How to know if a website is actually down
When a website won't load, the problem is usually one of three things: the site itself is down, your internet connection is broken, or something on your device is blocking the connection. The fastest way to find out which one is to load a different website you know works — Gmail, Wikipedia, or your bank's homepage. If that loads fine, the first site is down. If nothing loads, your internet is the problem.
If you want to check whether a specific site is down before troubleshooting your own connection, use a third-party status checker. These are websites that try to reach other websites from their own servers and report what they find. The most common ones are Down Detector, Is It Down Right Now, and Uptime Robot. Type the website address into the search box and you'll see whether the site is reachable from their location, plus a map showing whether other people are reporting problems.
Be aware that a site can be partially down — working for some users but not others, or loading slowly enough that it times out on your device. The status checkers will tell you if it's completely unreachable, but if a site loads slowly only for you, the problem is usually your connection or your device, not the site itself.
Key Takeaways
- Test your internet by loading a different website you know works, like Gmail or Wikipedia, to rule out a connection problem on your end.
- Use Down Detector, Is It Down Right Now, or Uptime Robot to check whether a specific website is down from multiple locations.
- A site can be down for some users but not others, or working but very slow — status checkers will show you if it's completely unreachable.
- If a site loads for you but slowly, the problem is usually your device or connection, not the site itself.
Check your own internet connection first
Before you assume a website is down, confirm that your internet is working. Open a new browser tab and go to a major site you use regularly — Google, YouTube, your email, or a news site. If it loads in a few seconds, your internet is fine and the problem is with the site you're trying to reach.
If nothing loads, or everything loads very slowly, restart your router. Unplug it from power, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. While it's restarting, check whether other devices in your home can connect to the internet — your phone on WiFi, a tablet, or a laptop. If only one device can't connect, the problem is that device, not your internet. If nothing can connect, the problem is your router or your internet service provider.
If restarting the router doesn't help and multiple devices can't connect, contact your internet provider. Most providers have a status page showing outages in your area — search "[your provider name] outage map" to see if there's a known problem.
Use a website status checker
Status checker websites try to load a site from their own servers and report whether it responds. The most widely used is Down Detector (downdetector.com). Type the website name into the search box at the top. You'll see a graph showing outages over the last 24 hours, a map of where people are reporting problems, and recent user comments describing what they see.
Is It Down Right Now (isitdownrightnow.com) works the same way but with a simpler interface. Type the address and it tells you in seconds whether the site is up or down. Uptime Robot (uptimerobot.com) is more detailed — it shows you the response time of the site and a longer history of uptime and downtime.
These checkers are useful because they test from a location outside your home network. If the checker says a site is down but it loads fine for you, the site may be working again (checkers update every few minutes, not constantly), or the site may be blocking traffic from the checker's location while still serving regular users.
What to do if a site is down
If a status checker confirms the site is down, there's nothing you can do except wait. Most outages last between a few minutes and a few hours. Check the status checker again in 15 or 30 minutes to see if it's back up.
If the site is important to you — your bank, your work email, a service you pay for — look for a status page on the site itself. Many companies post updates about outages on a separate status page that stays up even when the main site is down. Search "[company name] status" to find it. You can also check the company's social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook) for outage announcements.
If you need to contact the company about the outage, look for a support email or phone number on their website before the outage, or search for it online. Avoid clicking links in emails or texts claiming to be from the company — go directly to the official website or call the number listed on your account.
Slow loading versus being down
A website that loads very slowly is different from a website that's down. A slow site will eventually load, though it might take 30 seconds or more. A down site won't load at all, or will show an error message like "Connection timed out" or "502 Bad Gateway."
If a site is loading slowly only for you, the problem is usually your device or connection. Try these steps: close other browser tabs and programs to free up memory, restart your browser, or try loading the site on a different device. If it loads quickly on another device, the problem is your computer or phone, not the site.
If a site is slow for everyone, the status checkers will usually show it as "up" but with slow response times. The company running the site is aware of the problem and is working on it. There's nothing you can do except wait or try again later.
When a site shows an error message
Different error messages tell you different things. A 404 error means the page you're looking for doesn't exist — you may have typed the address wrong, or the page was deleted. Try going to the home page of the site instead.
A 502 or 503 error means the site's servers are overloaded or down for maintenance. The site is down, not your connection. Wait a few minutes and try again.
A Connection timed out or ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT message means your device tried to reach the site but didn't get a response in time. This usually means the site is down, but it can also mean your internet is very slow. Try loading a different site to check your connection.
A DNS error or ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED means your device couldn't find the site's address. This usually means you typed the web address wrong. Check the spelling and try again. If the spelling is correct, your internet provider's DNS server may be having problems — try restarting your router.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a website is down or if my internet is broken?
Open a different website you know works, like Google or Gmail. If it loads, your internet is fine and the first site is down. If nothing loads, your internet is the problem. Restart your router and try again.
Can a website be down for me but not for other people?
Yes. A site can be down in one region but working in another, or working for some internet providers but not others. A status checker will tell you if it's down from multiple locations. If the checker says it's up but it won't load for you, try restarting your router or device.
What does a 502 error mean?
A 502 error means the site's servers are overloaded or temporarily down. It's not a problem with your connection. Wait a few minutes and try again. If it keeps happening, check a status checker to see if the site is having ongoing problems.
Is Down Detector always accurate?
Down Detector is usually accurate, but it checks from specific locations and updates every few minutes. A site might be back up by the time you check, or it might be down for you but not from Down Detector's location. Use it as a starting point, not as the final answer.
What should I do if a website I use for work is down?
Check a status checker to confirm it's down. Look for a status page on the company's website or their social media accounts for updates. If you need to contact them, find their support number or email on your account or their website — don't click links in emails or texts.