The message “Hmm. We’re having trouble finding that site.” seems in Firefox (or its forks) when the browser can’t attain the web site you’re making an attempt to open, though different websites or browsers may nonetheless work. It means Firefox failed to connect with the positioning’s server and stopped loading the web page.

This error often signifies an issue with how Firefox connects to the web. It can happen as a consequence of incorrect DNS settings, an lively proxy or VPN blocking visitors, or misconfigured Firefox community preferences. In some instances, switching networks, restarting your router, or clearing Firefox’s cache also can set off it.

Quick Fixes

• Restart your router and/or modem and your pc to clear momentary community glitches.
• Close Firefox utterly, then reopen it and take a look at loading the identical web site once more.
• Switch between Wi-Fi and Ethernet to rule out network-type points.
• Ask a good friend to open the identical web site on their machine, or examine if it’s down utilizing DownDetector. (Important!) If the positioning itself is down, there’s nothing you are able to do to repair it.

If none of those fast checks remedy the difficulty, proceed with the steps beneath.

1. Set Firefox Connection Settings to “No proxy”

Firefox could typically use a proxy configuration that disrupts regular DNS decision. Setting it to “No proxy” bypasses all proxy servers and permits Firefox to attach on to the web.

If the pages begin loading accurately afterward, the difficulty is together with your proxy configuration. You can repair the proxy particulars or revert to the right settings later as soon as the connection stabilizes.

1. Open Firefox.
2. Click the menu (≡) button in the top-right nook and choose Settings.
3. Scroll right down to Network Settings and click on Settings…
4. Under Configure Proxy Access to the Internet, choose No proxy.
5. Click OK to avoid wasting the change.
6. Close and reopen Firefox, then strive opening any web site.

2. Switch to Google DNS

The Domain Name System (DNS) helps your machine find web sites and on-line providers. If it turns into sluggish or returns outdated outcomes, Firefox received’t have the ability to discover the positioning and can present this message.

Google DNS gives quick, globally distributed, and dependable servers that enhance handle decision. Switching to it helps your system join on to legitimate servers with out delays or routing issues.

1. Press Win + R, kind ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.
2. Right-click your lively community (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and choose Properties.
3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → click on Properties.
4. Choose Use the next DNS server addresses and enter:
   Preferred: 8.8.8.8
   Alternate: 8.8.4.4
5. Click OK to avoid wasting and shut all home windows, then restart your browser or pc.

After setting Google DNS, clear your DNS cache and restart your router for finest outcomes:

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Type the command beneath and press Enter:

   ipconfig /flushdns

   

3. Restart your browser, pc, and optionally your router, then examine if the error persists.

3. Disable DNS Over HTTPS (DoH)

Firefox features a characteristic referred to as DNS over HTTPS (DoH) that encrypts your DNS requests for higher privateness. However, some ISPs and networks block encrypted DNS visitors, which may trigger the “We’re having trouble finding that site” error.

Disabling DoH permits Firefox to make use of your system’s regular DNS service, which is commonly extra suitable with native networks.

1. Open Firefox and click on the Menu (☰) in the top-right nook.
2. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
3. Set Enable DNS over HTTPS to OFF.
4. Click OK and restart Firefox.

After restarting, revisit the identical web sites. If the issue was as a consequence of DoH conflicts, the pages ought to now open usually.

4. Disable Your Network Adapter and Turn It On Again

Sometimes, Windows retains your community adapter in an unstable state after lengthy uptime or energy interruptions. Disabling and re-enabling it reloads the motive force and resets connection parameters from scratch.

This typically resolves Firefox connection errors attributable to momentary adapter faults or DNS points.

1. Press Windows + R, kind ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.
2. Right-click your lively community connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and select Disable.
3. Wait about 10–15 seconds, then right-click it once more and select Enable.
4. Once reconnected, open Firefox and examine if the error is resolved.

5. Disable Antivirus Firewall Temporarily

If you’re utilizing a third-party antivirus with a built-in firewall (like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, or Avast Premium Security), it’d typically block protected community visitors or intrude with Firefox. Such filters can mistakenly stop pages from loading, triggering the “We’re having trouble finding that site” message.

Note: This step is protected and just for diagnostic functions. Temporarily disabling the antivirus firewall helps affirm if it’s accountable. You can allow it once more proper after testing.

1. Right-click the antivirus icon in the system tray and open its Dashboard or Protection Settings.
2. Locate the Firewall or Web Protection possibility.
3. Temporarily flip it off (select a brief length corresponding to 10 or quarter-hour).
4. Open Firefox and examine the identical web site once more.

If the positioning hundreds whereas the firewall is off, your antivirus is obstructing community requests unnecessarily. Re-enable the firewall instantly and add Firefox to its trusted or allowed functions checklist to keep away from future points.

Note: The built-in Windows Firewall is protected to maintain enabled. This downside largely happens with third-party antivirus suites that have their very own community filters.

6. Disable Browser Extensions

Certain Firefox extensions can intrude with web site loading or DNS decision. Ad-blockers, privateness instruments, VPN extensions, or script managers could unintentionally block important web site parts, resulting in the error.

To discover the offender, disable extensions one after the other and take a look at after every change. This helps establish the precise trigger with out uninstalling every little thing.

1. Open Firefox and click on the Menu (☰) in the top-right nook.
2. Select Extensions and Themes → Extensions.
3. Turn off every extension utilizing the toggle swap.
4. After disabling one, reload the web page that confirmed the error.
5. If the web site opens efficiently, the final extension you disabled is accountable.
6. Once recognized, take away the problematic extension or regulate its settings (for instance, select Allow on all websites or Whitelist the affected area).

If you like a faster examine, you possibly can begin Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode (from the Help menu). This briefly disables all add-ons and customized settings. If web sites load usually right here, it confirms that an extension is the trigger.

7. Create a Brand New Firefox Profile

If not one of the above steps work, your Firefox profile may be corrupted. The profile shops settings, extensions, and cache, and when any of those information change into broken, persistent connection errors like this may seem.

Creating a brand new Firefox profile gives a clear atmosphere with out reinstalling the browser. This helps decide whether or not the issue lies inside your profile or system configuration.

Follow Mozilla’s official information right here:

Create and handle profiles in Firefox (Official Guide)

After establishing the brand new profile, open Firefox and take a look at web site entry. If the difficulty disappears, your previous profile was the trigger. You can then switch bookmarks and passwords from it if wanted.