Facebook won't load on my new Mac

Try opening the terminal app, then type in ping Facebook.com and hit enter.

Is it able to resolve the Facebook.com address to an IP?

You hit control+c to stop the ping after a few pings.

Also, is Facebook the only website it can't open?

Can it open amazon.com?

Can it open google.com?

Also, check in your Network Settings if you have a correct DNS entry. System Settings ➜ Wi-Fi ➜ click on the [Details] button next to your Wi-Fi network ➜ DNS and see if you have anything set up there.

You can try 1.1.1.1 as a DNS and see if that helps.

https://www.facebook.com/ should not be resolving to 62.24.155.2. It's not responding to ping requests for me either. That in itself is not 100% conclusive since ping requests can be ignored, but to my knowledge Facebook is not doing that.

For example, on the Mac I happen to be using at the moment:

john@iMac36 ~ % ping facebook.com
PING facebook.com (57.144.230.1): 56 data bytes
64 bytes from 57.144.230.1: icmp_seq=0 ttl=56 time=15.322 ms
64 bytes from 57.144.230.1: icmp_seq=1 ttl=56 time=19.512 ms
64 bytes from 57.144.230.1: icmp_seq=2 ttl=56 time=25.770 ms
64 bytes from 57.144.230.1: icmp_seq=3 ttl=56 time=19.164 ms
64 bytes from 57.144.230.1: icmp_seq=4 ttl=56 time=18.411 ms
^C
--- facebook.com ping statistics ---
5 packets transmitted, 5 packets received, 0.0% packet loss
round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 15.322/19.636/25.770/3.405 ms
john@iMac36 ~ % 

Since 192.168.1.1 is almost certainly your router's address (perfectly ok, normally, since it simply forwards requests to your ISP rather than resolve them independently) the cause is certain to be some kind of DNS misconfiguration, either intentional or not.

There is no harm in temporarily changing it to a public DNS address such as 1.1.1.1 for troubleshooting purposes. If you are concerned anyway, you can create a new "network location" for that purpose. The previously selected networks settings will remain unchanged, so you can always revert back to them by selecting the previous "location".

Instructions: Manage network locations on Mac - Apple Support

It's resolving Facebook to a TalkTalk IP as mentioned, but the IP simply does not respond.

That may be a specific issue with your ISP.

You can try to add 1.1.1.1 to the DNS list and see if that works.

Changing DNSs is fine. It's not going to cause any issues and will tell us if the issue is with your ISPs DNS service.

You can always change it back when you are done.

The ping timeout means no network connection to the specified server.

Your DNS is seemingly responding, though it is getting an IP address associated with TalkTalk and not Meta.

Whether this is some UK age gate, or some part of your local or ISP network failed or misconfigured?

Switching DNS to 1.1.1.1 might get past whatever issue.

Please post the Etrecheck data.

Also, if you have installed a VPN, try uninstalling to test if that is the cause. Simply turning one off may not solve the problem.

I also have no problem accessing Facebook on Golden Gate, but I am not using a VPN.

Read If Safari doesn't work as expected on Mac - Apple Support. Don't omit any steps.

VPNs for example are one of the more popular reasons. Don't use them. Be advised some of those products alter network settings in such a manner uninstalling them may not revert them correctly.

I understand your new iMac cannot reach certain websites using Safari.

First please read If a webpage or link won't open on Mac - Apple Support. It is very cursory and fundamental, and given the steps you already performed I doubt it will add any new information, but read it first as a matter of course.

Then, read and follow If Safari doesn't work as expected on Mac - Apple Support. That one is more comprehensive and requires methodical elimination of each potential cause. Don't omit any steps.

Then, read and follow If your device has network connectivity issues, check for VPN and other third-party security software - Apple Support. It will reiterate some of the above and ensure you didn't overlook anything.

Lastly, if nothing helps, and assuming you can even download the app, download and run EtreCheck, then post its report in a reply to this Discussion. Follow these instructions: How to run the Etrecheck Diagnostic Tool - Apple Community.

Phil0124 wrote:

Try opening the terminal app, then type in ping Facebook.com and hit enter…

PHil0124: Strictly FWIW: https://www.devontechnologies.com/blog/20251014-network-utility-20

rosiefromoxford: Please download and run EtreCheck (the free version, don’t need the paid version here), and use the Share to share the results to the Mac clipboard. Then open a new reply here, and press the Additional Text button (the button that looks like a printed page), and paste and post the hardware and software configuration report here. From that, we can get a little more detail about what is installed and what is running here.

Phil0124 wrote:

It's resolving Facebook to a TalkTalk IP as mentioned, but the IP simply does not respond…

I’m wondering if the previous Mac client had its own DNS server setting configured, whilst the new Mac is using the router’s embedded DNS forwarder, and either the router-embedded DNS forwarder or its referenced DNS server was (is) misconfigured. And the original Mac DNS client setting didn’t get replicated.

The only wrinkle with that supposition is that the Mac is clearly getting some DNS translations (and some translations are clearly wrong), which implies a cache or a content filter or an age gate somewhere, or a wonky DNS server, or wonky ad blocker or security or network or firewall (e.g. Little Snitch) apps installed.

Given this is the UK, a wonky age gate is definitely in play.

I’d still like to see the EtreCheck data, to eliminate the typical sorts of occasionally-problematic apps installed on the Mac.

Clear Safari's History according to Clear your browsing history in Safari on Mac - Apple Support.

If Safari doesn't work as expected on Mac - Apple Support omits that step but it shouldn't.

Are you using a school or business network?

So what happens when you try to open Facebook exactly?

What web browser are you using? Safari? Or something else?

Are you using a bookmark or typing the address in the address bar directly?

https://facebook.com

Facebook works fine for me on Golden Gate on my M4 MacBook Air.

Thankyou for your replies. I'm using a new iMac and my home wifi with no VPN.

I'm typing the Facebook address directly into the address bar and it just times out.

My old (2019) iMac was running slow so I bought a new one and migrated everything.

I'm trying to do what I can before I contact Apple Support.

I'm sure something is wrong but can't figure out what.

MrHoffman wrote:

Phil0124 wrote:

Try opening the terminal app, then type in ping Facebook.com and hit enter…

PHil0124: Strictly FWIW: https://www.devontechnologies.com/blog/20251014-network-utility-20

Thanks. Looks interesting. Will check it out.

I currently have "192.168.1.1" in the DNS Server list. Should I delete this and replace it with "1.1.1.1"? I'm rather nervous about doing this as I'm not very au fait with such tech stuff. It seems mad that I have to do this to access Facebook. By the way, all other websites including Amazon are fine.

MrHoffman wrote:

Phil0124 wrote:

It's resolving Facebook to a TalkTalk IP as mentioned, but the IP simply does not respond…

I’m wondering if the previous Mac client had its own DNS server setting configured, whilst the new Mac is using the router’s embedded DNS forwarder, and either the router-embedded DNS forwarder or its referenced DNS server was (is) misconfigured. And the original Mac DNS client setting didn’t get replicated.

Possibly. I was thinking that too.

The only wrinkle with that supposition is that the Mac is clearly getting some DNS translations (and some translations are clearly wrong), which implies a cache or a content filter or an age gate somewhere, or a wonky DNS server, or wonky ad blocker or security or network or firewall (e.g. Little Snitch) apps installed.

Another good possibility

Given this is the UK, a wonky age gate is definitely in play.

Very likely yes, given the UKs recent crackdown on minors accessing unsavory sites.

Thankyou Phil. I've tried "ping Facebook.com" in the terminal app. I'll show you what happened...

Actually, I've just found another website that won't load.