A woman sitting at a desk with multiple monitors

May 9, 2023

What to do when a website won’t load

You’ve been there before: you’re connected to the internet, but a website just won’t load. Is it because there is a problem with your connection? Could something be wrong with the website? When you’re connected to the internet but your browser’s not working, here’s what you can do to get to the root of the problem and fix it.

How to troubleshoot a website that won’t load

It’s no fun being stopped in your tracks when your browser is not working. Here’s what you can do to troubleshoot a website or browser that isn’t working right:

Check your network connection

Are you connected to the Internet? It might seem like a simple answer, but if a popular website won’t load, chances are the connection has been dropped on your device and not the web server. You can check your web connection by going to Settings > Network. You might be in Airplane mode, or you might not be connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Try a different website

If you type in another website and it loads, then your connection is working—and you can rest assured that the problem isn’t on your end. However, if new web pages load slowly, then you may have to restart your device.

Turn off extensions

Sometimes extensions and add-ons can interfere with your connection, so it’s worth turning them off temporarily to see if they’re the culprit. To turn off extensions, find the extensions icon that looks like a puzzle piece just right of the address bar. You can also use Microsoft Edge built-in performance features, such as Startup boost and Sleeping tabs, that help your browser start and run faster while consuming fewer system resources.

Clear your cache and cookies

Could your cache or cookies be to blame? They might! In your browser’s Settings menu, you can eliminate past browsing data and give your browser a fresh start.

Check your router

As a last resort, physically turn off your router and restart it. Once you’re sure it’s connected to the Internet, try loading that page again.

It might not be you

After all these steps, if the website still isn’t loading, then it could be an issue on the web server’s end. If you’re waiting around for your website to load, or for your router and modem to restart, you can play the fun secret game built into the Edge Browser! Open Edge Surf or type in “edge://surf” into your Microsoft Edge address bar—you don’t even need to be online to hit the waves.

Whatever the cause of that initial loading failure, it’s good to periodically reset your own Internet connection, clear your cache and cookies, and double-check your settings—especially with an eye towards privacy and staying safe online. For a fast, safe, reliable browsing experience, try Microsoft Edge today.

Features and functionality subject to change.
Articles are written specifically for the United States market; features, functionality, and availability may vary by region.