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"This site can’t be reached" DNS error
"This site can’t be reached" DNS error

Troubleshoot the issue where you might see an error on your browser when viewing your website from your work computer.

Séamus Diamond avatar
Written by Séamus Diamond
Updated over 6 years ago

If your browser is giving you the following error, or something similar, this article might help you get it solved.  First let's review the symptoms and see if it matches a common problem.

A Word About Propagation

If you've just gone live you may need to wait for propagation to finish to see your new website.  Usually there is no downtime but instead some users see the old website and some see the new website.  In some cases there can be downtime depending on the exact nature of the change.  Propagation is usually between two and four hours but sometimes is up to 24 hours.

Using Incognito Mode – Private Browsing

Testing any change on a website you should try using your browser's Incognito mode or Private browsing mode.  This is because it takes a fresh look at the website rather than what it may have read sometime earlier.  Even in this mode you should close and reopen it between tests.

Symptoms of Local Network DNS Issue

  1. Are you using a computer or mobile device in an office or other work environment by connecting to the Wifi or Network for your internet access?

  2. Using your mobile phone, turn off Wifi (So you're using the 3g/4g internet access) and try accessing the webstore.  Does the website work on 3g/4g connections but not on Wifi?

  3. When connected to your business internet do you see an error similar to this one (I used the Google Chrome browser) or perhaps another error?

If you were able to answer Yes to the above symptoms you are seeing a common issue created by the network configuration on your business or office computer network.  The good news is everyone else can see your website fine, just not you! 😀

How to Fix Local Network DNS Issues

  1. Call your IT department or supplier to determine if there is a server or router which is controlling DNS for your own domain name.  This is quite common because sometimes email and other services internally use a set of local DNS records.  The problem arises if they don't get updated when the public DNS records change.  You can ask your provider to make the same DNS changes you made when your webstore went live or reach out to us for the correct settings.  

  2. You can configure your Wifi or Network connection to use a public DNS.  An example is Google's DNS or Open DNS, both of which you can use for free.

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