I can't access www.apple.com?

Question

I can't access www.apple.com?

Hello Apple Support Communities!

So, I've been having trouble accessing the Apple website - not all of it, just 'www.apple.com' - for the last few days, which is really starting to irritate me! I have no trouble accessing any other websites.

I've got a MacBook Pro and I'm using Safari. I downloaded Firefox just to see if another browser would change anything. It didn't. However, instead of just loading, loading, loading, but doing nothing, like Safari did, Firefox comes up with a message that says that Firefox can't find the server at www.apple.com.

I don't think it's my WiFi connection, because my dad's Dell Desktop has no problem accessing it. I've tried restarting, clearing my cache, everything I could think of, but nothing changes. As far as I know, no other websites aren't reachable by me.

Please help, as this is really getting frustrating!

Oh, and I asked this question on Yahoo Answers: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvnfHYlDPAD.8txFFhprlluzFQx.;_ylv=3 ?qid=20130920003310AAjGEqM. I tried both answers and neither worked.

Thank you to anyone who can help me!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.1)

Posted on Sep 20, 2013 3:25 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,560 points

Sep 20, 2013 3:58 AM in response to Jessica Dooper

Does the page load if you go here:

http://17.172.224.47

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Answer 2

Sep 20, 2013 4:25 AM in response to Barney-15E

Yes, it does.

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Answer 3

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,560 points

Sep 20, 2013 4:29 AM in response to Jessica Dooper

Have you ever done anything to change the DNS servers or edited your hosts file?

Take a look at what your DNS servers are set to in Network System Preferences.

Open Network System Preferences

Select the network Service you are using to connect to the Internet (Ethernet or WiFi).

Click the Advanced... button

Click the DNS tab.

What is listed there and is it gray or black?

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Answer 4

Sep 20, 2013 4:31 AM in response to Barney-15E

Nope, I have never touched them. I'll have a look now.

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Answer 5

Sep 20, 2013 4:32 AM in response to Barney-15E

Sorry, how do I access the Network System Preferences?

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Answer 6

Sep 20, 2013 4:33 AM in response to Barney-15E

Don't worry, I found it.

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Answer 7

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,560 points

Sep 20, 2013 4:33 AM in response to Jessica Dooper

Open System Preferences. There is a command in the Apple menu.

Then, Click on Network.

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Answer 8

Sep 20, 2013 4:35 AM in response to Barney-15E

In the DNS window, under DNS Servers, the writing is grey and it has 10.1.1.1, and under Search Domains, it's also grey and has my service provider, iiNet.

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Answer 9

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,560 points

Sep 20, 2013 4:41 AM in response to Jessica Dooper

Try flushing the DNS cache (according to this article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5343)

Open Terminal (Utilities folder).

Triple-click this next line and paste it into the Terminal window.

sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

Hit Return key.

Check to see if you can access Apple's website.

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Answer 10

Sep 20, 2013 4:44 AM in response to Barney-15E

Nope.

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Answer 11

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,560 points

Sep 20, 2013 4:51 AM in response to Jessica Dooper

Ok, go back to the DNS tab of Network System Preferences.

Add these two servers by clicking the + button at the bottom

208.67.222.222

208.67.220.220

Those are OpenDNS's servers. If you can access Apple after entering those and Applying the changes to Network, then your ISP's DNS is not responding correctly.

EDIT: It is definitely an iiNet problem. I added there DNS from here: https://iihelp.iinet.net.au/General_settings, and I couldn't connect to Apple.

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Answer 12

Sep 20, 2013 4:51 AM in response to Barney-15E

After adding those two servers I can access Apple. Is this a permanent fix?

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Answer 13

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,560 points

Sep 20, 2013 4:56 AM in response to Jessica Dooper

See my edit to the previous post.

After adding those two servers I can access Apple. Is this a permanent fix?

Not necessarily. Due to the way Apple (and others) provide streaming content, it is sometimes best to use your ISP's DNS over the "free" services. They look for nearby servers to determine the best way to provide the streaming content. If you use a DNS that is not nearby to you, you might not get connected to the streaming data, or it will be slow.

You can use them until iiNet fixes their problems. You might want to contact them about it.

To remove the OpenDNS servers, just select them in the list and click the - button.

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Answer 14

Sep 20, 2013 4:57 AM in response to Barney-15E

Thank you so much! Is there anything else that I need to do? And thank you again!

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Answer 15

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,560 points

Sep 20, 2013 5:03 AM in response to Jessica Dooper

Not much you can do but work around it by using another DNS.

You might search the web for local, free DNS providers. Google has one, and I know there are a lot more regional ones.

Generally, a good ISP will keep theirs functional and not be a problem. However, if they prove to be flaky, you can permanently use the other services.

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