[Repair Guide] Fixing the Web Site Not Responding Issue

[Repair Guide] Fixing the Web Site Not Responding Issue

/ James Masterson

Causes of Chrome Not Responding

Memory management problems are often the cause of slowdowns or stoppages in Chrome. When many tabs run on an underpowered device, it can create memory leaks that cause instability in Chrome and Windows. In addition, broken extensions or problematic web pages can generate errors beyond the browser’s capacity, leading to browser freezing or abnormal termination.

How to Fix Chrome Not Responding Error

Although there is no guaranteed solution to fix the issues that can cause Chrome to become unresponsive, you can try following these steps in the suggested order to restore the browser’s functionality. By the end, there’s a high likelihood that Chrome will be fully operational again.

Restart PC

Before proceeding with any further fixes, it is recommended that you restart your PC or Mac. This is a common solution to address minor technical issues or system-related abnormalities that may hinder the proper functioning of Chrome and other applications. It is advisable to restart your system at this moment.

Check Your Connection (And Other Sites)

Let’s start by addressing the obvious concern: Are you connected to the internet? To check, look for the icon in the corner of your screen that indicates a strong internet connection. If you’ve accidentally turned off Wi-Fi or are in Airplane Mode, this could be the reason for the issue. To rule this out, try accessing other websites and see if they work properly. If some websites load while others don’t, it’s unlikely to be a problem with your internet connection.

However, if you encounter difficulties with all websites, rebooting your modem or router may be necessary. Any disruptions with these devices can impact your browsing session. It’s important to note that typos can also cause problems, so double-check the spelling of the website you are trying to access.

See if the Problem Is on Your End or Theirs

check web site in down detector

To troubleshoot a website that is not responding, start by determining if the problem is on your end or theirs. Check if the website is down for everyone or just you. If the website is down for everyone, it is likely an issue on their end, and you will need to wait for a fix. However, if the website is up for others, try clearing your browser cache and cookies or using a different browser to access the site.

Scan Your Computer for Viruses

run virus scan

Sometimes, a website not responding error can be caused by malware or viruses that have infected your computer. These malicious programs can slow down your computer’s performance, interfere with your internet connection, and cause errors while browsing the web.

By scanning your PC for viruses and malware, you can identify and remove any infections that may be causing the website not to respond to errors. Antivirus software can detect and remove viruses, malware, and other malicious software that may affect your computer’s performance.

Update Google Chrome or Web Browser

Updating your browser may be helpful if you are experiencing issues with a website not responding. Older versions of browsers may not be able to properly render newer website designs, causing them not to load or respond properly.

Updating to the latest version of your preferred browser can help ensure that it is compatible with the website you are trying to access and improve overall browsing performance and security.

1. Open Google Chrome.

2. Click the three dots icon in the upper-right corner of the browser window.

3. Click Help in the drop-down menu.

4. Click About Google Chrome.

about google chrome

5. The browser will automatically check for updates and install them if available.

Once the update is installed, you will be prompted to restart Chrome. Click Relaunch to complete the update process.

Clear Cookies and Browser Cache

Clearing your browser cache and cookies may help resolve the issue if you are having trouble accessing a website. The cache and cookies in your browser store data from previously visited websites, which can sometimes cause conflicts with new website data, leading to problems with website access or performance.

Clear Cache for a Specific Site

1. Open Google Chrome and click on the three dots icon in the top-right corner of the browser window.

2. In the menu that appears, select Settings.

3. Scroll down and click on Privacy and Security in the sidebar.

4. Under the Permissions section, click on Site Settings.

5. Select View permissions and data stored across sites.

6. Locate the website you want to clear data for in the list and click on it.

google chrome clear all data

7. Click on Clear Data and confirm your choice.

Clear the Entire Chrome Browser Cache

1. Open a new tab in Google Chrome.

2. Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Cmd+Shift+Delete on Mac to open the Clear browsing data box.

3. In the Basic tab, make sure the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are checked.

4. Set the time range to All Time using the drop-down menu.

clear browsing data all time

5. Click on the Clear data button to clear the selected data.

Disable Third-Party Cookies

If web pages take too long to load in Chrome, third-party browser cookies may be to blame. You can try disabling them by following these steps:

1. Open the Chrome menu and select Settings.

2. Select Privacy and Security on the sidebar.

3. Choose the option labeled Cookies and other site data.

4. On the next screen, select Block third-party cookies.

block third party cookies

Remember that blocking third-party cookies in Chrome may cause certain website features to stop working properly. If you encounter a Page Unresponsive error while browsing, you may want to re-enable third-party cookies to see if it helps temporarily.

