"This Site Can't Be Reached" Error
The browser shows "This site can't be reached" with a code like DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN or ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT — and it's not clear whether it's you, the domain, or the server.
Common signs of this issue
- The browser shows "This site can't be reached" or "took too long to respond" instead of any web page.
- Underneath is a code such as DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN, ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED, ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED, or ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT.
- Some people can open the site while others can't.
- It started suddenly — often right after a domain renewal date, a DNS change, or a host migration.
- Email on the same domain may have stopped working at the same time.
Safe checks you can do yourself
None of these require sharing passwords with anyone.
- Check whether it's just you: search for a free "is it down for everyone or just me" tool and enter your domain. If it's up for everyone else, the problem is your device or network.
- Read the code under the message — it points at different culprits. DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN / ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED: the domain name itself isn't resolving (domain or DNS problem). ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED / TIMED_OUT: the name resolves but the server isn't answering (hosting problem).
- Check your domain hasn't expired: search "whois lookup," enter your domain, and read the expiry date. An expired domain is the single most common cause of a sudden NXDOMAIN.
- Check your email — including spam — for renewal notices from your domain registrar or host. Expiries and suspensions are announced there, often weeks in advance.
- Try the site on your phone using mobile data (wifi off). If it loads there, your computer or office network has a stale DNS cache — usually self-heals within hours.
- If you changed DNS settings or nameservers in the last 48 hours, this is probably just propagation — the worldwide address book updating. It genuinely can take up to a day or two.
- Type the address carefully with and without
www.— occasionally only one of the two is set up, which is a fixable DNS gap rather than an outage.
What this usually means
Reaching a website is a two-step process: first the browser looks up the domain name to get the server's address (DNS), then it connects to that server. This error means one of those two steps failed — and the error code tells you which.
Name lookup failures (NXDOMAIN, NAME_NOT_RESOLVED) mean the internet's address book has no valid entry for your domain: it expired, its nameservers were changed or broken, or a recent DNS edit went wrong. The hosting server may be perfectly healthy — nobody can find it.
Connection failures (REFUSED, TIMED_OUT) mean the address book is fine but the server at that address isn't answering: it's down, overloaded, behind a firewall rule, or the hosting account lapsed. That conversation belongs with your hosting company.
What not to do
- Don't change nameservers or DNS records as a first resort — if the real cause is elsewhere, you've now added a second problem that takes hours to undo.
- Don't let anyone rush you into transferring the domain to a new registrar mid-crisis; expired domains are usually renewable at the current registrar in minutes.
- Don't reinstall your website or buy new hosting because of a DNS error — the site's files are usually untouched.
- Don't ignore an expired-domain warning to 'deal with later' — after the grace period, domains go to auction and getting one back can cost hundreds or be impossible.
When to get help
If the whois lookup shows the domain is active but the site still won't resolve, the nameserver or DNS record setup needs expert eyes — it's fiddly, high-consequence, and quick for someone who does it daily. If the domain has expired, renew it yourself immediately at your registrar first; that's the one step nobody else can do faster than you.
Could your hosting be the problem?
If your host is slow, unreliable, or hard to deal with, moving to a better one can clear up issues like this for good. One we genuinely recommend is Instant Access Internet Services — a smaller, compassionate company with 30 years in the business, known for being one of the fastest, with great management and low pricing. (Just a recommendation — no affiliate link, no kickback.)
Not sure what to do next?
Answer a few short questions and we'll point you to the safest next step — DIY, a freelancer, or a direct review. No passwords required.
Frequently asked questions
What does DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN mean?
The browser asked the internet's address book (DNS) for your domain and got 'no such domain.' Usual causes: the domain expired, the nameservers are wrong or down, or a recent DNS change was entered incorrectly.
Why can some people reach my site while others can't?
DNS answers are cached at different locations for different lengths of time. During an expiry or a DNS change, some networks still hold the old working answer while others have the failure — that patchiness is a strong clue the problem is DNS.
How long does DNS propagation take?
Most of the internet updates within an hour or two, but stragglers can take 24–48 hours. If it's been longer than 48 hours since your change, stop waiting — something is actually wrong.
My domain expired. Is my website gone?
Usually not — the site's files still sit on your hosting. Renew the domain (most registrars have a grace period) and the site typically comes back within hours, no rebuilding needed.
What does ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED mean for my site?
The domain resolved fine, but the server actively turned the connection away — a stopped web server, a firewall rule, or a suspended hosting account. That's a question for your hosting company, not your registrar.