Why is my website not working

1.Why is my domain name not working?

So you’ve typed in your domain name for your website and have found that it isn’t working.

Don’t worry, we’ll show you a few possible solutions as to why your domain name may not be up and running.

Before you begin looking at these solutions, there could be a few simple reasons why your domain name or website isn’t working; such as misspelling your domain name when searching for it, or even having bad internet connectivity issues.

If you’ve checked all of this and feel the problem lies elsewhere, have a look at these possible solutions to help you get your domain name or website back online and working smoothly.

You can simply select a video below, or carry on watching to find out more.

2.Is your domain name linked to your website?

One of the simplest reasons why your website may not be working could be because your domain name is not connected to your website.

Don’t worry this is easy to resolve.

If you have a hosting package with 123 Reg, follow the steps we will show you next.

However if your hosting package for your website is with another provider, you will need to follow a set of alternative steps.

You can find these steps in this video.

Ok, so when you’re ready to connect your domain name to your website, simply log into your 123 Reg control panel.

Select your domain name here and then click on manage.

You will now see your Manage Domain page.

Click on the Manage DNS button.

Just here you will see your Basic DNS settings; this allows you to link your domain name to your website.

Have a look at what is displayed here.

If it reads Advanced DNS, then this should mean that your domain name is already pointing to your website.

If no records are set, then you will need to set one.

If you click on the change button just here, you can select to point your domain name to your hosting package.

So for example if you have a website builder package, simply click on Website Builder and so on.

If you have purchased a 123 Reg web hosting package, just click on Web Hosting.

You can then select your hosting package and click point to service.

Great, so your 123 Reg domain name should now be pointing to your website, however please be aware that this change can take 24-48 hours to update across the internet, so don’t worry if you can’t see your website live straight away.

3.Is your domain name linked to your website?

(website hosted with an alternative provider)

A common reason why your website may not be working could be because your domain name is not pointing to it, especially if your website is hosted with an alternative provider to your domain name.

Don’t worry, this is very simple to resolve.

But first, if you have an email account with 123 Reg, or any specific advanced DNS settings set up on your domain then it’s best to use an alternative method to the one we are about to show you, in order to avoid disruption to your services.

Have a look at this video to see how to do this.

Ok, let’s get started.

This method will require you to change your domain’s nameservers.

But please be aware that doing this means you will no longer be able to make changes to your domain name using your 123 Reg control panel, unless you switch your nameservers back to 123 Reg.

Ok, when you’re ready to begin, log into your 123 Reg control panel.

Have a look in the domain name section.

Select your domain name from the drop down menu and click on the manage button.

Depending on what type of domain name you have, you may need to unlock it first.

Have a look in the domain transfers menu just here.

If the manage domain locking option does not appear here, then you won’t need to unlock the domain name.

For domains that need unlocking, you’ll see the manage domain locking option, just click on it.

Ok, if the option is here, simply click on it.

Just here you’ll see if your domain name is locked or not.

If it is, simply click unlock domain and this will unlock it for you.

Once this is done, you should see a message stating that the domain name has been successfully unlocked, and then you can click here to go back to the manage domain page.

Ok, now click on Change nameservers just here and this is where you can change your nameservers.

In these two boxes just add in the nameservers for your hosting provider.

If you are unsure of what these are, get in contact with your hosting provider.

Once you’ve entered them, click on update just here.

Please note that these changes can take up to 48 hours to update.

Once your nameservers have updated, your domain name should be pointing to your website.

For users who have a website created on a service like wix, please make sure that it’s published to the web.

If you need more help with pointing your domain name to your website, or to use an alternative method, check out this video.

4. Is your domain name and email account linked to your website?

Ok, let’s see how to point your domain name to your website which you are hosting with an alternative provider.

The method we will show you will apply to users who have their domain name and email account with 123 Reg and are wanting to point it to their website which is hosted with an alternative provider.

If you have any specific DNS settings set up for your domain name, then this method will also help you to point your domain name to your website.

Ok, let’s run through the steps.

First you’ll need to log into your 123 Reg control panel and then select your domain name.

Once you’ve done this, just click on the manage button.

Just here click on Manage DNS and this will open up your Manage DNS page.

Now click on Advanced DNS and it’s down here where you can begin linking your domain name to your website.

You will need to create an A record and this will point your domain name to your website’s I.P. address.

Just here, type in the hostname.