Disable Hardware Acceleration

hardware acceleration option in chrome

Hardware acceleration is a feature in Chrome that can improve its performance, but it can sometimes lead to problems with how web pages are displayed. If you’re experiencing issues with page rendering, you can try disabling hardware acceleration in Chrome to see if it helps.

First, go to the Chrome Settings screen to disable hardware acceleration in Chrome. This can be done by clicking on the three dots in the upper-right corner of the browser window and selecting Settings. Next, click Advanced in the left-hand sidebar and select System.

Look for the option that says Use hardware acceleration when available, and toggle the switch next to it to the off position. Finally, select Relaunch at the bottom of the screen to restart Chrome with hardware acceleration disabled.

Disable Extensions

Using multiple Chrome extensions simultaneously can cause a strain on system resources and lead to slow performance, ultimately resulting in Web Page Unresponsive errors. Additionally, certain extensions may conflict with website content, resulting in incorrect page functionality.

Begin by clicking the Extensions icon to the right of the Chrome address bar. From there, select Manage Extensions and disable all currently active extensions.

disable chrome extensions

After turning off all active extensions in Chrome, you can start enabling the extensions individually if the Page Unresponsive error disappears. This method can help identify extensions that may use too many system resources or cause conflicts with other extensions, resulting in Chrome performance issues.

Fix Your DNS

Domain Name System (DNS) translates human-readable domain names that computers can understand. When you type a URL into your browser, the browser requests a DNS server to translate the domain name into IP addresses. If the DNS server doesn’t respond or responds incorrectly, the website won’t load.

To change your DNS settings in Windows, go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings, right-click on your network adapter, and select Properties. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.

reconfigure dns settings

Update Windows

Keeping your PC’s operating system up-to-date is crucial as it provides Chrome with a stable platform to run on and reduces the chances of conflicts with Windows.

1. Press Win + I to open the Settings app, then click Update & Security.

2. Click the Check for updates button.

check updates

3. Download and install the latest updates, if there are any.

Create a New Chrome Profile

If the solutions mentioned earlier did not solve the issue, your Chrome user profile might be corrupt. To fix this, you can create a new profile by renaming your current profile through File Explorer or Finder. However, ensure that your browsing data is synced to a Google Account before doing so.

1. Close Google Chrome.

2. Press Windows + R to open the Run box on a PC. On a Mac, open Finder and select Go > Go to Folder.

3. Copy and paste the relevant folder path depending on your operating system:

For Windows users: %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\

For Mac users: ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/

4. Press Enter to go to the folder.

5. Find the default folder and rename it to Default.old. This will allow you to create a new profile without losing your old data.

rename default folder

Reset Google Chrome

You may need to reset Google Chrome if you are still experiencing persistent Pages not responding to error messages despite trying the solutions mentioned earlier. This will reset all browser settings and return Chrome to its default state, which can help resolve the issue. However, ensuring that your browsing data is synced with a Google Account before proceeding with this action is important.

1. Open the Google Chrome menu and select Settings.

2. Click on Advanced > Reset and clean up/Reset settings.

3. Select Restore settings to their original defaults > Reset settings.

chrome reset settings

Reinstall Chrome

If none of the previously suggested solutions work, resetting Chrome to its default settings, uninstalling it, and reinstalling it can be considered a last resort. However, this is unnecessary, as the other troubleshooting steps mentioned earlier can usually resolve the issue.

Here are the steps to reinstall Google Chrome:

1. Uninstall Chrome: Go to the Control Panel on your PC and select Uninstall a program or Programs and Features. Find Google Chrome in the list of installed programs, right-click it, and select Uninstall.

uninstall chrome

2. Delete remaining files: After uninstalling Chrome, you’ll want to delete any remaining files. Go to the folder where Chrome was installed (usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome) and delete any files or folders with Chrome in the name.

3. Download and install Chrome: Go to the official Google Chrome website and click Download Chrome. Once the download is complete, run the installer and follow the prompts to install Chrome.

Fixing the Web Site Not Responding Issue: Troubleshooting Steps and Solutions

In conclusion, web site not responding to issues on Chrome can be frustrating, but with these simple steps, you can troubleshoot and fix the problem quickly. From checking your connection to disabling extensions and creating a new Chrome profile, these solutions will help you return to browsing quickly.

James Masterson
Meet the author

James is a software engineer and an information architect with a keen eye for detail. Among his key interests are enhancing the usability of our Windows 10 content, troubleshooting errors, and tech news.