What Clients Don’t See (But Should Appreciate)
When you hire a professional web designer, you’re not just paying for pretty layouts. You’re investing in:
- Infrastructure expertise to prevent issues like this
- Proactive monitoring to catch problems before they impact your business
- Emergency response knowledge to quickly resolve unexpected issues
- Strategic planning for scalability, security, and reliability
The “simple” website built by your nephew might look good, but can they troubleshoot DNS conflicts, optimize server configurations, or implement proper security protocols?
For Fellow Web Designers
This case study demonstrates why we need to:
- Educate clients about the full scope of web development
- Include infrastructure planning in our project proposals
- Set up proper monitoring from day one
- Document our technical decisions for future troubleshooting
- Stay current with hosting, DNS, and security best practices
Remember: We’re not just building websites – we’re building digital business infrastructure that needs to work 24/7/365.# How to Fix ISP Blocking Your Website: Complete Cloudflare DNS Solution Guide
TL;DR: If your ISP is blocking your website but others can access it fine, the solution is changing your Cloudflare DNS settings from “DNS only” to “Proxied” to route traffic through Cloudflare’s network instead of directly to your blocked server IP.
What is ISP Website Blocking?
ISP (Internet Service Provider) blocking occurs when your internet provider prevents access to specific websites or server IP addresses. This can happen for various reasons including security policies, legal requirements, or abuse prevention measures.
The Problem: Can’t Access My Own Website
I woke up one morning to discover I couldn’t access my own business website, pcdesignstx.com. Every attempt resulted in an ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error, but here’s the weird part:
- ✅ Everyone else could access my site just fine
- ✅ My other websites worked perfectly from my connection
- ✅ I could access any other website on the internet
- ❌ Only my main business site was blocked
How to Diagnose ISP Website Blocking
Before fixing the issue, you need to confirm your ISP is actually blocking your website. Here’s how to diagnose ISP blocking:
I tried all the usual suspects:
- Incognito mode – Nope
- Different browsers – Same error
- Clearing DNS cache – Still blocked
- Web proxies – Mixed results
- Changing DNS to Google (8.8.8.8) – No change
The fact that it worked for everyone else but not me strongly suggested my ISP was blocking something.
The Detective Work: Finding the Pattern
I decided to check the IP addresses my domains were resolving to:
# My blocked domain
nslookup pcdesignstx.com
# Result: [Server IP Address]
# My working domains
nslookup drpolson.com
# Result: 104.21.96.1, 104.21.32.1, etc. (Cloudflare IPs)
nslookup mainecampinggear.com
# Result: 104.21.48.1, 104.21.16.1, etc. (Cloudflare IPs)
Aha! The pattern was clear:
- Working sites: Resolved to Cloudflare IP addresses (104.21.x.x)
- Blocked site: Resolved to my hosting server’s IP address
The Root Cause: Mixed Cloudflare Configuration
I logged into my Cloudflare dashboard and discovered the issue:
Working domains:
- All DNS records set to “Proxied” (🟠 orange cloud)
- Traffic routed through Cloudflare’s network
- Users see Cloudflare IPs, not my server IP
Blocked domain:
- Main DNS record set to “DNS only” (⚫ gray cloud)
- Traffic went directly to my hosting server
- Users saw my server IP address
Why This Started Happening Now
My domain had been set to “DNS only” for months without issues. What changed was that my ISP recently started blocking the IP range containing my hosting server. This could happen due to:
- Spam/abuse reports from that IP range
- New ISP security policies
- Government/legal requests
- Automated threat detection systems
My other domains were protected because they were already routing through Cloudflare’s network, which my ISP wasn’t blocking.
Step-by-Step Solution: Fix ISP Blocking with Cloudflare
The solution is embarrassingly simple once you know what to do:
- Log into Cloudflare dashboard
- Go to DNS settings for the blocked domain
- Find the main A record (pcdesignstx.com)
- Click the gray cloud to turn it orange (change from “DNS only” to “Proxied”)
- Save the changes
Within 5-10 minutes, my site was accessible again!
Additional Issues: WordPress URL Configuration
After fixing the DNS issue, I encountered a 403 Forbidden error on one subdomain. This turned out to be a WordPress configuration problem – somehow the site URL had changed from https:// to http:// during the DNS changes.
Fix: Updated the WordPress site URL back to https:// in cPanel, and everything worked perfectly. For more website maintenance tips, see our detailed maintenance guide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long does it take for Cloudflare DNS changes to take effect?
