Is It Down for Everyone or Just Me: Status Checks Explained
Use this guide when a site does not load and you need to separate local connectivity issues from broader outages. Runs locally in your browser. No uploads.
The process below gives a practical status-check workflow with DNS and response-time context.
Trust box
- Local processing: Status checks run in-browser and use direct request probes from your session.
- No uploads: Runs locally in your browser. No uploads.
- No tracking: No behavioural tracking is required for status checks.
- Verify this claim: /verify-claims
Table of contents
Trust explainer framework
Status checks help distinguish local connection issues from broad service outages. Use a repeatable process before escalating incidents.
When this explainer helps
- A major website does not load from your device.
- Your team needs a quick sanity check before opening an incident.
- You need to confirm whether DNS, latency, or service availability is failing.
Verification workflow
- Check canonical status page for the target domain.
- Run a DNS lookup and IP check to isolate resolver or routing issues.
- Retry from another network before concluding a global outage.
Trade-offs and caveats
- A single check cannot confirm global multi-region status.
- Firewalls and local DNS can cause false down signals.
- Some sites block probe patterns and can appear intermittently down.
Privacy note
Local processing: Status checks run in-browser and use direct request probes from your session. Runs locally in your browser. No uploads.
Related tools and comparisons
Related questions
- Why can a site be up for others but down for me?
- What does response time actually indicate?
- When should I clear DNS cache and retry?
- Where can I check related network diagnostics?
Contextual links
Apply this guide directly: Use /Site Status locally, then Compare Plain Tools with cloud alternatives and verify no-upload claims yourself.
Quick answer
A single failed load does not prove a global outage. Start with a status check, then validate DNS and local network conditions.
Check at least one other network before escalating an incident.
Step-by-step status workflow
Run checks in sequence so you can rule out local causes before reporting a platform outage.
- Check the domain status page and note response state and timing.
- Run DNS lookup to confirm resolver behaviour for the same hostname.
- Retry from another network or device to distinguish local versus broad failure.
Limitations and caveats
One probe point cannot represent all regions at once.
Corporate firewalls, DNS overrides, and captive portals can create false down signals.
Privacy note
Status checks in this workflow do not require uploading personal files. Keep diagnostics focused on domain availability and timing only.
FAQ
Why can a site be up for others but down for me?
Local DNS, ISP routing, firewalls, or browser state can fail while the service is healthy elsewhere.
What does response time mean in a status check?
It indicates how long the target took to reply to the probe request, not full page render performance.
Should I clear DNS cache before concluding a global outage?
Yes. Clearing local DNS and retrying can rule out stale resolver entries.
Is this a full monitoring service?
No. This is a practical on-demand check, not multi-region synthetic monitoring.
Next steps
Continue with related tools, comparisons, and practical guides.