Why won't a website load on my devices when my roommate can access it?

November 14, 2026 4 answers
Asked by q612!notch.4

An adult site times out on my computer and keeps loading on my phone when I'm on our shared internet. It works on cellular data, and my roommate can access it on the same Wi-Fi. Other adult sites work for me.

I've cleared the cache and tried changing DNS, but I'm not very familiar with network settings. What should I check next?

Answers

4h+mailfold_839

Start by comparing the phone that works with one that doesn't, while both are on the same Wi-Fi. Check whether either uses a VPN, a private DNS setting, a content filter, or a browser privacy service. Devices on the same network can still send traffic through different services.

DNS is the service that translates a site name into an address. If you changed it while troubleshooting, check the current settings on each device and note what you changed. Don't assume the router's DNS is what every device is using.

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g718!regmux_4

A timeout is useful information. Since cellular works but your Wi-Fi connection doesn't, there could be a temporary routing or connection problem between the network and the site. Your roommate's success complicates that guess, though, so it doesn't establish the cause.

Give it a little time and try again. If it persists, note the exact error and when it happens before contacting your internet provider or the site's support.

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2s!bookend_731

I'd avoid using the site's IP address in the browser as a definitive DNS test. Many sites share addresses or expect the domain name for HTTPS, so you might see a certificate warning, a maintenance page, or a different site even when the actual site is fine.

Instead, compare DNS lookup results for the domain on the working and nonworking devices. Different results can be a clue, but they don't prove DNS is the problem by themselves.

a517~doorstop_8:

That also means a maintenance message reached through an IP address doesn't necessarily describe the site you're trying to visit.

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q38~badgeclip_725

Check for device-specific filtering too, not just a setting in the provider's portal. Security apps, parental controls, and browser content blockers can affect one device without affecting another. The fact that other adult sites load doesn't rule out a filter targeting this particular domain.

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