“Is it down for everyone or just me?”

Guide · 4 min read · updated October 2026

The answer depends on where the check runs from. Your own device can be fooled by local DNS cache, VPNs, and Wi-Fi problems. Here’s a reliable 30-second routine:

1. Check from a neutral server

Run the address through UpChecker. It sends a real HTTP request from its own infrastructure, not your browser — so local DNS and proxy issues can’t fake the result.

2. Read the verdict

• UP → the site answers from outside. If it still fails for you, the problem is on your side: clear DNS cache, disable the VPN, try mobile data.
• DOWN with a 5xx code → the site is up but its application is failing. That’s effectively down for everyone; nothing you can fix locally.
• DOWN with 403/429 → careful: that’s often a bot wall, not an outage. Try the site in a normal browser.
• DOWN with no code → nobody answered from outside. Strong signal it’s down for everyone.

3. Cross-check DNS if you see “no code”

Run nslookup example.com (or an online DNS checker). If DNS fails while the checker also gets nothing, the domain itself may have expired DNS or a registrar hold.

4. Rule out a stale cache

Browsers aggressively cache DNS lookups, redirects, and cookies. A stale cached entry can make a perfectly healthy site appear broken. Open an incognito/private window and try again — if it loads there, clearing your normal window’s cache (and DNS cache) will usually fix it.

5. One more tiebreaker

Open the site on a phone using mobile data, not Wi-Fi. Different network, different DNS. If the phone loads it and UpChecker says UP, your Wi-Fi/router is the culprit.

Run a check now →