C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts Check (Mac/Linux): /etc/hosts
Here’s a feature-style breakdown covering the common reasons why Facebook might be blocked on a specific computer—even when it works on other devices on the same network. You type facebook.com , press Enter, and instead of your news feed, you’re met with an error: “This site can’t be reached,” “Access denied,” or “Blocked by your organization.” The frustration doubles when you notice Facebook works fine on your phone, your tablet, or even your roommate’s laptop.
127.0.0.1 facebook.com 0.0.0.0 www.facebook.com This tells your computer to look for Facebook on your own machine (where it isn’t) or send it into a black hole.
Malware, a prank, or an overzealous “productivity” tool might have added an entry like:
Still blocked? Try accessing https://www.facebook.com (explicit HTTPS) or https://mbasic.facebook.com (basic mobile version) – sometimes stripped-down URLs bypass certain filters.
Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy → Turn off “Use a proxy server.” On Mac: System Settings → Network → Proxies → Disable any active proxy.
If Facebook is blocked only on (and not others on the same Wi-Fi), the issue is almost certainly local to that machine. Let’s troubleshoot the usual suspects. 1. The Hosts File – A Tiny But Powerful Gatekeeper Your computer’s hosts file is like a local phonebook for websites. It can override DNS settings and redirect or block domains before they ever reach the internet.