How To Fix ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE In Google Chrome

There are multiple web browsers, but Google Chrome is the most popular web browser worldwide. It’s fast, user-friendly, and loaded with features. However, even the best browsers can encounter issues. One such problem you might come across on Chrome is the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error.

This address unreachable error usually appears when Chrome can’t reach the website you’re trying to access. It can be frustrating, regardless of whether you need the website for work or personal use. Therefore, resolving this issue is important to ensure a smooth user experience and uninterrupted browsing.

In this tutorial, we’ll explain the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE meaning, why it happens, and, most importantly, how to fix it. We’ll guide you through simple, step-by-step solutions that anyone can follow. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll know how to handle this error so you can browse without any hassles.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Restart your router to resolve network glitches.
2. Try another browser to see if the issue is specific to Chrome.
3. Run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter to fix network-related app issues.
4. Clear the Chrome browser cache to remove corrupted data.
5. Disable Chrome extensions to identify if one is causing the error.
6. Temporarily deactivate firewall and antivirus software to check for interference.
7. Flush the DNS cache and change DNS settings to use reliable servers like Google Public DNS.
8. Disable proxy settings to ensure a direct connection.
9. Keep your browser, system, and WordPress themes/plugins updated to prevent future errors.
10. Contact your hosting provider for server-related issues.

What Is ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE?

The ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error in Google Chrome means the browser cannot connect to the website you’re trying to see. This error indicates a network issue that stops the connection between your computer and the website, whether it’s a static or dynamic website.

It’s like trying to call a friend, but their phone is off or out of range. This error stops you from accessing the site, disrupting your browsing experience. Here’s how it appears in Google Chrome:

You might be facing this error because the domain name you typed doesn’t exist, or there can be some temporary problem stopping the browser from accessing that site. In the next section, we’ll explore the possible causes triggering the address unreachable error so you can quickly troubleshoot accordingly.

Common Causes Of ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE

You might see the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error in Google Chrome for several reasons. Here are some of the most common causes:

• Network Connection Issues: Issues with your internet connection can prevent Chrome from accessing websites. Check your connection and restart your router if needed.
• DNS Server Problems: Domain Name System (DNS) servers translate domain names into IP addresses. If there’s an issue with your DNS server, Chrome may be unable to reach the website.
• Corrupted Browser Cache: Cached data can sometimes become corrupted, leading to connection problems. Here, clearing your browser cache can often fix this.
• Firewall and Antivirus Issues: Overly rigid firewall or antivirus settings can block access to some websites, which can be fixed by temporarily disabling them.
• Proxy Server Interference: If you use a proxy server, it might be misconfigured or experiencing issues. To resolve the error, you can disable the proxy settings.
• Faulty Browser Extensions: Some browser extensions can also interfere with your connection. Try disabling them to see if the problem goes away.
• Router Errors: Issues with your router can also cause this error. Restarting the router or checking its settings might help.

By understanding these common causes, you can take the right steps to fix the err address unreachable error and enjoy constant browsing.

How To Fix ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE Error

There are multiple ways to resolve the address unreachable error; let’s start with the easiest solutions and then move on to the more detailed ones.

Restart Your Router

A common cause of the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error is a problem with your router. Routers manage your home network and sometimes experience glitches or overloads, causing connectivity issues. This disruption can prevent your browser from reaching the website’s server, resulting in the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error.

However, before you restart your router, we recommend you visit a few other websites to see if the error is specific to one website or your entire internet connection. If you find the issue is on your internet connection, restart your router.

To do this, you need to turn off your router first. Locate the power button on the router and press it to turn it off. If there is no power button, unplug the power cable from the router.

Leave the router off for about 30 seconds. This allows it to reset fully. After that, press the power button again to turn on the router or plug the power cable back in. Now, wait for the router to boot up completely. This can take a couple of minutes.

After restarting your router, reconnect your devices to the network. Open Google Chrome and try to re-access the website. In most cases, this simple step will resolve the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error and restore your internet connection. Further troubleshooting steps may be needed if the error persists, but restarting your router is a significant first step.

Try Different Browser

If you encounter the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error in Google Chrome, it’s a good idea to try accessing the site using a different browser. Sometimes, the issue might be specific to Chrome, and using another browser can help determine if that’s the case.

You can use any browser; however, we recommend Mozilla Firefox because it utilizes its personal network stack. To use it, open a Firefox browser window and navigate to your site.

If the website loads in the Firefox browser, the problem is likely with Chrome. This could be due to a corrupted browser cache, faulty extensions or WordPress plugins, or other settings specific to Chrome.

If the website doesn’t load in any browser, the issue is likely with your network connection or the website’s server settings. By testing with another browser, you can narrow down the cause of the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error and take appropriate steps to fix it.

Important: If you’re uncomfortable using a different browser, visit your site using Chrome’s Incognito Mode, which you can open by pressing Ctrl + Shift + N.

Clear Chrome Browser Cache

If your site loads in a different browser or in Incognito mode, there might be an issue with Chrome’s cache. Over time, your Chrome browser stores lots of data in the cache to help websites load faster.

