. Security software and unstable Wi-Fi can also reset sessions; restore those controls after testing and correct the underlying policy or connection rather than leaving protection off.
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ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
The destination declined the connection or a local policy blocked it. Check whether the address includes the correct protocol and port, test the site from another network, and ask the site owner or administrator whether access is restricted. On a work or school device, a proxy or firewall may intentionally refuse the request.
ERR_EMPTY_RESPONSE
The server returned no data. Reload and compare another browser, device, and network. If only Chrome’s regular profile fails, use the Incognito, extension, and browsing-data tests. If all clients receive an empty response, the website’s server or route needs attention.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When the problem is a managed device
Corporate, school, and public networks may use HTTPS-intercepting proxies or filtering gateways. Those systems can produce connection or certificate errors that a user cannot safely repair by changing Chrome. Record the exact URL, time, error code, and whether another browser shows the same result, then give that information to the administrator. Do not install an unapproved certificate, disable managed protection, or alter a policy you do not control.
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When to stop troubleshooting locally
- The same URL fails in multiple browsers, on multiple devices, and on more than one network: contact the website owner or internet provider.
- Only a managed network fails: contact its administrator with the error code and comparison results.
- Restarting equipment restores service only briefly: report intermittent connectivity to the ISP or network administrator and provide the times and affected devices.
- Chrome alone remains broken after updating, restarting, testing Incognito, disabling extensions, and clearing relevant browsing data: consider repairing or reinstalling Chrome using the official installer, while preserving bookmarks and sign-in information first.
Keep the error code with your report. “This site can’t be reached” describes the symptom; the code, scope, and cross-browser or cross-network results identify the useful next step.
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