How to Troubleshoot Web Pages That Won’t Load

[learninmypc]

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. FULL ARTICLE

 

[DelJo63]

Two absolute requirements for the Internet:

1. the system MUST be able to send/receive packets
2. the system MUST be able to find the IP address associated with the Domain Name

Using a browser or any other program/app, the above is always true.

you can verify both of these for yourself regardless of your technical background -- get a command prompt and

testing #1: enter PING 8.8.8.8

you must see some time data like

ping 8.8.8.8

Pinging 8.8.8.8 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=26ms TTL=54
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=18ms TTL=54
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=16ms TTL=54
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=16ms TTL=54

Ping statistics for 8.8.8.8:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), <<< ZERO LOSSES <<
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 16ms, Maximum = 26ms, Average = 19ms
​

if instead you encounter timeouts

ping 8.8.8.8

Pinging 8.8.8.8 with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss), <<< all LOSSES <<
​

Then you're not able to send/receive and don't worry about the Internet, you have other fundamental TCP issues.​

Testing#2 enter PING YAHOO.COM

This test verifies your system can translate YAHOO.COM to its IP address and then use it to send/receive packets.
​

If #1 works but #2 does not, then you have an issue with your DNS service.

If both work correctly, the Internet is your servant and everything should be fine.

HOWEVER, sometimes we see comments like "I can't load Facebook" (or some other webserver). In which case, usually it is an issue with your DNS being monitored, filtered, or you're using some kind of proxy -- you're going to need to go further to find out which and how to correct it.

 

[Mark Fuller]

Sometimes having difficulty loading some web pages can be cured by simply clearing the cookies in your web browser.