However, this cache can sometimes become corrupted or outmoded, causing errors like ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE. In this case, clearing the cache removes these outdated files, allowing Chrome to load fresh data from the server where you hosted your website.

To do this, open Chrome. Copy and paste the chrome://settings/clearBrowserData URL in your browser’s address bar. Alternatively, press Ctrl + Shift + Del. This will open the Delete browsing data popup.

Navigate to the Basic tab. Choose a time range (e.g., “Last 24 hours” or “All time”) to clear cached data. Next, check the boxes for Cached images and files. Sometimes, selecting Cached images and files, and Cookies and other site data also works. Lastly, click Delete data.

Once you do that, revisit your site to see if the issue remains.

Disable Chrome Extensions

So, you tried a different browser and cleared the Chrome browser’s cache but still encountered the err address unreachable. This indicates that some of your Chrome extensions might be the source of the error.

It’s correct that Chrome extensions can enhance your browsing experience by adding useful features. For example, you can use extensions to check grammar or to block ads. However, some extensions can cause problems, including the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error.

How? These issues can arise if the extension conflicts with the website you’re trying to access or malfunctions. To fix it, you should identify and disable/remove problematic extensions. Here’s how you can do it:

Launch your Chrome browser. Click on the three vertical dots in the top right of your Chrome and go to Extensions → Manage Extensions.

Now, you should see a screen (as seen below) listing all the extensions you installed. Toggle off all extensions by clicking the switch next to each one.

After that, navigate to your website again to see if the error is resolved. If so, enable extensions individually, testing the website each time to identify an extension causing the issue. Once identified, click Remove to delete the faulty extension. Now, you can look for an alternative for that extension to fulfill your needs.

Disable Firewall & Antivirus Temporarily

Firewalls and antivirus are essential for keeping your PC safe from threats. However, sometimes they can block legitimate connections, generating the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error. Here, temporarily disabling them can help determine if they are the source of the problem. Let’s see how to disable Windows’ default antivirus program, third-party antivirus software, and firewall.

Windows Defender (Windows Security)

Windows Defender is the built-in antivirus for Windows 10 and Windows 11. To deactivate it, click the Start menu and select Settings (the gear icon).

Go to Update & Security.

Then, click Windows Security on the left pane and hit the Open Windows Security button from the right.

In Windows Security, click on Virus & threat protection.

On the next screen, click Manage settings under Virus & threat protection settings section.

Toggle the switch under Real-time protection to turn it off. Windows Defender will prompt you to confirm the action. Click Yes to apply changes.

Third-Party Antivirus Software

For third-party antivirus programs, the steps may vary slightly depending on your software. Here’s a general guide:

Locate the antivirus program’s icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner of your screen) and click it to open the program. If it’s not in the system tray, find it in the Start menu or by searching.

Look for a section labeled Settings, Options, or Preferences. This is usually found in the software’s main dashboard or menu. Navigate to the tab related to Protection, Security, or Real-Time Protection. Now, look for the option to turn off or disable real-time or antivirus protection.

There might be a checkbox or toggle switch to disable it. Confirm any prompts asking if you want to disable the protection. After you’ve completed your troubleshooting, remember to re-enable your antivirus protection. Go back to the same settings and turn the protection back on.

Deactivate Firewall

A firewall is a security system; it is designed to monitor and control outgoing and incoming network traffic based on security rules that have been pre-planned. It’s a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks; for instance, the Internet. Firewalls help protect computers and networks from unauthorized access, cyber-attacks, and harmful data by filtering traffic and blocking suspicious activities.

To disable the firewall on Windows, go to Control Panel → System and Security → Windows Defender Firewall. Select Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off from the left side.

Choose the Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) for private and public networks and click OK.

After disabling the firewall, try revisiting your website to see if the error is fixed. If it is, your firewall settings may need adjustment.

Important: Temporarily disabling your firewall and antivirus leaves your computer vulnerable to threats. Only disable them while troubleshooting and re-enable them as soon as possible. If you’re unsure how to disable your specific antivirus software, consult the help documentation or support resources provided by the antivirus software provider.

Flush DNS Cache & Change DNS Settings

Before we dive into the details of this method, you need to understand how DNS works. If you already know this, jump to the solution; otherwise, we’ve got you covered.

The Domain Name System (DNS) works like an internet phone book, translating human-readable domain names (like www.mywebsite.com) into IP addresses (like 192.0.2.1) that computers use to identify each other on the network. Here’s a simplified explanation of how DNS works:

1. User Enters a URL: When you type a domain name into your web browser, it checks its cache to see if it has recently resolved the domain. If not found, the request goes to the DNS server of your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to find the corresponding IP address.
2. Recursive Lookup: If the ISP’s DNS server doesn’t have the information, it performs a recursive lookup, starting with the root DNS servers. The root DNS servers direct the query to the appropriate top-level domain (TLD) server (e.g., .com, .org). These TLD servers then direct the query to the authoritative DNS server for the particular domain.
3. Authoritative DNS Server: The authoritative DNS server for the domain provides the correct IP address to the ISP’s DNS server.
4. Return the IP Address: The ISP’s DNS server returns the IP address to the visitor’s web browser.
5. Access the Website: The browser uses the IP address to request the website from the web server, and the server answers by sending the website data back to the browser.

