Solved This Page Cannot Be Displayed?

Yes, “This page cannot be displayed” is a solvable browser error. It usually means your browser couldn’t reach the website’s server, and the fix ranges from checking your internet connection to clearing cached files or changing DNS settings. Below is a step-by-step troubleshooting guide that covers the most common causes and solutions, so you can get back to browsing quickly.

What Causes “This Page Cannot Be Displayed”?

The message is most often associated with older versions of Internet Explorer, but similar errors appear in Edge, Chrome, and Firefox. It appears when the browser sends a request for a webpage but never receives a valid response. The underlying causes fall into a few broad categories:

Network connectivity issues: Your device may be offline, Wi-Fi may be disconnected, or the network cable may be loose.
DNS resolution failures: The browser can’t translate the domain name (e.g., example.com) into an IP address.
Server-side problems: The website itself is down, or the server is too busy to respond.
Browser cache or proxy settings: Corrupted cached files or misconfigured proxy settings can block the page.
Firewall or antivirus interference: Security software may be blocking the connection.

Identifying which category your issue falls into is the first step toward fixing it.

Quick Checks: Is It Just You?

Before diving into complex troubleshooting, rule out the simplest explanations. Try these in order:

Load another website: Open a well-known site like google.com. If that loads, the problem is likely specific to the original site.
Check your internet connection: Look at the Wi-Fi icon or network settings. If you’re on a phone, toggle airplane mode on and off.
Restart your router and modem: Unplug them for 30 seconds, then plug them back in. Wait a minute for them to fully restart.
Use a different device: If another phone, tablet, or computer on the same network can load the page, the issue is with your original device.
Use a different browser: Try Firefox, Chrome, or Edge. If the page loads there, the problem is browser-specific.

If none of these work, move on to deeper fixes.

Clear Your Browser Cache and Cookies

Corrupted cached files are a common cause of display errors. When your browser saves an outdated or broken version of a page, it may refuse to fetch the new one. Clearing the cache forces the browser to download the page from scratch.

Here’s how to do it in the most common browsers:

Chrome: Click the three-dot menu → More tools → Clear browsing data. Choose “All time” and check “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and other site data.” Click Clear data.
Firefox: Click the hamburger menu → Settings → Privacy & Security. Under “Cookies and Site Data,” click Clear Data. Then under “Cached Web Content,” click Clear Now.
Edge: Click the three-dot menu → Settings → Privacy, search, and services. Under “Clear browsing data,” click Choose what to clear. Select “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and other site data,” then click Clear now.
Safari: Go to Safari → Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data. Click Remove All. Then go to the Advanced tab and enable “Show Develop menu.” From the Develop menu, click Empty Caches.

After clearing, restart the browser and try the page again.

Flush DNS and Reset Network Settings

DNS (Domain Name System) translates website names into IP addresses. If your computer’s DNS cache is corrupted, it can’t find the site. Flushing the DNS cache is a safe, quick fix.

On Windows, open Command Prompt as administrator and type:

ipconfig /flushdns

On macOS, open Terminal and type:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

You can also change your DNS server to a public one like Google (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1). This can bypass your ISP’s DNS problems. In Windows, go to Network Settings → Change adapter options → right-click your connection → Properties → Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → Properties → Use the following DNS server addresses.

On macOS, go to System Preferences → Network → Advanced → DNS, and add the addresses there.

Check Proxy Settings and Firewall

Misconfigured proxy settings can make your browser send requests through a server that doesn’t exist or is unreachable. On Windows, go to Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy. Make sure “Use a proxy server” is off unless you know you need it. On macOS, go to System Preferences → Network → Advanced → Proxies, and uncheck any active proxies unless required.

Firewalls or antivirus programs sometimes block legitimate sites. Temporarily disable them (if you know how to re-enable them) and try the page again. If it loads, add the site to the firewall’s whitelist. Never leave your firewall off for long.

When the Problem Is the Website Itself

Sometimes the error has nothing to do with your device. The website’s server could be down, or the domain may have expired. To check if a site is down for everyone, use a service like downforeveryoneorjustme.com. If the site is down, there’s nothing you can do except wait. If it’s only down for you, the problem is on your end.

Also, try accessing a cached version of the page via Google’s cache (search for the URL and click the arrow next to the result). That won’t fix the site, but it can give you the content you need temporarily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I see “This page cannot be displayed” in Internet Explorer but not Chrome?

IE has stricter compatibility settings and older network stacks. If the site uses modern HTTPS protocols or TLS versions that IE doesn’t support, it will fail. Use a modern browser instead, or update IE to the latest version (though Microsoft has retired IE, so Edge is recommended).

Can a VPN cause this error?

Yes. A VPN can route your traffic through a server that is blocked or slow. Try disconnecting from the VPN and loading the page again. If it works, switch to a different VPN server.

What does “ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT” mean?

It means your browser sent a request but the server didn’t respond in time. This is similar to “This page cannot be displayed.” It often indicates a firewall blocking the connection, a server overload, or a network issue.

Will clearing my cache log me out of websites?

Clearing cookies will log you out of most sites. You’ll need to sign in again, but your bookmarks and passwords (if saved) will remain. To avoid logging out, you can clear only “Cached images and files” and leave cookies intact.

Is there a way to fix this on my phone?

Yes. On Android or iOS, try toggling airplane mode, restarting the phone, clearing the browser’s cache (in the browser settings), or resetting network settings (Settings → General → Reset → Reset Network Settings on iPhone).

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