Is the PayPal website down?

[PayPal_Dustin]

It can be very frustrating when you try to visit the PayPal website and receive an error message or blank screen. Occasionally, the PayPal website does experience temporary outages and issues. In some cases, we see the issue is caused by something closer to home.

Step 1: Clearing the web browser cache and cookies

If you’re unable to open the PayPal website the first troubleshooting step is clearing the web browser cache and cookies. Here are some computer keyboard shortcuts to the cache and history management menu.

• On Windows based computers it’s Ctrl-Shift-Delete.
• On Mac based computers it’s Command-Shift-Delete.

Here’s how to clear the browser cache on a mobile device:

• Android: 

1. Go to Settings and choose Apps or Application Manager.
2. Swipe to the All tab.
3. In the list of installed apps, find and tap your web browser. Tap Clear Data and then Clear Cache.
4. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

• Chrome for Android: 

1. Touch Chrome menu > Settings.
2. Touch (Advanced) Privacy.
3. Touch Clear browsing data.
4. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

• Safari for iPhone: 

1. Open your Settings app.
2. Tap Safari.
3. Tap Clear History and Website Data and confirm.
4. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

• Chrome for iPhone: 

1. Touch Chrome menu > Settings.
2. Touch Privacy.
3. Choose the data type you want to clear.
4. Touch Clear.
5. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.
   
   

Step 2: Flush the DNS

If that doesn’t resolve the issue the next step is to flush the DNS cache. Most operating systems will automatically save previously visited website IP addresses. This reduces the amount of time it takes to open the website on the next visit. Sometimes bad results get saved and the cache needs to be cleared out.

• Windows based computers:

1. Open the command prompt (by clicking on the Start button, clicking on All Programs, clicking on Accessories, and then clicking on Command Prompt)
2. Within the prompt type ipconfig /flushdns.

• Mac based computers just restart the computer.
  
  
• Android devices just do a hard reboot.

1. The easiest way to do this is to remove the phone's battery.
2. Wait for at least 30 seconds, then replace the battery.
3. The phone will reboot, and upon completing its restart will have an empty DNS cache.

• iPhone:

1. Press and hold both the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons for at least 10 seconds.
2. The screen will go black.
3. Keep holding both buttons down until you see the Apple logo. 
   
   

Step 3: Power cycle router and modem

If that doesn’t resolve the issue the next step is to power cycle the router and modem.

1. Unplug the devices.
2. Wait a short period (10 seconds) then plug them back in.
3. Like rebooting a computer, sometimes this is all that is required to fix an error.

If you’re using a mobile device try turning off Wi-Fi and see if you can open the PayPal website using the data from your wireless provider. Please note: mobile data rates may be applied based on your mobile carrier and plan.

* Also, some users may need to add the www. to the URL to access the PayPal website.

 
Step 4: Check the PayPal Notifications website for reported outages or contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP)

 
If you have tried all of these steps and the PayPal website still doesn’t come up there are two possibilities:

1. There’s an issue with your internet service provider (ISP) or,
2. The PayPal website is actually down.

To check for scheduled and unscheduled PayPal website outages and maintenance please visit the PayPal Notifications website. If there is an outage, we apologize for the inconvenience and please know that we are working very hard to get the website back up and running. If there hasn’t been a reported outage, I recommend contacting your ISP for additional support.

If this post or any other was helpful, please enrich the community by giving kudos or accepting it as a solution.

- Dustin