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Something stopping websites from loading

J Matzkin 0 Reputation points
2026-06-18T00:00:23.0033333+00:00

RANDOM WEBSITES WON'T LOAD

Since May 2026, both Edge and Chrome on numerous Dell Windows 11 computers open fine, but clients are reporting that some (not all) websites are never loading. It is NOT a problem with websites themselves as they load fine on other devices. It is not a problem with a specific anti-virus program as I've seen this issue on systems running different anti-virus programs. Problem occurs both when clicking on bookmarked site AND when manually entering the URL. In all cases WiFi is stable and strong. I've run Malwarebytes scans .. on some devices it did find some things to quarantine, but other devices were clean. It’s not 3rd party cookies (same issue whether turned on or off). I’ve cleaned cookies and history .. doesn’t solve the issue.

Could it be tied to a recent Microsoft update? Has anyone else experienced this issue? User are sooooooo frustrated!!

Microsoft Edge | Website issues | Windows 11
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  1. Vikki-T 5,990 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-06-18T13:00:02.16+00:00

    Hi J Matzkin,

    Thank you for sharing all the details. I can understand why this is so frustrating, especially when the issue affects multiple Dell Windows 11 devices and only some websites while the same sites work normally on other devices.

    At this point, I recommend that you review and try the steps provided in the AI generated answer on your thread. That reply typically include the most relevant checks for this scenario. 

    To help narrow this down, could you please confirm a few things?

    • What Windows version and OS build are the affected devices running? You can check by pressing Windows + R, typing winver, then pressing Enter.
    • What exact error appears when the websites do not load?
    • Are all affected computers the same Dell model, or do they use the same Wi-Fi/network adapter?
    • Do the affected websites load if one of the PCs is connected to a different network, such as a mobile hotspot?
    • Did the issue start after a Windows update, Dell driver update, BIOS update, or network adapter driver update?

    In the meantime, I recommend testing the steps below on one affected device first before applying changes to all machines:

    • Test on a different network: Connect one affected PC to a mobile hotspot and try the same websites again.
    • Reset the Windows network stack: Open Command Prompt as administrator, then run these commands one by one: ipconfig /flushdns, netsh winsock reset and netsh int ip reset
    • Restart the PC afterward and test the affected websites again.
    • Check proxy settings: Go to Settings > Network & internet > Proxy and make sure there is no unexpected manual proxy configured.
    • Try a different DNS as a test: Temporarily change the DNS on one affected device to another reliable DNS provider, then restart the browser and test the same websites again.
    • Check the Dell network adapter driver: Since this appears to happen on multiple Dell systems, please compare the network adapter model and driver version on affected devices. If the driver was recently updated, try rolling it back on one test machine. If it is outdated, update it from Dell’s official support page for the exact device model.
    • Compare Windows Update history: Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history and check whether the affected devices all received the same update around the time the problem started. If there is a clear common update, you may test uninstalling it on one device only to see whether the behavior changes.

    While my initial response may not fully resolve the issue, I truly appreciate your cooperation as we work together toward identifying the most effective solution. Thank you so much for your understanding.     

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.  

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  2. AI answer

    2026-06-18T00:00:44.2066667+00:00

    Based on similar issues, there are a few Edge/Chrome-specific causes to check on affected Windows 11 devices.

    1. Check for Edge TLS/crypto feature issues Some users have reported that certain advanced TLS features in Edge can cause random sites not to load.

    On one affected machine:

    1. Open Microsoft Edge.
    2. In the address bar, go to: 
         edge://flags
    3. Search for TLS.
    4. Locate 1.3 Post-Quantum Key Agreement.
    5. Set it to Disabled.
    6. Restart Edge and test previously failing sites.

    A similar issue has been reported where disabling this flag allowed all previously blocked sites to load again.

    1. Verify it is not browser-based fake security or AV blocking Some “security” pop-ups (McAfee/Norton style) are actually malicious notification spam from websites, not real apps. These can interfere with browsing and confuse users about what is blocking content.

    On an affected device in Edge:

    1. Open Edge.
    2. Go to the site notification settings page (as described in the referenced guidance) and review the Allow list.
    3. Remove or block any suspicious or unknown domains.
    4. Also review installed extensions and remove anything not recognized.
    5. Check third‑party security software and its settings Even though different AV products are in use, each device’s security suite can still independently block or filter traffic.

    For each AV product in use:

    1. Open the AV/security suite.
    2. Ensure it is fully updated.
    3. Review web protection / firewall / HTTPS scanning settings to see if specific categories or sites are being blocked.
    4. Temporarily disable web filtering on one test machine (if policy allows) to see if the problem disappears.
    5. Verify Microsoft Edge itself is healthy and up to date On one of the affected machines:
    6. Open Edge.
    7. Select Settings and more > Settings > About Microsoft Edge.
    8. Allow Edge to check for and apply any updates.
    9. If problems persist, consider repairing Edge:
      • Close Edge for all users.
      • Go to Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
      • Select Microsoft Edge > Modify.
      • Approve the UAC prompt and select Repair.
    10. Confirm network and update endpoints are not being blocked If an organization uses filtering or a firewall, ensure required Microsoft Edge endpoints are allowed so the browser can update and function correctly. In particular, allow:
    • https://msedge.api.cdp.microsoft.com
    • *.dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com

    If these are blocked, Edge may not update correctly, which can contribute to compatibility issues with some sites.

    1. General Edge troubleshooting on each device For each affected device, also try:
    2. Clearing browsing data (including cached images and files) for All time.
    3. Restarting the PC to clear any stuck processes.
    4. Scanning for malware using Windows Security or your AV.

    If the issue started around a specific Windows update and persists after all of the above, ensure all latest Windows Updates are installed on a test machine and rebooted, as some networking or TLS issues are fixed in subsequent cumulative updates.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

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