Cloudflare DNS changes typically propagate within 5-10 minutes, though it can take up to 24 hours in some cases.
Will changing to “Proxied” affect my website’s performance?
No, Cloudflare’s proxy actually improves performance through caching and CDN services while protecting against ISP blocking.
Can I use this method if I don’t have Cloudflare?
If you don’t use Cloudflare, you can sign up for a free account and migrate your DNS records. Alternative solutions include using a VPN or contacting your ISP directly.
What’s the difference between “DNS only” and “Proxied” in Cloudflare?
- DNS only (gray cloud): Direct connection to your server IP (vulnerable to ISP blocking)
- Proxied (orange cloud): Traffic routed through Cloudflare’s network (protected from ISP blocking)
Why do ISPs block certain websites or servers?
ISPs may block websites due to spam reports, security threats, legal requirements, bandwidth management, or government requests.
How can I prevent ISP blocking in the future?
Use Cloudflare’s proxy protection, monitor your site from multiple networks, and consider having backup access methods like mobile data or VPN.
Key Takeaways
For Website Owners:
- Always use Cloudflare’s “Proxied” setting (orange cloud) for your main domains
- “DNS only” leaves you vulnerable to ISP-level blocking of your hosting provider
- Test your site from multiple networks when troubleshooting access issues
- Learn more about website security best practices to protect your online presence
For Troubleshooting ISP Blocks:
- Check if it’s just you: Use tools like isup.me or ask others to test
- Compare IP addresses: See if your blocked domains resolve differently than working ones
- Test mobile data: This uses a different ISP and can confirm if it’s your home internet
- Check Cloudflare settings: Ensure important domains are “Proxied” not “DNS only”
- Review our complete DNS troubleshooting guide for advanced techniques
Warning Signs of ISP Blocking:
- ERR_CONNECTION_RESET errors (not timeouts)
- Works for others but not you
- Affects specific domains/IPs but not others
- Started recently without any changes on your end
Prevention Tips
- Use Cloudflare for all important domains with “Proxied” enabled
- Monitor your site accessibility from multiple locations/networks
- Keep backup access methods (mobile data, VPN) for troubleshooting
- Document your DNS configurations so you can spot changes
- Set up website monitoring alerts to catch issues early
Related Resources
For additional help with website accessibility and security:
- Website Creation Tips: Build a High-Performing Site
- Website Maintenance: Essential Guide for Small Businesses
- Mobile-Friendly Web Design: Optimize Your Site
- How to Create a Website Th.at Drives Sales in 2025
Why Web Design is More Than Just Code
As a web design professional, this experience perfectly illustrates why modern web design extends far beyond HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. When clients ask “Can’t you just build me a website?”, this is exactly why the answer involves so much more.
The Full Stack of Web Design Includes:
Frontend Development (What People See):
- HTML structure and semantics
- CSS styling and responsive design
- JavaScript functionality and interactions
Backend Infrastructure (What Keeps It Running):
- DNS configuration and management
- Server setup and hosting optimization
- Security protocols and SSL certificates
- CDN and performance optimization
- Backup and disaster recovery planning
Real-World Impact on Businesses
This ISP blocking incident could have been devastating for a business:
- Lost revenue from customers unable to access the site
- Damaged reputation from appearing “offline”
- SEO penalties from prolonged downtime
- Customer service headaches from confused visitors
A professional web designer doesn’t just deliver code – they deliver reliability, security, and peace of mind.
The Bigger Picture: Professional Web Design Responsibility
This experience highlights how ISPs can silently block hosting providers without notice. While they may have legitimate reasons (security, legal compliance), it can seriously impact businesses whose sites happen to be hosted on those IP ranges.
This is why professional web designers:
- Configure robust DNS setups from day one
- Choose reliable hosting with redundancy
- Implement monitoring and alerting systems
- Plan for contingencies like ISP blocking or server failures
Cloudflare’s proxy service acts as a buffer, routing your traffic through their globally distributed network instead of directly to your hosting server. This not only protects against ISP blocking but also provides:
- DDoS protection
- Performance improvements (caching, CDN)
- SSL/TLS encryption
- Analytics and security features
Conclusion
What started as a mysterious website blocking turned into a valuable lesson about modern web infrastructure. The combination of ISP policies and DNS configuration created a perfect storm that was easily resolved once I understood the root cause.
If you can’t access your own website but others can, check your Cloudflare DNS settings first. The orange cloud might just save your business from unexpected ISP blocking.