This process happens in milliseconds, allowing you to access websites quickly and efficiently. If you are still confused, look at the following illustration:

Now, the point is how this can cause an ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error. If the DNS cache becomes corrupted or outdated, it can prevent your Chrome browser from finding the correct IP address for a website, leading to the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error. Similarly, using an unreliable DNS server can cause connection issues.

To fix this, launch your Chrome browser. In the search box (address bar), type chrome://net-internals/#dns and press Enter. Make sure you’re on the DNS tab. Now, click on Clear host cache to flush or clear the DNS cache.

Now, revisit your website to see if the error is fixed. If not, it’s worth changing your DNS settings.

To do this, right-click on your internet connection and select Open Network & Internet settings.

Confirm you’re on the Status tab. Scroll down a little and click on Change adapter options.

Right-click your active network connection (internet connection) and select Properties.

Choose Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) in the Networking tab and click Properties.

After that, choose Use the following DNS server addresses option and enter 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 for Google Public DNS. Lastly, click OK.

Flushing the DNS cache and switching to Google Public DNS can often resolve the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error and improve your browsing experience.

Important: If you want to use Cloudflare’s DNS, use 1.1.1.1 for the Preferred DNS Server and 1.0.0.1 for the Alternate DNS Server. Furthermore, you can also use Google Public DNS IPv6 and Cloudflare’s DNS IPv6 addresses if required.

Disable Proxy Server

Sometimes, a misconfigured proxy server can prevent Chrome from reaching the website’s server, which leads to the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error. So, it’s better to try disabling the proxy to ensure that your computer connects directly to the internet without any intermediaries. This can often resolve the error.

To do this, press the Windows key + I to open Widows’ Settings menu. Alternatively, go to the Start menu and select Settings. Click on Network & Internet in the Settings menu.

In the left-hand menu, select Proxy. Then, under Manual proxy setup, toggle the switch Use a proxy server to Off.

Additionally, make sure the Automatically detect settings option is also turned off.

Now, close the Settings window and try to access the website. This should help resolve the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error and restore your connection.

Run The Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

The Windows Store Apps troubleshooter is useful for fixing issues related to apps downloaded from the Microsoft Store. Running this troubleshooter can sometimes resolve the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error, especially if it’s related to network issues affecting apps.

To access and use the troubleshooter on Windows devices, navigate to Settings → Update & Security. In the left sidebar, click on Troubleshoot. Scroll to Additional troubleshooters and click on it.

Once again, scroll down to the Find and fix other problems section and click on Windows Store Apps.

Now, click on Run the troubleshooter.

It will start detecting problems while showing you the following screen.

Once it’s done with detection, you’ll be prompted to reset an app as follows.

Follow the on-screen steps to conclude the troubleshooting process. This will help you identify and fix problems that might be causing the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error, ensuring that your apps and internet connection work smoothly.

Contact Your Hosting Providers

If you’ve tried all the previous methods and still see the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error, it’s time to contact your web hosting provider. It’s always better to contact them if the error persists after trying other fixes, if you suspect the server hosting your website is down, or if there might be issues with your server settings or configurations.

In these cases, visit your hosting provider’s website to extract contact details, such as phone numbers. Alternatively, you can use their support section. Ensure you have your account details, such as your account number or website domain, ready. Clearly describe the issue, including error messages you’ve seen and the steps you’ve already taken to fix it.

Remember that if you’re in this situation, you’ll realize the significance of choosing the right, secure hosting provider. If you’re a Hosted client, you can reach us right from your dashboard to fix your issue quickly. You can also submit a ticket to get a response via email.

Preventive Measures

Keeping your browser and system in good shape can prevent errors like ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE from happening. Here are some simple steps you can take:

• Keep Browser and System Updated: Regularly update your browser and operating system to confirm you have the latest security patches and features. Updates often fix bugs and improve performance.
• Regularly Clear Browser Cache: Clearing your browser cache helps prevent data corruption that can cause browsing errors. Do this every few weeks to keep your browser running smoothly.
• Use Reliable Antivirus and Firewall Software: Protect your computer with trusted antivirus and firewall software. Ensure they are properly configured and regularly updated to avoid unnecessary blocking of safe websites.
• Use Reliable DNS Servers: For better reliability and security, switch to trusted DNS servers like Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1).
• Monitor and Manage Network Settings: Regularly review your network settings to ensure everything is configured accurately. This includes checking your proxy settings and ensuring there are no unauthorized changes.
• Keep WordPress Theme and Plugins Updated: Regularly update your themes and plugins if you run a WordPress site. This helps prevent compatibility issues and security vulnerabilities that can cause errors.

By following the above-mentioned preventive measures, you can minimize the chances of encountering the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error and enjoy a smoother, more secure browsing experience.

FAQs

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