Although it may seem unlikely, even Google encounters interruptions at times. Google search sometimes works while other Google services have their own problems. There is also a possibility that the problem is on your end, instead.
How to check if Google is really down
While it can happen, Google not really being available is a rare occurrence. The first thing to do is to check again with a tool like Down for everyone or just meAnd the Down.comor IsItDownOrJustMe. Keep in mind that outages may be translated depending on your region, so these websites may show different or incorrect results.
If you suspect an actual outage, you can always check social media sites like Twitter And the reddit. This type of event doesn’t happen often and so people will talk about it, especially if it also affects services like Google Drive and Gmail.
The problem is most likely on your end, so let’s take a look at some potential remedies.
Check the Google service status page
For a better picture, file Workspace Status Dashboard Shows the status of apps like Gmail and Google Drive. If you’re having trouble accessing a specific product, this is a good place to start. If something is broken, you will have to wait for the issue to be fixed for a solution.
Try a different browser (or app)
One of the first things you might want to try is switching to a different browser. We’ve noticed issues with Safari, particularly using iCloud Private Relay, where Google searches stop permanently. These problems do not occur in Google Chrome or fire foxso it’s another example of why installing more than one browser is a good idea.
Google services like Docs and Sheets generally always work better in Chrome, even though most browsers do just fine. Mobile users can use the corresponding app for iOS and Android to get the best results.
If you’re having trouble with the Google app for iOS or Android, try stopping the app or using a web browser instead. You can try to update or reinstall the app if the problem persists.
Reboot your device
Shutting down and then restarting your computer or smartphone is a quick way to fix a large number of problems. If you are having problems accessing Search or a specific Google service, restart your device and try again.
Related: Why does restarting a computer fix so many problems?
Try a different connection type
If the problem is caused by your internet connection, you can try to connect via a different connection type. If you’re having trouble with your computer over your home wireless connection, try connecting using your smartphone over the cellular network.
You can also create a hotspot and share your cellular connection with your home computer and try to connect this way, which may be a temporary fix in some cases.
If you find that switching to cellular works, you may want to restart your entire network device (router and modem) to see if that fixes the problem. You can also check your ISP’s service status page to see if there are any known issues affecting certain services.
Related: Internet connection not working? 10 Troubleshooting Tips
Consider changing your DNS server
The Domain Name System acts as a phonebook of sorts, linking domains (such as howtogeek.com) and IP addresses. By default, it will use your ISP’s DNS servers, but you can easily change to an alternative. You may find that your web browsing is faster after the switch.
Changing the DNS server is very easy, with some good alternatives like Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8) or CloudFlare )1.1.1.1).
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Changing Your DNS Server
Use an alternative search engine
whether the problem is with Google servers, your Internet connection, or a software problem on your part; If Google search is not working, you will need to use a different search engine until things are resolved.
DuckDuckGo It is an alternative search engine focused on privacy. You can perform all your searches with DuckDuckGo with a little effort, but you will lose the deep integration with Google services and admittedly the results are not entirely comprehensive. If privacy is a concern, there are a few other search engines you might want to consider as well.
If you want results from Google in particular, start the page It is a service that has a unique agreement with Google. This allows you to view Google results without keeping track of the accompanying privacy concerns. The service is not a one-to-one alternative, the results are not identical, and you will lose integration with the Google suite of services; but google He is Running a Startpage in essence.
Microsoft bing The search engine is probably the closest thing to Google. There are some compelling reasons to switch to Bing if you don’t mind relying on a different large company for your search efforts. By far one of the best reasons is to take advantage of Microsoft Rewards, where you earn credits for services like Xbox Live, Amazon, and more.
One thing to note is that if a website you frequent (like this) uses Google as a search engine and you can’t use Google search, the website’s functionality may be affected as well. You can always use operators like “site:howtogeek.com” in other search engines to limit results to a specific domain instead.
Use alternative services for Google Maps, Docs, and more
Google operates a large number of additional services, many of which may be affected by a service outage or some kind of problem on your part. This includes Google Maps, Google Drive, apps like Gmail, and the company’s suite of browser-based apps like Google Docs and Google Sheets. There are plenty of alternative apps to get you out of the Google ecosystem.
For maps, try Bing Maps Or the DuckDuckGo alternative powered by Apple Maps that promises to respect your privacy. There is, too OpenStreetMapyour favorite alternative app like Apple Maps (for Mac or iOS) and Maps.me (for iOS and Android).
If you never access Google services, any data you’ve stored in Drive will also be inaccessible unless it’s also copied to a device using the Drive app. This is one of the potential issues that come with storing things in the cloud.
If you only need a temporary use of a word processor, there is Lots of online and offline text editing apps to choose from. The same is true for Spreadsheet tools like LibreOffice Calc and Apple Numbers.
Gmail is the other obvious concern for Google’s outage. You can always try to use an email client that connects via IMAP instead (like Apple Mail on iPhone) to see if the problem is limited to the web version. The first-party Gmail apps might also be worth a try. If your only issue is Gmail not receiving emails, there are a few more things you can try.
If you use a desktop or mobile email program that stores email offline, you may be able to access the contents of your inbox this way instead. If you only have a Gmail account and absolutely need to send email, consider signing up for an alternative free mail service instead.
Google is very rare
Most of the time, the problem will be with the software or your connection. Run a list of connection troubleshooting steps and see if it helps, use traceroute to see exactly where the problem is, and check if your ISP is to blame.
Related: Internet problems? Here’s how to tell if it’s your ISP’s fault
