Is it down for everyone or just me?
We request the site from our own servers and show what each region saw: the status code, the time to answer, and why it failed if it did.
How it works
We follow the site's redirects from http:// to the final address and record what comes back from each region we check from.
- 1Request from our regionsEach region asks for the page once and records the status code and the time to the first byte.
- 2Sort clear errors from silenceA refused connection, a failed secure connection, a 5xx error or a name that doesn't exist is a clear error. A timeout or a reset is “Blocked or timed out”, because sites often block checks like ours.
- 3Give a careful verdictDown only when two or more regions all get a clear error. With one region, a clear error reads “Not responding”. Silence reads “Couldn't check”.
Worked example: a shop that times out
If our region had got a refused connection instead, the verdict would read Not responding, with that reason, until a second region confirms it.
Frequently asked questions
Is it down for everyone or just me?
If our servers reach the site and you can't, the problem is on your side: your connection, a cached DNS answer, or a block where you are. Try another network, such as mobile data, to be sure.
What does “Not responding” mean?
Our only region got a clear error, such as a refused connection or a server error. We say Down only when two or more regions agree, so one failure is reported as Not responding, with the reason.
What does “Blocked or timed out” mean?
The site didn't answer in time, or the connection was cut. Many sites block automated checks or whole cloud networks. That is not proof the site is down, so the verdict reads Couldn't check.
Why does a 403 or 404 count as up?
The server answered, so it is running. A 4xx code means it refused or couldn't find that page, which can be a block on automated checks. We flag it as a warning rather than calling the site down.
How do I find out next time without checking by hand?
Use an uptime monitoring service. It checks your site every minute from several places and alerts you when it stops answering.