How To Fix the ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE in Chrome

What Is ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE in Chrome

ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE appears in Chrome when the browser cannot connect to a website’s server. It means Chrome either cannot resolve the domain’s IP address or cannot reach the server. The error is shown as “This site can’t be reached” with the code ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE. This error signals technical trouble involving network settings, browser state, or server response.

Main Causes of ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE

The message can result from various issues on the user’s computer, local network, or remote server. Common causes are DNS problems, network configuration errors, browser issues, extension interference, proxy or VPN conflicts, security software, or server downtime.

DNS resolution failures often result from a damaged DNS cache, the use of an unreliable DNS provider, an unresponsive DNS resolver, or DNS changes that have not yet propagated. Chrome relies on correct mappings of domain names to IP addresses. A stale or incorrect DNS entry causes this error.

Router or modem issues may create connectivity failures. Sometimes, routers block outgoing requests after a long uptime or a failed reboot.

Browser cache errors come from corrupted files or cookies. Chrome may try to load a broken redirect or an out-of-date address.

Extensions such as script blockers or privacy tools change network requests and can introduce failures by stopping or rerouting them.

Incorrect proxy or VPN configurations cause the browser to try to reach websites through servers that either block or cannot find the target domain.

Firewall and antivirus software may block outbound connections to certain addresses if marked as suspicious or unknown.

Server-side errors come from incorrect configuration, firewall rules, or downtime in the web server or hosting provider.

Key Solutions and Diagnostic Steps

Restart the router and modem. This clears temporary failures and forces the device to renew its connection. Pull the power for 30 seconds, then reconnect.

Flush DNS cache to remove old data. In Chrome, go to chrome://net-internals/#dns and use the “Clear host cache” button. On Windows, run Command Prompt as an administrator and enter ipconfig /flushdns.

Switch DNS providers if the default DNS is unresponsive or slow. Enter static DNS addresses such as 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 for Google DNS or 1.1.1.1 for Cloudflare in the adapter settings.

Clear Chrome browser cache from chrome://settings/clearBrowserData, select “Cached images and files,” and delete.

Disable browser extensions by going to chrome://extensions and turning them off. Re-enable each one individually to find any that cause the error.

Disable proxy servers by opening Windows settings and going to Network and Internet, then Proxy. Toggle “Use a proxy server” to Off. For VPNs, use the application interface or disconnect from the VPN service.

Temporarily turn off the firewall or antivirus software to check if it blocks network requests. If so, add an exception for the relevant browser or website domain.

Check server availability. Use server monitoring services like UptimeRobot or check the provider’s status page. Verify DNS records with tools such as DNS Checker to confirm if the records have updated everywhere.

Inspect the server’s .htaccess file or firewall rules if you control the web server. Remove new restrictions or revert changes if needed.

Advanced Troubleshooting Steps

Reset the TCP/IP network stack on Windows. Open Command Prompt as administrator and enter:

netsh int ip reset
netsh winsock reset

Repair or reset Chrome settings using chrome://settings/reset. This can address browser-level misconfigurations.

Edit the system hosts file at C:/Windows/System32/drivers/etc/hosts. Remove any entries that falsely block needed domains.

Disable experimental features from chrome://flags that relate to DNS or networking, such as async DNS.

Test network connectivity using ping or tracert commands to see where requests fail. Compare with Chrome’s error to confirm where the failure starts.

Disable IPv6 if routers or adapters do not handle it well. Open adapter settings and uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).

Terms Related to ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE

DNS (Domain Name System): The infrastructure that translates readable domain names to numeric IP addresses.

DNS Cache: Temporary data stored by the browser or system that stores previous DNS lookups to speed up future visits.

Proxy Server: An external server that relays traffic between client and destination server.

VPN (Virtual Private Network): A service that encrypts traffic and often changes the apparent source of internet requests.

TCP/IP Stack: The main protocols that allow devices on the internet to communicate, often reset with system commands.

.htaccess: Configuration file found on many hosting platforms for the Apache web server, controlling redirects and access.

Real User Experiences

A site owner who moved DNS zones to a new host found ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE until DNS propagation finished. Waiting 24 hours and switching to the new host’s nameservers resolved the problem.

A user fixed repeated errors after disabling a Chrome extension that modified headers and rerouted requests.

A corporate network user resolved the error by disabling the office proxy server and setting DNS to a public resolver.

Some users on public WiFi have reported the error when routers block outgoing connections to certain sites. Moving to another network or speaking to the network operator solved the issue.

An administrator fixed user complaints by reviewing Windows server firewall settings and changing restrictive rules that blocked Chrome’s access.

Updates and Behavior in Newer Chrome Versions

Chrome began stricter networking validation in version 122. Now, on some networks, users are more likely to see ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE if the device incorrectly implements IPv6. Disabling IPv6 helps.

Recent releases of Windows 11 add a network troubleshooter accessible from Settings under System then Troubleshoot. This tool automates detection and repair of DNS, firewall, and adapter errors affecting Chrome and other browsers.

Windows and Chrome both now emphasize use of secure DNS over HTTPS. If these settings are enabled, and external DNS servers block queries, users may see the error until they change DNS options.

Hosting Provider-Specific Steps

After DNS record changes, inform users that DNS propagation delays can last up to 48 hours. This is a known source of ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE after hosting migrations.

In shared hosting, check for firewall policies that might block outbound or inbound connections by country or IP range.

SSL certificate issues can trigger this error if the browser cannot establish a secure session or if the name on the certificate does not match the domain as seen in Chrome.

Review Apache and Nginx server logs for related connection drops, denied requests, or blocklists.

Data from Community Forums and Tech Support Sites

Reddit users highlight IP conflicts on crowded local networks, resolved by reassigning static IPs.

Stack Overflow advises distinguishing this error from ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED, as the latter means the server actively turned down the request, while the former signals a network or routing block.

Support forums often suggest testing the target domain from other browsers or devices to rule out device- or browser-specific problems.

Ping and traceroute utilities are commonly used to track packet flow and pinpoint where packet loss or refusal begins.

Chrome’s internal pages, including chrome://net-internals and chrome://flags, appear in forum advice as tools for deeper troubleshooting.

Key Lessons for Site Owners and Administrators

Monitor DNS status after making changes and advise users to be patient after switching nameservers.

Coordinate closely with your hosting provider if server-level logs or firewall policies are involved in the failure.

Use site monitoring tools to verify uptime from multiple locations. This will help confirm if the server is unreachable globally or if the problem is local to the user’s region.

Review SSL, firewall, and server access control lists after platform or certificate updates.

If necessary, provide clear instructions for users to reset local networking by rebooting routers, flushing DNS, and resetting their browser. Provide direct technical steps or links to official troubleshooting guides.

By working across browser, network, and server levels, ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE can be resolved, and future site interruptions can be reduced.

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