You may wish to ask your hosting provider for this, however, we recommend creating a www and an @ record.

Select A using the drop down menu and then type www into this box.

In this field, type in your I.P. address.

If you are unsure of your I.P. address for your hosting package, you should be able to find it in your control panel, on your hosting provider’s website.

Ok and once you’ve entered that in, simply click on the add button.

5. Have you made any changes to your domain name in your control panel?

Ok, so if you’ve recently made any changes to your domain name using your 123 Reg control panel, this could be why your website is not working.

If you’ve made changes to your domain’s DNS such as connecting your domain name to your website, changing your nameservers, or even adding a web forwarder, this can cause a 24-48 propagation period.

Propagation occurs because your domain name’s information is being updated across the internet and on multiple servers so this can take some time.

But once this has completed your website should be visible to your customers.

If you’ve passed the 48 hour period and your website is still not online, have a look at one of our other video solutions for more help.

6. Has your domain name been verified?

Another simple reason for your website not working could be because your domain name has not yet been verified.

When you purchase your domain name, you should receive an email asking for it to be verified.

You can simply click the link on the email you receive to verify your domain name.

If you have a domain name ending in .uk, .wales or .cymru, and you no longer have your domain verification email, you will need to contact 123 Reg to have your email re-sent.

You can do this by raising a ticket using the contact us tool found on the 123 Reg support site.

Ok, so if you have a gTLD, which includes any domain name ending in .com, .net, .org or one of our newer gTLDs like .london or .global then there is a simple way to check if your domain name needs verification.

Simply type your domain name into your browser.

If this page appears, then this means that your domain name needs verifying.

Simply follow the steps to have your verification email sent to you.

There is also another way to check if your domain name needs verification and have your email resent.

For this, you will need to be logged into your 123 Reg control panel.

Select your domain name using the drop-down menu and then click on the manage button.

You should see an ICANN verification button just here.

Simply click on it.

Just here you will see if you need to verify your domain name or not.

If it reads: Domain verified, then this means your domain name is verified and you do not need to take any further action.

If you see: Verification required, then this means your domain name needs verification.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click resend verification email.

Log into your email account and have a look for the email, make sure to check your spam or trash folder just in case it’s in there by mistake.

The email should look like this and you will see a link which will allow you to verify your domain name.

Click the link and this will verify your domain name.

Please note that it may take up to 48 hours for your domain name to become active, as it will need to be verified and updated across the internet.

7. Has your domain name expired?

A key reason for your website not working could be because your domain name has expired.

To check out whether your domain name has expired, simply have a look for it in the drop-down menu on your control panel.

You can check when your domain name is due to expire by clicking on manage.

You’ll also see a box with services due for renewal just here, if you have any services due to expire soon.

If it’s not there, then it has most likely expired.

Ok, if your domain name has expired, depending on how long it’s been inactive, you may be able to renew it.

If you wish to do this, simply raise a ticket to our support agents using the Contact Us tool and they will let you know if you are able to renew it.

If you think your hosting package has expired, type your domain name into your web browser and if you see this page, then it could be possible that your hosting package has expired.

If this is the case, have a look in your control panel for your hosting package.

Click manage just here and this will show you when your hosting package is due for renewal.

If it’s expired, you may be advised to renew your hosting package using your control panel.

However, if your hosting package is no longer active in your control panel you will need to raise a support ticket using the Contact us tool, and one of our support agents can assist you with getting your website back online.

If your services have not expired, have a look at one of our video solutions for more help.

8. Have you published your website?

If you’ve created your website using Website Builder or an Online Shop package, there could be a simple explanation as to why your website is not live.

Your website may have not been published to the web.

Let’s check to see if it’s published.

For Website Builder customers, simply log into your Website Builder package using your 123 Reg control panel.

Up here, you’ll see the Publish button. If you wish to make any changes to your site, remember to click this button and this will ensure that your website is published straight to the web.

Ok, so if you have an Online Shop package, you can easily check to see if your website is set to live or not.

Log into your Online Shop package and just here click on the Settings tab.

Click on General and then click on Status.

Just here, you will see if your shop is set to live.

If the Open option is selected then your shop is set to live. If the Closed option is selected, then this means your website will not be visible to your online customers.

Simply select the Open option and then click on Save.

That’s it, your website should now be published.

It’s a good tip to make sure that your domain name is linked to your website, so that users typing in your domain name are directed straight to your website.

To see how to do this, have a look at this video.