Internet is great when it works fine but can be as or more annoying when it doesn’t. Safari remains one of the primary browsers for iOS and macOS users and as seamless experience it provides, it can also have issues at times and one of these happens to be the ‘Safari can’t find server’ error, which can be a real hindrance while browsing.
Here are nine ways to fix the ‘Safari can’t find server’ issue on your iPhone and iPad. While they may seem elementary, these seem to get the error fixed in most cases.
Restart Safari and your iPhone/iPad
While this might seem like an understatement when we say the steps to fix the error are elementary, but restarting your iPhone or iPad can go a long way in fixing a lot of issues you might be having.
A simple restart can help clear any cache files or background processes that might be hindering Safari from running smoothly. You can also try closing Safari from the recent list and try opening it again.
Also read: How to shut down and hard reset your iPhone, iPad or iPod?
Clear cookies and cache from Safari
Age-old cookies and cache can also cause several issues with a browser, and the same is the case with Safari. If you haven’t cleared the cookies, cache and other user data from Safari on your iPhone or iPad, it could be causing the server issue.
Open your iPhone or iPad’s settings and follow the steps mentioned below to clear cache and cookies from Safari.
- Tap on Safari.
- Scroll down and tap on Clear History and Website Data.
- Then confirm by tapping on Clear History and Data.
Important: Clearing the history and website data will delete history, cookies, cache and other browsing data from all the devices signed in to your iCloud account.
Modify DNS Settings
Your iPhone or iPad configures DNS automatically, which could be causing the ‘Safari can’t find server’ issue. You can configure DNS manually and set it to a more reliable server, including Google, Cloudflare and Yandex (listed in the table below).
Open your iPhone’s settings and follow the steps mentioned below to modify the DNS server.
- Tap on Wi-Fi.
- Then tap on the ‘i’ button beside the connected WiFi network.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the next page and tap on Configure DNS.
- On the next page, tap on Manual and then on Add Server.
You can then add one of the following DNS servers to your network on your iPhone and iPad and see if this fixes the ‘Safari can’t find server’ error.
| DNS Name | Primary Address | Secondary Address |
|---|---|---|
| 8.8.8.8 | 8.8.4.4 | |
| Yandex | 77.88.8.8 | 77.88.8.1 |
| Cloudflare | 1.1.1.1 | 1.0.0.1 |
| FreeDNS | 37.253.1.174 | 37.253.1.177 |
Also read: How to block YouTube screen time on iPhone and iPad?
Reset Network Settings on your iPhone or iPad
If the Safari can’t find server issue pertains, you can also try resetting the network settings on your iPhone, including carrier and WiFi settings.
Go to your iPhone or iPad’s settings and follow the steps mentioned below to reset network settings.
- Tap on General.
- Scroll down on the next page and tap on Reset.
- Then tap on Reset Network Settings.
If you want to know what happens when you reset your iPhone or iPad and what the different reset options mean, check out our guide here.
Update your iPhone
Since Safari is a native browser to iOS and comes pre-installed, it also receives updates alongwith the OS updates for your iPhone or iPad. If you’re running an older version of iOS, it could be causing the ‘Safari can’t find server’ issue.
Go to your iPhone or iPad’s settings and follow the steps mentioned below to update your device.
- Tap on General.
- Then tap on Software Update.
- If an update is available, you’ll see that on the next page.
- Tap on Download and Install to proceed.
You can also check out our guide here to update your iPhone or iPad using iTunes.
Restart your network
Your router or modem’s firmware or software may be causing the issue, which can be the case, especially when they’ve been updated recently or are pending an update. Restarting the router can also help reset things and solve the ‘Safari can’t find server’ error.
Remove website data
If you only see the ‘Safari can’t find server’ issue while accessing a particular website or even otherwise, you can try removing website data for selected websites or all websites on your iPhone or iPad.
Open the device settings and follow the steps mentioned below to delete website data.
- Tap on Safari.
- Scroll down to the bottom and tap on Advanced.
- On the next page, tap on Website Data.
- Then tap on Edit at the top-right of the page.
- You can now either tap on the minus symbol beside an individual website or scroll to the bottom and tap on Remove All Website Data.
Also read: How to stop your iPhone from turning off/sleeping/locking automatically?
Try to improve the WiFi signal
Similar to the case above, a weak WiFi signal could also cause the server issue on Safari. You can try improving your WiFi signal by either moving the router’s location, which might not be ideal if it’s tied down with wires. In that case, however, you can use a repeater to boost the WiFi signal in your room.
If you can relocate the router, try putting it in a central spot in your home. It’s also recommended to keep your router on top of a cabinet or shelf to avoid its signal from getting restricted due to furniture.
Make sure you’ve got the correct website URL
While this might again sound too elementary even to put out here but a mistyped character could cause the server error on Safari. To be sure, double-check the URL you’ve entered in the address bar.
Also read: How to check the Battery Health on iPad?
