First, check it’s down for everyone
Try your site on your phone with Wi-Fi switched off. If it loads there, the problem may be your office network or computer, not your site. You can also run our free Site Check below. It looks at your site from the outside, and shows your host, your domain’s expiry date and your padlock.
What the error message means
- “This site can’t be reached” or “server IP address could not be found”Usually a domain problem. The most common cause is a domain name that expired. Look for renewal emails from the company you bought it from, such as GoDaddy or Namecheap. Most give you some time to renew after it expires, but the price can go up, and eventually the name goes back on sale.
- A page from your hosting company saying the account is suspendedOften an unpaid bill or an expired card. Hosts also switch off sites that were hacked or that use too many resources. Check your hosting account’s billing and emails.
- “Your connection is not private”Your padlock (the security certificate) expired. The site still works, but most visitors will turn back. Most hosts renew it for free, so ask them to check.
- “Error establishing a database connection”WordPress can’t reach the database where your content lives. Your content is usually safe. This is often on the host’s side, so call them first.
- “500 Internal Server Error,” “502” or “503”The server is having trouble, from a broken plugin or a busy host. If it lasts more than a few minutes, contact your host.
- A blank page, or “There has been a critical error”Something inside WordPress crashed. See our guides to the white screen and the critical error message.
What you can try yourself
- Search your inbox for your domain name and your host’s name. Expiry notices and failed payments are the quickest fixes.
- Call your host with the exact error message and the time it started. They can see things we can’t from the outside.
Want to know the moment your site goes down, before your customers tell you? Watch checks every 5 minutes and emails you in plain English.