Microsoft launched Edge browser alongside Windows 10 and has since made upgrades to make it a browser providing a better browsing experience. It may fall behind Google Chrome in its popularity; however, it has some loyal users who like the browser for its simple design and excellent reading experience.
Some users faced an error where they get a message when trying to load any webpage, which says, “Hmm, we can’t reach this page.” Here I shall discuss some easy methods in which you can easily solve the Microsoft Edge can’t reach this page error.
How To Solve Microsoft Edge Can’t Reach This Page Error?
Before you begin, verify if your internet is working on your device. Try to load the same website on other browsers installed on your device i.e. Google Chrome/ Mozilla Firefox, etc. If the webpage fails to load there as well, there is some error with either your internet or the connection to your device. However, if other browsers work fine without any issues, follow this guide to solve the “can’t reach this page” error on Microsoft Edge.
Solution 1: Clear Edge Browser Data
Cache refers to the data that is stored by websites onto your device to load them faster the next time you load the same page. The cache is important to your device, as it works on reducing the loading time of websites and also helps save data. However, outdated cache is harmful to your device and can cause many errors revolving around loading these sites.
To clear Edge browsing data, open Microsoft Edge and press the shortcut combination Ctrl + Shift + Delete. The Clear data popup shall open on the right side of the browser. Select all the data that you wish to delete for your browser, and then click on the Clear button to clear all the data for your browser.
Next, restart your browser, and check if the error persists.
Solution 2: Run The Internet Troubleshooter
If you see that, none of the browsers are able to load any websites, you can try and run the internet troubleshooter to check and diagnose internet problems.
To run the internet troubleshooter that is built into Windows 10, follow these steps:
- Open the Windows Settings You can use the keyboard shortcut Win + I.
- Go to the Updates & Security
- From the left pane, select Troubleshoot.
- In the right pane, locate and click on Internet Connections.
- Click on the Run the troubleshooter button that comes up when you click on it.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to finish diagnosing the issues with your device.
Wait for the troubleshooter to find your error. For simple errors, the troubleshooter itself can solve your issues and help you connect to the internet.
Solution 3: Disable Extensions
Extensions are the configuration files that work on providing additional features onto your browser to increase the functionality. Some extensions can be extremely helpful as they can help in bringing additional features that are not yet supported natively by the browser.
These extensions are loaded along the browser, and a misbehaving extension can cause many problems. You can diagnose malfunctioning extensions by opening a window in Edge (use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + P).
In a Private window, the extensions are disabled by default. If the internet runs normally in the private window, this means there might be some error with your extensions that is causing the error. Start by enabling the extensions one by one to diagnose and solve your Edge can’t reach this page error.
Solution 4: Check DNS Service Status
The DNS client is necessary for the device to be connected to the internet and function normally. Microsoft Edge is dependent on the proper functioning of the DNS service, and it being disabled may be the reason that you cannot connect to the internet via Edge.
To enable DNS client again, follow these steps:
- Open a Run window by pressing Win + R.
- Type services.msc and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to launch the Services console with administrative privileges.
- Locate DNS client from the list of services available on your device.
- Right-click on it and select Start from the context menu.
Now check if the Edge can’t reach this page error persists.
Solution 5: Change DNS Settings
It is possible that the DNS settings may not be resolved properly for your device. Changing to a public DNS may temporarily solve your issue if you also see the ‘Hmm. We can’t reach this page’ on your Edge browser.
To execute this method, you need to extensively change your DNS settings in your operating system.
Usually, most internet service providers set the DNS servers automatically using the DHCP client (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). However, you can change it to use Google’s Public DNS IP addresses if there is some issue with your ISP’s DNS settings.
To change the DNS settings, here are the steps you can follow:
- In a Run dialogue (Win + R), type the following and press Enter to open Network Connections:
ncpa.cpl - In the list of available networks, select the connection (Ethernet or Wireless Network Connection) you were on that is causing the cannot reach this page error.
- Right-click on the above-chosen network and select Properties.
- In the Wi-Fi properties, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) under the Networking Click on the Properties button.
- Inside the (TCP/IPv4) Properties screen, click on the radio button next to ‘Use the following DNS server address’.
- Change the values as below:
Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4 - Save the changes.
- Open the Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) Properties next similar to how you opened IPv4 settings in the step above, and click on the radio button next to ‘Use the following DNS server address’
- Change the values as below:
Preferred DNS server: 2001.4860.4860.8888
Alternate DNS server: 2001.4860.4860.8844
- Restart your network connection.
Now check if Edge still shows the same error message. Changing to a public DNS should resolve the error, and you should be able to browse the internet normally using Microsoft Edge.
Solution 6: Disable VPN
Virtual private networks extend a private network across a public network, allowing users to send and receive data across public networks as if they were directly connected to the private network. In simpler terms, it lets you access the internet from the location where the private network is located, mocking your location.
A VPN provides a safe and secure way to connect users across the internet. You can browse the internet without leaving any footprints, and you can also access region-restricted websites and view geo-locked content.
However, a VPN can slow down your connection speeds, as the connection is emulated over other private networks, and this can lead to Microsoft Edge showing the error ‘Hmm, we can’t reach this page’.
Disable your VPN and try accessing the websites again, and check if the error persists. You should be able to load the sites normally if the error was being caused by a VPN interference.
Solution 7: Allow Through Firewall
A firewall refers to the shield between your device and the internet. It prevents malicious users and files from being downloaded onto your device, as the internet traffic passes through the firewall. If any app has been disabled through the firewall, it will not be able to communicate over the internet freely.
If you see Microsoft Edge can’t reach this page error, you can try allowing it through the firewall to solve the error.
For a third party premium antivirus software, turn down the shields for the while you will be downloading the file. If you use Windows Firewall, follow these steps:
- In Windows Search, type Firewall.
- Locate and click on Allow an app through Windows Firewall.
- Locate the Microsoft Edge application. Make sure that it is enabled through both the public and private firewalls.
- If it is not, click on the Change settings button at the top.
- Check the boxes next to the app under both Private and Public networks.
- Close the control panel and restart your computer.
- Launch Edge again and check if the issue persists.
Allowing the application through a firewall should solve the error on your browser.
Wrapping Up
So there you have it. Now you know how to solve the ‘can’t reach this page’ error in Microsoft Edge using the solutions provided above. Comment below if you found this useful, and tell us how you solved the error on your device.