Is it down, or is it just you? A 5-minute checklist
When an app won’t load or a website just spins, the first question is always the same: is the service down, or is something wrong at your end? You can usually answer it in a few minutes.
1. Try a different site
Open two or three other websites you use often. If nothing loads, the problem is almost certainly your own connection, not the service. Skip to step 4.
2. Check the service from somewhere else
Use our website checker: type the website’s address and we’ll try to load its homepage from our server in Sydney. If it answers for us, the site is probably up and the problem is likely between you and it. If we can’t reach it either, that’s a sign it may be down more widely (but one check can’t prove it).
For popular Australian services, open the service page and press Check status for a fresh check, then look at the other evidence on the page.
3. See if other people are having the same problem
Each service page shows reports from other Australians over the last 24 hours, broken down by state. A sudden jump in reports, from many different people, is a strong hint something is wrong at the provider. Where the provider publishes official incident information, we show it in its own panel.
If you’re affected, add a report. It takes two taps and helps the next person.
4. If it’s just you: quick fixes
- Close and reopen the app or browser tab, or try a private window.
- Try mobile data instead of Wi-Fi (or the other way round). If it works on one, the problem is that connection.
- Restart your modem or router: turn it off at the wall, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on.
- Update the app and your device.
- Run a speed test. A very slow result or high ping points to your connection.
5. If it looks down for everyone
- Check the provider’s official status page or social accounts. We link to them from each service page.
- Wait a little before reinstalling apps or resetting passwords: that rarely fixes an outage.
- Be wary of scams. Outages are a common hook for fake texts and calls. Go to the provider directly rather than using links you’re sent.
A homepage that loads doesn’t guarantee everything works. Sign-in, payments or the mobile network can fail on their own. That’s why we keep official information, automated checks and reports separate, and say plainly when there isn’t enough evidence.
General information only, not professional advice. Is It Down AU is independent and not affiliated with any provider mentioned.
