A website works on one browser or device but not another

If a site loads on your phone but not your laptop, or in one browser but not another, the website itself is almost certainly fine. Something specific to the failing device or browser is getting in the way. That is good news, because it narrows the search a lot.

Start with what is different

Whatever works and whatever fails differ in some way, and the cause is hiding in that difference. Make a short list: the device, the browser, the network, whether a VPN or security tool is on, whether you are signed in. Then change one thing at a time.

Common causes

Cached or stale data

Your browser saves copies of pages, scripts and cookies. If the site has changed since, an old saved file can clash with the new page and leave it blank or broken. Try a private window first. If the site works there, clear the cache and cookies for that site. Our guide on clearing browser cache and cookies shows how.

Browser extensions

Ad blockers, privacy tools, script blockers and password managers can break pages by blocking something the page needs. A private window usually runs without extensions, so if the site works there, switch extensions off one by one in the normal window until the culprit shows up.

VPNs, proxies and security software

A VPN changes where your traffic appears to come from, and some sites block or limit VPN addresses. Antivirus and web-protection tools can also intercept secure connections and sometimes block sites by mistake. Turn the tool off briefly to test, then turn it back on and adjust its settings instead of leaving it disabled.

Different networks

Wi-Fi, mobile data and work or school networks can behave differently. Some networks filter certain categories of site, use their own DNS resolver or block particular ports. If it works on mobile data and not on Wi-Fi, see why a site works on mobile data but not Wi-Fi.

DNS problems on one device

Each device and router remembers its own DNS answers. One device can have a stale or wrong answer while others have the correct one. A DNS cache flush on the affected device often fixes it. Our DNS guide explains why.

Wrong date and time

Secure connections depend on certificates that are valid between two dates. If your device clock is wrong, a perfectly good site can show a certificate error. Set the date and time to automatic. See SSL certificate errors.

Out-of-date browsers and systems

Very old browsers or operating systems may not support the security settings modern sites require, or may lack the root certificates needed to trust newer certificates. Update the browser and the system.

The IP address or region

A site can block specific addresses, countries or networks, often as a security measure. Your address may have been caught by an automatic filter, or your provider’s address range may be blocked. Our guide on the 403 forbidden error and the 429 too many requests error covers the typical messages.

A quick method

1. Open the site in a private window in the same browser.
2. Open it in a different browser on the same device.
3. Open it on a different device on the same network.
4. Open it on the same device on a different network, such as mobile data.
5. Check our website checker to see if the site answers from elsewhere.

Each step eliminates one group of causes. If it fails in every browser on every device on your home network but works on mobile data, look at the network. If it fails only in one browser, look at that browser’s cache, extensions and settings. If it fails everywhere and our check also fails, the site really is down.

When it is the site after all

Sometimes a site has a fault that affects only some visitors: one region, one browser version, one network. The signs are people reporting the same problem and our check showing different results from different countries. Our guide to sites that are down for some people but not others describes why this happens and what to do about it.

Summary

If it works somewhere, the site is up. Compare what is different between the working and failing setups and change one thing at a time. Cache, extensions, VPNs, DNS and the clock account for most cases.

Related guides

• Why a website can be down for some people and not others
• How to clear the cache and cookies for one website
• A website works on mobile data but not on Wi-Fi: why and how to fix it

Last updated 2 November 2026. Written by the siteupdown.com team. Spotted a mistake?

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