ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE appears in Chrome when your browser cannot establish a connection to the target server’s IP address. This means the DNS resolved correctly, but the actual network path to the server is blocked or unavailable. The issue typically comes from your local network configuration, not the website itself.
You see this error when your internet connection drops, a proxy or VPN interferes with routing, your firewall blocks outgoing connections, or the server is genuinely offline. Before troubleshooting your side, check if the website works on a different device or network. If it loads elsewhere, the problem sits on your machine or network.
Check Your Internet Connection
Open a new tab and try loading google.com or cloudflare.com. If these fail too, your internet connection is down. Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. Wait two minutes for the connection to stabilize. On WiFi, move closer to the router or switch to a wired Ethernet connection to rule out signal issues causing ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE.
Flush DNS Cache
Stale DNS records can route your browser to an unreachable IP address. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run ipconfig /flushdns. You should see “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.” Then run ipconfig /release followed by ipconfig /renew to get a fresh IP assignment from your router. On Mac, use sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder in Terminal.
Disable Proxy and VPN
Proxy servers and VPNs route your traffic through intermediate servers that may be down or misconfigured. On Windows, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy and toggle off “Use a proxy server.” If you run a VPN, disconnect it temporarily and retry the page. Many free VPN services cause ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE by routing through overloaded servers.
Switch DNS Servers
Your ISP’s DNS servers may fail to resolve certain domains correctly. Switch to Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1). On Windows: Settings > Network & Internet > Change adapter options, right-click your connection, select Properties, double-click “Internet Protocol Version 4,” and enter the new DNS addresses. This resolves ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE caused by DNS routing failures.
Reset TCP/IP Stack
Corrupted network configuration files cause persistent connection errors. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run these commands in order: netsh int ip reset, then netsh winsock reset. Restart your computer. This resets the entire TCP/IP networking stack to factory defaults, clearing any corrupted routing tables or socket configurations.
Check Firewall and Antivirus Settings
Windows Defender Firewall or third-party security software may block Chrome’s outgoing connections. Temporarily disable your firewall and antivirus, then try loading the page. If it works, add Chrome as an allowed application in your firewall rules. Norton, McAfee, and Kaspersky frequently block connections to servers they classify as suspicious, triggering ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE appear on only one website?
When ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE affects only one site, that server is likely down, your ISP blocks access to it, or your DNS cache holds a stale record for that specific domain. Flush your DNS cache and try accessing the site through a different network or mobile data to confirm whether the problem is local or server-side.
Can ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE affect mobile devices?
Yes. Android and iOS devices running Chrome display ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE for the same reasons: network issues, DNS failures, or VPN interference. On mobile, toggle airplane mode on and off to reset your connection, clear Chrome’s cache through app settings, or switch between WiFi and cellular data to isolate the cause.
