In this article we’ll explain what the “Web page unavailable” message means and provide you with a complete guide to solving this problem.
Surfing the web is almost unavoidable nowadays, but you may run into several errors when you “surf” the web. Among the most frequent problems there is also the one that users can recognize from the on-screen message “Web page unavailable”, which appears especially when we use Google Chrome as a browser. However, it could also occur on alternative browsers, such as Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge, whether you’re on a PC or a tablet or smartphone, it is no coincidence that there is the error “Web page unavailable” on Android. In this guide we’re going to explain without too many complicated technicalities what this anomaly really means and what actions to take to try to correct it.
What does the error mean Web page unavailable
The message “Web page unavailable” means that Google Chrome, or another web browser, could not find and load the page we are trying to visit. Basically, you have run into what is referred to in the jargon as a failed DNS lookup. For those who don’t know, DNS is the network service that converts the name of the web portal into its Internet address: consequently, this error is usually caused by the absence of an Internet connection or by an incorrectly configured network. It can also be caused by a DNS server that is not responding or by a firewall that prevents your browser from accessing the network directly.
In any case, this is a message indicating that the Internet browsing program could not find or load the web page you requested, both on Windows and Android operating systems for mobile devices. Very often, the anomaly is identified by the browser of the Mountain View search engine giant with the message “ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED” or “ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED”. Both words indicate the same criticality in surfing the web, which can be solved in most cases with simple operations, feasible even by those who are not exactly a “geek” in terms of technology.
Web page not available: what to do to solve
When the web page is not available but the Internet works, as we said before, the causes of the problem could be different. And, as a consequence, there could be as many actions to be taken to try to bring things back to normal. Below, we’ll see how to solve one of the most frequent errors when surfing the Internet, starting from the most basic solutions up to the more refined ones, without getting lost in useless technical digressions that could only confuse most people.
Check the web address
If you also see the message “ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED” or “ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED” in the browser window, you can first of all check that you have typed the name of the web address correctly in the address bar, so as to be sure that you are trying to access the right portal. If the URL is correct, you can proceed with opening the web page with another device connected to the same network. If again the result is negative, it may be that the web page is really not available, which may happen in small or infrequently updated websites or even not existing anymore.
Check DNS
As we already mentioned, the most common cause of the “Web page unavailable” error may be the DNS server. On Windows systems, for example, to check the configuration of the DNS server we have to click on the Network Connection icon in the bottom right corner near the system clock. This icon is recognizable as it represents a cable, or alternatively the typical wireless connection bar symbol. Now select “Open Network and Sharing Center”, and click on “Connect to Local Area Network (LAN)” to access the settings. In the panel that opens, click on “Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” in the “Connection uses the following elements” section. Another window will open where you will have to check “Use the following DNS servers”, if not already present: in the Preferred DNS Server field enter 8.8.8.8 and in the Alternate DNS Server field enter 8.8.4.4, then complete the operation by clicking “OK” on all the remaining open windows.
Delete Cookies
Another good solution when the “Web page is unavailable” but the Internet works normally is to delete cookies, i.e. files created by websites you visit in order to store your browsing data. As useful as they are, sometimes a malfunctioning cookie can cause errors. Open Google Chrome and select “More” from the top right menu. Then click on “More Tools” and then on “Clear Browsing Data”, remembering to choose a time frame before starting the operation. If it fails, it is advisable to restart the network devices, switches and routers as well, which might be the cause of the malfunction.
Change Proxy Settings
When a web page loading or search takes a long time, then the browser might be using a web proxy. Consequently, we can go and change the proxy settings in case the message “Proxy resolution in progress” or “ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED” is displayed. To do this, select the time in the bottom right corner, choose the “Settings” item and in the “Network” section choose the network you are using. Click again on the network name and select proxy at the end to change its settings according to your needs.