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Some websites not loading after recent Windows update

JamesK 10 Reputation points
2025-11-12T05:21:10.8833333+00:00

I recently started experiencing website load issues on my Windows 11 desktop computer (which is hardwired into my router through a 2.5g switch), which was not happening on my Windows 11 laptop or Android phone. It was also only happening on certain sites, like FB/Threads. The sites would either not load at all or only partially load. Another example is that I tried to pay a medical bill online and the site was working fine but the fields to put my credit card info in were not working (couldn't type anything in them at all). The issue was happening on different browsers (I use Vivaldi but tried Firefox and Edge too) so it was not browser related. This only recently started happening over the past week or two, and I have made no changes over that time frame other than the usual Windows updates.

I tried all the obvious stuff: rebooting computer, rebooting router, resetting entire internet connection at my cable modem, making sure router firmware was up to date, making sure all networking drivers were up to date, turning off my firewall software, etc. Nothing worked.

I found the problem would disappear if I VPNed in the browser (I use Proton VPN which is built into Vivaldi), which suggested to me some sort of DNS issue. I tried flushing my DNS cache in the Windows command line. That worked temporarily, but the problem started up again.

Again it doesn't happen on every site...just certain sites, and only on my desktop computer.

It's clear a recent Windows update caused this DNS issue. It appears I'm not the only one who has experienced this: https://v4.hkg1.meaqua.org/en-us/answers/questions/5610757/unable-to-load-websites-following-windows-11-updat . I'm not sure which update caused the problem for me as I have it auto-update overnight.

I tried doing a network stack reset from the command line as outlined in the link (netsh winsock reset, netsh int ip reset, ipconfig /release, ipconfig /renew, ipconfig /flushdns) but that did not work.

I'm currently on OS Build 26200.7171

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Internet and connectivity

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  1. Q&A Assist
    2025-11-12T05:21:28.8166667+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    It seems you are experiencing issues with certain websites not loading properly on your Windows 11 desktop after a recent update. This type of problem can sometimes be linked to updates that affect network settings or DNS configurations.

    Based on the information provided, here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue further:

    1. Check for Windows Updates: Ensure that your system is fully updated. Sometimes, subsequent updates can resolve issues caused by previous ones. Go to Settings > Windows Update and check for any pending updates.
    2. Reset Network Settings: Since you've already tried some network stack resets, you might want to ensure that all network settings are reset. You can do this by going to Settings > Network & Internet > Status, then scroll down and select Network reset.
    3. Change DNS Settings: Since you mentioned that using a VPN resolves the issue, it might be worth changing your DNS settings to a public DNS service like Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1). You can change this in Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet (or Wi-Fi) > Properties > Edit under DNS settings.
    4. Disable IPv6: Sometimes, disabling IPv6 can resolve connectivity issues. You can do this by going to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings, right-click your network connection, select Properties, and uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).
    5. Check Firewall and Security Software: Even though you mentioned turning off your firewall, ensure that any security software is not blocking access to these sites. You may need to temporarily disable it to test.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, it may be beneficial to monitor the situation for any new updates or patches from Microsoft that could address this problem.

    References:

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  2. Alvise Cervellati 1,405 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-11-12T07:28:08.0933333+00:00

    Hi james, welcome in community

    When you say some websites don't load, do you mean they don't display anything or they display incorrectly, such as without CSS structure, etc.?

    Are you currently using automatic DNS, or have you set them manually, as suggested by the AI ​​answer above?

    let me know

    Elvis

  3. Alvise Cervellati 1,405 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-11-12T17:34:02.9866667+00:00

    strange

    if you open a new windows inprivate mode, you have the same result?

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/browse-inprivate-in-microsoft-edge-e6f47704-340c-7d4f-b00d-d0cf35aa1fcc

    Are you currently using automatic DNS, or have you set them manually?

  4. Alvise Cervellati 1,405 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-11-12T20:02:59.6833333+00:00

    ok, did you tried to connect with another choice like mobile hotspot or something else?

    so, can try also to set Google DNS in your TCP IP settings? i mean 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

  5. Alvise Cervellati 1,405 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-11-13T18:10:05.16+00:00

    OK, did you try connecting with another option, like a mobile hotspot or something else?

    This test is very useful for ruling out any connectivity issues.

    Do you have other users on the system? If so, do these users experience the same problem?

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