Match the symptom, then work through the safe checks.
1. What best matches what you observe?
2. Complete only the checks that are safe for you.
Show stop conditions
- The site is a sensitive service and the address changed unexpectedly
- Changing firewall rules would weaken a managed network
Likely causes
- The website service is stopped or rejecting requests
- A firewall, proxy, VPN, or router rule is blocking the destination
- The address points to the wrong host or port
- A local development service is not running
Quick checks, in order
Test another website
Confirm that general internet access works.
Try the same address on another network
This separates local filtering from a server-side refusal.
Disable proxy or VPN for one test
Use only if you control the connection and can restore the setting.
For a local service, confirm it is running
Check the expected host, port, and listening service.
Which address is refusing?
The site, CDN, route, or a local filter may be rejecting the connection.
The app or service may not be running or listening on that port.
A firewall, DNS override, proxy, or router policy is likely.
Stop and get qualified help when
- The site is a sensitive service and the address changed unexpectedly
- Changing firewall rules would weaken a managed network
Official support and model manuals
Use the full model number from the rating label. The manufacturer manual is the deciding reference when codes differ by region or product family.
Frequently asked questions
Is connection refused the same as a timeout?
No. Refused usually means the destination actively rejected the connection; a timeout means no usable response arrived in time.
Can clearing browser cache fix it?
Rarely. This error is more often about the service, address, port, proxy, firewall, or network route.