8 ways to fix if you can't access a particular website

How to Fix if You Can't Access aParticular WebsiteYou read that webpage two days ago, but suddenly you can't access thatwebsite. You try to open that website from your friend's computer and it justopens. You may wonder what happened to your computer, but don't worry, justfollow below steps to fix this issue. There are many possible reasons you can'taccess a website. Follow below methods and see which one works for you.

1 Check whether there may be any error with that website. You can do this bychecking from another computer. The server of that website may be down for

maintenance or due to high traffic, so wait for some hours to a day.

Check if you have accidentally blocked that website using any software likeparental control software or maybe through your system firewall or any thirdparty software.

Method 1 of 8

Method 2 of 8

8 Ways to Fix if You Can't Access a Particular Website - wikiHow http://www.wikihow.com/Fix-if-You-Can't-Access-a-Particular-Website

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You may have put that website in restricted sites on your browser, so trydifferent browsers. Read this article to know how to remove restricted sites in

Internet Explorer.

Clear your browser cookies and check the website. Read this article to knowhow to clear browser's cookies.

1 Shut down your PC.

Method 3 of 8


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Remove power supply from your modem, router or any other device you mayhave connected.

Connect everything and start your PC, then check for that website.


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Go to C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc folder.

Right click on the hosts file.

Method 4 of 8


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Click on "Open with" in the context menu. From the displayed software choose"Notepad" to open the "hosts" file with Notepad. If there is any line starting without

# contains the website address, which you are unable to access, then go to the next stepor skip to the next method.

Copy everything from that hosts file except those lines started without # andclose the file. It's recommended to paste the copied content in the temporary text

document. This content will be needed later.


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Delete the hosts file.

Right click inside "etc" folder and go to New → Text Document. Type "hosts"as the file name.


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Open the newly created hosts text file and paste the content you have copiedfrom previous "hosts" file. Click on File → Save or Ctrl+S .

Click on Tools → Folder Option in Windows XP, Vista and Organize → FolderOption for Windows 7 users in "etc" folder window.


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Go to "View" tab in the Folder Options window. Select the option "Show hiddenfiles" and unselect the option "Hide extensions for known file types", then click on

OK.

Click on "hosts.txt" and press F2 button on your keyboard to rename. Changeits name from "hosts.txt" to "hosts" and press Enter. It'll show you a warning

asking, "Do you want to change the file extension?" click on Yes.


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Right click on "hosts" file. Go to Properties from context menu. SelectRead-only and Hidden option under General tab and click on OK.

Try to open that website in your web browser.


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Contact the webmaster of that website. Usually every website has a "Contactus" page, where you'll find the person to contact.

You may be blocked by that website, so change your IP address and try.Read this article to know how to change IP address.

That website may be blocked by your government due to any illegal activity ordue to any other reason.

Method 6 of 8

Method 5 of 8


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You can access that website by using anonymous browsing like TOR or anyother similar software or service. Read this article to know how to use TOR to

access that website.

You may try some proxy services or browser proxy add-on/extension toaccess that website.


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3 Please beware that you may be accessing that website illegally.

1 Try command "ipconfig /flushdns" in command prompt. If that's not working,go to the next step.

Method 7 of 8


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2 Try to change your DNS server. You can use any public DNS like Google DNS,OpenDNS etc.

1 Ask your ISP or professionals. They may help you.

Name your method

Know another method for How to Fix if You Can't Access a Particular Website? Add ithere...

Method 8 of 8


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Add Method

Add your steps using an ordered list. For example:1. Step one2. Step two3. Step three

Sometimes "hosts" file is changed by any software you may haverecently installed or due to malware. Checking your PC with antivirus isrecommended.

Be sure you are dealing with the correct file. There are many systemfiles so deleting or changing their name may affect your system.

How toRemove aWebsite From theRestricted SiteList in InternetExplorer

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How toRestrict WebBrowsing UsingInternet Explorer

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 223,074 times.

Categories: Internet | System Maintenance and Repair

Recent edits by: Coffee Addict, Steve, Jeff

In other languages:

Español: Cómo buscar una solución si no puedes acceder a un sitio web desde tucomputadora, Português: Como Voltar a Conseguir Acessar um SiteEspecífico, Italiano: Come Risolvere il Problema di non Riuscire ad Accedere a unDeterminato Sito Web

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8 ways to fix if you can't access a particular website

Documents

website address

access thatwebsite

created hosts text file

copiedfrom previous

access aparticular websiteyou

folder window

thirdparty software

tools folder option