Fix ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE Error: 10 Methods

If you meet the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error when trying to access a website in a browser, it means the browser can’t connect to the server hosting the website. This could be due to network problems, incorrect DNS configurations, browser issues, firewall or antivirus blocking, website server issues, etc.

Restart Device and Access the Website Again

If you can’t access a website in a browser and face the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE error, you can restart your device and try to access the site again. Restarting the device can reset many settings and fix many system-related issues.

Check Your Internet Connection

If your device is not properly connected to the internet, the browser won’t be able to reach the website’s server, leading to the “ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE” error.

• Before diving into complex solutions, check if your device is well connected to the internet. Ensure that your Wi-Fi is working properly.
• If you are using an Ethernet cable, verify that it’s properly plugged in and not damaged.
• If the network connection seems fine, you can try restarting your router or modem to refresh the connection.
• Check if other devices are connected to the internet properly.

Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

Browsers usually store cookies and caches to enhance browsing speed, but they can sometimes cause issues like the “ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE” error. Outdated or corrupted cache files can interfere with your browser’s ability to connect to websites. To fix this, you can clear your browser cache and cookies.

• For Google Chrome: Click the three-dot icon > Delete Browsing Data > Select “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and other site data”, then click “Delete Data.”
• For Mozilla Firefox: Go to Options > Privacy & Security > Clear History and select the items you want to delete.

Disable Suspicious Browser Extensions

Some browser extensions or add-ons may cause the “ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE” error. If you use extensions like VPN browser extensions, ad blockers, or security tools in your browser, they may interfere with the website connection.

• To troubleshoot the issue, click the three-dot icon and select “Extensions”.
• Disable all extensions and try to access the website again. If the site loads successfully, enable each extension one at a time to identify which extension causes the issue.

Related: Fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT Error: 12 Effective Solutions

Flush DNS on Your Device

Sometimes, the DNS cache in the browser or device can become outdated, leading to the “ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE” error. Flushing the DNS cache can help fix DNS-related issues. Here’s how you can do it.

• On Windows: Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt as an administrator. Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
• On macOS: Open the Terminal via Spotlight. Type sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder and press Enter.

This command will clear your device’s DNS cache and might resolve this error.

Change DNS Servers

Using a default DNS server from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can sometimes result in connectivity issues. Switching to a faster and more reliable DNS service can help. Google’s Public DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) and Cloudflare’s DNS (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1) are good options.

To change DNS settings on Windows:

• Press Windows + R, type “control”, and press Enter to open Control Panel.
• Click Network & Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings.
• Right-click on your active network connection and choose “Properties”.
• Select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click “Properties”.
• Choose “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter the preferred and alternate DNS addresses.

Fix VPN or Proxy Server Issues

If you use a VPN or proxy server on your device, you may change to another VPN server or temporarily disable the VPN or proxy to see if it can help fix the “ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE” error.

Many VPNs let you easily switch server locations by offering the “Mode and Locations” or similar icons. You can change to another VPN node and try to access the website again. You can also disconnect the VPN and reconnect it several times to refresh the VPN connection.

To disable proxy settings:

• On Windows: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy, and turn off the “Use a proxy server” option.
• On macOS: Go to System Preferences > Network > Advanced > Proxies, and uncheck all the proxy settings.

Check Firewall or Antivirus Settings

Firewall or antivirus programs may block specific websites or web traffic, leading to errors like “ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE.” Temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus software and check if the error persists. If disabling the antivirus software resolves the issue, you may need to configure it to allow the website you’re trying to access.

Related: ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED: 10 Ways to Fix This Error in Chrome

Try Incognito Mode to Open the Site

Sometimes, issues with your browser settings or extensions can cause the “ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE” error. Try to access the website in Incognito Mode (Google Chrome) or Private Browsing (Mozilla Firefox). These modes disable extensions and use a fresh browsing session, which can help bypass certain issues that cause connectivity errors.

• For Google Chrome: Press Ctrl + Shift + N to open an incognito window.
• For Mozilla Firefox: Press Ctrl + Shift + P to open a private browsing window.

Tip: You can also update or reinstall the browser and try to access the website again.

Verify If the Website Is Down

Sometimes the website you are trying to visit may experience server outages and is temporarily down. You can use some professional tools to check the website’s status.

You can try tools like DownDetector, a professional site status-checking tool. Just enter the problematic website link to let it automatically check the status of the website. If it says the site is experiencing issues, you can just wait for the site to recover.

Conclusion

The “ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE” error can occur for a variety of reasons, but the solutions provided in this post should help you fix the issue quickly and restore your access to the website.

If the error persists even after trying all the methods above, consider contacting your ISP or a technical expert for further assistance.