If that’s the case, it will certainly hamper your progress and affect the experience. And the list of blocked websites was generally different for users, owing to the underlying cause behind the problem. So, we decided to dedicate this article to help you understand the problem and walk you through the fixes if Windows 11 is blocking websites.
Why am I unable to access certain websites in Windows 11?
There could be various reasons why you are unable to access websites, and you can identify and eliminate them by taking a systematic and comprehensive approach. First, verify if you are facing the issue with a few websites or all of them. In the latter case, it could be due to problems with the Internet connection itself. Other than that, few websites are restricted in certain parts of the globe, and to access these, you will have to download and use a reliable VPN in Windows 11. Also, misconfigured settings, conflicting applications, or problems with the DNS server and IP configuration can cause trouble accessing certain websites. Now that you have a basic idea of the underlying causes, let’s head to the most effective fixes for Windows 11 blocking websites issue.
What do I do if Windows 11 is blocking certain websites?
1. Disable Windows Firewall
After disabling Windows Defender Firewall, restart the computer and check if the Windows 11 blocking websites problem is fixed. Also, if you have other third-party firewalls for Windows 11 installed, make sure to disable them as well.
2. Run the Internet Connections troubleshooter
3. Use a VPN software
As discussed in the previous section, certain websites may be restricted in your region or country due to various reasons. And to access these, you will need VPN software. A VPN not just helps change your location but also makes it difficult for others to track you. We recommend using PIA VPN since it’s easy to configure, ensures maximum privacy and security, has a feature to block ads, and provides 24×7 customer support. So, after downloading the PIA VPN, just change the region to one where the website is accessible, and you should be able to access it. You can easily find out the list of countries where a website is accessible and the ones where it’s blocked on the Internet. And, with PIA offering thousands of servers in over 84 countries to choose from, you can easily access almost every website on the Internet. ⇒ Get PIA VPN
4. Change DNS server
If it’s a problem with the currently chosen DNS server, switching to Google’s may help. SPONSORED DNS server translates whatever domain name you enter in the address bar to the corresponding IP address and helps open a website. But if there are issues with it, it may appear as if Windows 11 is blocking websites.
5. Reset IP configuration
After executing the commands, restart the computer for the changes to fully come into effect, and check if the Windows 11 blocking websites error is fixed.
6. Uninstall conflicting applications
Several third-party applications are known to conflict with the functioning and may lead to Windows 11 blocking websites. In this case, you should uninstall the conflicting application. These are generally third-party antivirus or firewalls. But the real question task here is to identify the problematic app. To do that, simply make a list of the ones that were installed around the time you first encountered the issue, and start uninstalling them one at a time. Restart the computer after removing each and verify if the error is eliminated. Once the conflicting app has been identified and removed, you can safely reinstall the others.
7. Modify LAN (Local Area Network) settings
Once done making the changes, restart the computer, and check if the Windows 11 blocking websites issue is fixed.
8. Perform a clean boot
After the computer restarts, only the critical services will be running. Now, check if the Windows 11 blocking website problem persists. In case it doesn’t, enable the services and processes that you disabled earlier one at a time, and identify the one causing the issue. To save time, you can also enable half of them in one go and verify if it’s any of these behind the problem. Again, divide the problematic half into two and enable these sets individually. Similarly, you can pinpoint the exact services or applications leading to the issue. If it’s a service, keep it disabled until Windows comes up with an update. In case it’s an app, contact the manufacturer for a resolution, and in the meanwhile, you can remove the app. Clean Boot is similar to Safe Mode since both run with only the critical services and drivers. The difference here is that while you choose the ones to be run in the case of the former, the latter has these predefined. But, performing a clean boot will surely help you eliminate the Windows 11 blocking websites error, though it may take some time and require a good deal of effort from your end.
How can I fix the slow Internet speed in Windows 11?
Many believe a slow Internet connection is even worse than having no connection at all. When the Internet speed is slow, you will find it difficult to browse the web, let alone download and upload large files. But, it’s not always the ISP (Internet Service Provider) or your connection to be blamed. Many a time, it’s the misconfigured settings or outdated drivers at your end responsible for the slow Internet speed. And these problems are easy to fix. So, check our dedicated guide to find out how to fix slow Internet speed in Windows 11, and your Internet woes will be a thing of the past. With the methods listed above, you can easily eliminate the issues causing the Windows 11 blocking websites’ errors. In case none of these work, you can always perform a system restore or reset Windows 11 to its factory settings. Also, check our curated list of the best browsers for Windows 11 for secure browsing at a high Internet speed. Tell us which fix worked for you and the websites that were blocked, in the comments section below
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