The Internet has changed the world and its people. There is a huge difference in Life before and after the Internet. Now we have all the information of the world in our hands thanks to the internet and a huge role is played by “World Wide Web”. It has grown tremendously and has become very versatile over the past couple of years. It has made internet use very easy, therefore, it contributed majorly to the increase of internet users. But with the increase in the users comes two major problems, 1) complex and technical apps requirements 2) overloading of users. These problems have increased the probability of errors, and many times we face a very common error that pops up on our computer screen with a message that says “this site can’t be reached the connection was reset”. This can be a very annoying situation considering how fast our lives have become and the workload we experience in our daily lives. So how to tackle this error? How to solve it? Well, the answer to these questions is mentioned in detail in this article. Read the article to get a detailed answer and solve your problem.
1. Check Router and Internet Connection
The very first thing that you need to check is your internet connection. 1 out of 10 times, weak internet connection can be the cause of this error. Turn off the modem and the router for at least 10 seconds to a half minute by unplugging the power cord. This will release all the residual charges and empty the router’s memory. Also, follow these steps to check internet properties as well:
Step 1: Press Windows Key + R to launch the run box.
Step 2: Now type Inetc.cpl and click ok.
Step 3: You will see the internet properties window on the screen.
Step 4: Click on Connections and open LAN settings.
Step 5: Uncheck the option of use a proxy server for your LAN and then click on OK to save.
2. Clean Cache and Cookies
Cookies and Cache help in loading pages faster. But, if you do not clean them once in a while, they end up creating a burden. Follow these steps to clear cache and cookies:
Step 1: Launch Google Chrome and click on the three dots at the top right corner.
Step 2: Find Settings from the menu and click on it to find Privacy and security.
Step 3: Click on Clear browsing data and select cookies and other site data, cached images, and files.
Step 4: Now, select All time next to time range and then click on CLEAR DATA, and you are done.
3. Troubleshoot Network
A third-party application can change network settings causing this error. Run the troubleshooter to fix this issue by following these steps:
Step 1: Go to Start Menu and open Settings.
Step 2: In the Windows Settings, click on Update & Security.
Step 3: Click on Troubleshoot section and then click the Run the troubleshooter button under Get up and running section.
Step 4: Follow the instructions given on the screen.
4. Run or Disable Firewall and Antivirus programs
Antivirus or firewall can impose a block on certain websites. This is to ensure your system safety against unauthorized access and malicious software. At times the problem is genuine but not to forget that the virus does not need to exist every time your antivirus detects something suspicious. If you are certain that the site is trustworthy then you may temporarily disable the antivirus program. But it is suggested to complete a full scan first. If you find nothing, then disable the antivirus and firewall and open the site. If the site opens without any error, whitelist the domain to use it without any issue in the future.
5. Use a different Browser or Device
Try to launch the website in a browser other than the one that you are already using. A bug in the browser can cause this error so go for an alternative. You can also use some other mobile or device to see if the site opens normally. If there was no problem at the back end, the site would open just fine.
6. Disable Browser Extensions
Sometimes one of the extensions can interfere to cause this error. Therefore it is recommended to uninstall or disable all the extensions and plug-ins such as ad-blockers and proxies. Go to settings in the browser and then go to more tools. Now click on the extensions and click on the blue button to disable them. In case if you are not willing to do that, try to open the website in incognito mode. Incognito mode disables all the plugins, extension and browsing history that might resist the webpage to load.
7. Check if it is a Global Breakdown
Open Downdetector to see if the site that you are trying to reach is down globally. If the site is well-known then you will instantly get to know the problem as they only track popular sites and apps. If it is a global breakdown then sit back and relax until the officials don’t recover it.
8. Use a VPN to Open Site
Some sites are not available all across the world. They are restricted to particular regions and countries. Likewise, certain sites are banned in some countries. To access these, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) that connects you to the internet anonymously from different place. Opera incorporates a free VPN service with unlimited browsing. You may use it to check if the error still exists.
9. Use Google DNS
If the proxy server and network troubleshooting could not solve your problem then you can use the Google DNS server to access the relevant site. Make the following changes to your network settings to access Google DNS.
Step 1: Press Windows Key + R to open the Run command. Type ncpa.cpl and press enter to launch control panel.
Step 2: Right-click on your network and click on Properties.
Step 3: Now double-click the Internet Protocol Version 4.
Step 4: Enter 8.8.8.8 in Preferred DNS Server and 8.8.4.4 in Alternate DNS Server.
Step 5: Make sure to check Use the following DNS server addresses. Click OK to save changes.
10. Use Default Drivers
Maybe the network adapter is not well configured with the system so let Windows replace it with the best driver.
Step 1: Press Windows + R on the keyboard to launch the Run prompt.
Step 2: Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter to launch device manager.
Step 3: Double-click on Network Adapters to see a dropdown list of drivers controlling your network connections.
Step 4: Right-click on your network driver and click on Uninstall device. Follow the next steps given on the screen to remove this driver.
Step 5: Restart your system and windows will automatically replace the driver with its default drivers. Now check if ‘this site can’t be reached’ error is gone.
11. Reset TCP address
Launch command prompt and then run these two commands, one after the other as administrator. Then reboot your system.
- Netsh int IP reset
- netsh winsock reset
This will reset the error and now you will be able to load the site normally.
I hope this guide helps you to overcome the ‘This site can’t be reached’ error. In case if nothing works, call your service provider to resolve the issue as soon as possible.