Internet Works but Some Websites Won’t Load

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If your internet shows as connected but some websites won’t load, you’re not dealing with a full outage — something specific is blocking access.

I’ve run into this situation where everything looked fine (Wi-Fi connected, strong signal), but some pages wouldn’t load or only certain websites worked. In most cases, the problem comes down to DNS issues, browser conflicts, or network settings that prevent your device from reaching the correct servers.

This guide walks through how to quickly identify what’s causing the issue and fix it step by step without guessing.

You might be experiencing this issue if:

  • Your device says it’s connected, but pages won’t load
  • Some websites work while others don’t
  • It works on mobile data but not Wi-Fi
  • Only Google or YouTube loads

The fastest way to fix this issue is to figure out where the breakdown is happening — your device, your network, or the website itself.

Common Symptoms (What You’ll Actually See)

You may notice one or more of the following:

  • Your browser shows “This site can’t be reached”
  • Pages keep loading but never fully open
  • Errors like DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN appear
  • Apps (like Gmail or Outlook) work, but websites don’t

In most cases, these symptoms point to a DNS or network routing issue, not a complete internet outage.

Identify Where the Failure Is Happening

Before troubleshooting further, try to determine where the failure occurs.

Websites Fail on All Devices

If no devices can open websites, the issue may involve:

• DNS server problems
• router configuration
• ISP connectivity issues

If you see a “DNS server not responding” error, follow this guide:
DNS Server Not Responding: Causes and Fixes

Websites Fail on One Device Only

If other devices work normally, the issue is likely:

• browser cache corruption
• firewall restrictions
• incorrect network configuration

In that case, see:

Internet Works on Some Devices but Not Others

Step by Step Fixes

Step 1 — Check if the Website Is Down

What to do:

  • Open the website on another device
  • Switch to mobile data instead of Wi-Fi

Why this works:

  • This helps determine whether the issue is with the website itself or your connection. If the site is down, your device won’t be able to load it regardless of your network.

When this helps:

  • Nothing loads across any device
  • The same website fails everywhere

Step 2 — Restart Your Network (Reset DNS & Routing)

What to do:

  • Restart your modem
  • Restart your router
  • Restart your device

Why this works:

  • Your router and device store temporary DNS and routing information. If that data becomes outdated or corrupted, your device may not be able to locate websites correctly. Restarting clears this data and forces a fresh connection.

When this helps:

  • Websites suddenly stop loading
  • Connection shows active but nothing opens
  • Issue started recently without changes

Step 3 — Clear Browser Cache (Fix Corrupted Data)

What to do:

  • Clear cache
  • Clear cookies
  • Restart your browser

Why this works:

  • Browsers store website data locally. If that data becomes outdated or corrupted, it can prevent pages from loading correctly even when the connection is fine.

When this helps:

  • Specific websites won’t load
  • Pages load incorrectly or partially
  • Works in another browser but not this one

Step 4 — Check DNS Issues (Fix Website Lookup Failures)

What to do:

  • Flush DNS cache
  • Restart your device
  • Switch DNS provider

Why this works:

  • DNS translates website names into IP addresses. If DNS fails, your browser cannot locate the website server, which makes it seem like the internet isn’t working even though the connection is active.

When this helps:

  • Errors like DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN
  • Only some websites load
  • Google works but other sites don’t

Step 5 — Switch to a Public DNS Provider

What to do:

  • Use Google DNS (8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4)
  • Or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1)

Why this works:

  • Your ISP’s DNS servers can become slow or unstable. Public DNS providers are often faster and more reliable, which can resolve loading issues immediately.

When this helps:

  • Websites load inconsistently
  • DNS-related errors appear
  • Issue persists after restarting network

Step 6 — Check Firewall or Security Restrictions (Unblock Network Traffic)

What to do:

  • Temporarily disable your firewall (for testing only)
  • Turn off antivirus web protection or network filtering
  • Disable VPN (if active)
  • Try loading the website again

If the website loads after disabling one of these, that tool is likely blocking access.

Why this works:

Firewalls and security software monitor network traffic to protect your device.
However, they can sometimes:

  • block certain websites
  • interfere with DNS requests
  • incorrectly flag safe connections as threats

When this happens, your internet connection appears active, but access to websites is restricted.

When this helps:

  • Websites won’t load on one device only
  • Works on another device but not this one
  • Issue started after installing antivirus, VPN, or firewall software
  • Some websites are blocked while others work

Only disable security features temporarily for testing, and re-enable them after checking.

Final Tip

If your internet shows as connected but websites won’t load, the issue is rarely a full connection failure. In most cases, something is interrupting how your device reaches the website — such as DNS errors, browser conflicts, or network routing issues.

The key to resolving it is identifying where the breakdown occurs — whether it’s your device, your network, or the website itself — and applying the correct fix based on that cause.

Working through the steps in this guide should help you isolate the problem and restore access.