Website Down for Everyone or Just You? How to Tell

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Website Down for Everyone or Just You? How to Tell

If a website won’t load, it’s important to know whether the problem is on your side or if the website itself is actually down.

This guide helps you quickly determine where the issue is so you don’t waste time troubleshooting the wrong thing.

Common Symptoms

You may be unsure who’s at fault if:

  • The website displays a completely blank page or won’t load at all

  • You receive error messages like “This site can’t be reached” or “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN”

  • Refreshing the page multiple times doesn’t resolve the issue

  • Other websites continue to load normally without problems

  • The website was accessible earlier but suddenly stopped working

Before changing settings, it’s best to confirm where the problem is coming from.

What “Website Down” Really Means

A website can fail in two main ways:

  • The website itself is down (server, hosting, or DNS issue)

  • Your connection can’t reach the website (browser, device, or network issue)

Determining which one applies saves time and frustration.

This overview in Common Website Problems and What They Usually Mean explains how different website failures are identified.

Step-by-Step Checks

Step 1: Try Another Website

Open a few well-known sites.

  • If nothing loads, the issue is your connection

  • If everything else loads, continue troubleshooting

Step 2: Try Another Device

Use:

  • A different phone or computer

  • A tablet or smart device

If the site works elsewhere, the issue is device-specific.

Step 3: Switch Networks

Change how you connect:

  • Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data

  • Connect to another Wi-Fi network

If the site loads on another network, your original network is likely the problem.

Step 4: Try Another Browser

Browsers can cache errors.

  • Open the site in a different browser

  • Use private/incognito mode

If it works, browser settings or extensions may be interfering.

Step 5: Check Website Status

If the site fails everywhere:

  • The website may be down

  • Maintenance or server issues may be occurring

At this point, troubleshooting locally won’t help.

When the Website Is Actually Down

A website may be unavailable due to:

  • Server outages

  • Hosting issues

  • DNS failures

  • Maintenance windows

In these cases, only the site owner or host can fix the problem.

Final Tip

Before changing DNS, resetting routers, or clearing settings, always confirm whether the website is down for everyone. This single check can save you the most time.

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