If your website keeps reloading or crashing, it’s more than just a temporary glitch—it’s a serious red flag. These frustrating issues can drive away users, damage your SEO rankings, and ultimately hurt your bottom line.
The good news? You can identify and fix the root causes once you understand them. Whether it's bad code, a server loop, or faulty third-party integrations, we'll walk you through the top reasons this happens and how to troubleshoot like a pro.
Let’s dive into why your site keeps refreshing or going down—and what you can do to stop it.
Understanding Reload and Crash Loops
When a page refreshes repeatedly or fails to load entirely, users are caught in a loop that makes your site nearly unusable. These aren't just annoying—they’re damaging errors on websites that directly impact conversion rates, user trust, and digital reputation.
Common Signs Your Website Has a Reload or Crash Problem
- Users report pages flickering or constantly refreshing
- The browser console logs show repeated redirects or script errors
- CPU usage spikes due to infinite loops in code
- Pages take too long to respond or crash on load
These symptoms are often tied to website crashing issues or poor handling of web performance issues.
Top Reasons Why Your Website Keeps Reloading or Crashing
Let’s break down the most likely causes and what to look for in each scenario.
1. Infinite Redirect Loops
Cause:
Misconfigured redirects in .htaccess, server settings, or CMS platforms.
Fix:
- Check for conflicting HTTPS/HTTP or www/non-www rules
- Test your redirect chains with Redirect Checker
- Use canonical URLs in meta tags to avoid recursive redirections
2. JavaScript or Frontend Logic Errors
Cause:
A misfiring script can trigger continuous page reloads or freeze your site on load.
Fix:
- Open DevTools (F12) and inspect the Console tab
- Look for errors like Uncaught TypeError or RangeError
- Disable or remove faulty third-party scripts or plugins
3. Session or Cookie Conflicts
Cause:
Faulty session handling or excessive cookie size can confuse authentication systems, forcing reloads.
Fix:
- Clear site cookies and test login behavior
- Review session management logic on the server side
- Use secure, consistent domain-wide cookies
4. Plugin or Extension Conflicts (Especially in WordPress or Shopify)
Cause:
Plugins loaded in the wrong order or with outdated scripts can cause your website keeps reloading behavior.
Fix:
- Disable all plugins, then re-enable one by one
- Update outdated plugins
- Look for duplicated scripts being loaded from multiple sources
5. Hosting or Server Resource Limits
Cause:
Low memory or CPU limits on shared hosting can cause your site to crash under moderate traffic.
Fix:
- Upgrade to a higher-tier hosting plan
- Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)
- Monitor server resource usage with your host’s dashboard
6. Database Overload or Corruption
Cause:
Poorly optimized queries or bloated databases lead to timeouts or crashes.
Fix:
- Optimize database tables using tools like phpMyAdmin
- Limit the number of background processes
- Clean up spam comments, revisions, and old entries
7. Faulty Auto-Refresh Code
Cause:
Incorrect use of <meta http-equiv="refresh"> or JavaScript setInterval can trap users in refresh loops.
Fix:
- Remove or adjust any auto-refresh tags or scripts
- Use conditional logic to control reloads appropriately
8. Malware or Unauthorized Scripts
Cause:
Injected code from malware can trigger unexpected reloads or crash your site for specific devices or IPs.
Fix:
- Run a malware scan using tools like Sucuri SiteCheck
- Remove suspicious files via FTP or your CMS file manager
- Reinstall your CMS core files if needed
How These Issues Affect SEO and User Trust
Google prioritizes performance and stability. A website keeps reloading behavior or frequent crashes may lead to:
- Higher bounce rates
- Lower average time on page
- Poor Core Web Vitals
- Search engine deindexing for pages with constant errors
Web performance issues not only cost you ranking—they drive users straight to your competitors.
Tools to Help You Diagnose the Problem
Here are some tools professionals use to find and fix website crashing issues:
- Chrome DevTools – Inspect console, network, and performance
- GTmetrix / Lighthouse – Audit page speed and performance bottlenecks
- Pingdom / UptimeRobot – Monitor downtime and server response
- Sucuri / Wordfence – Scan for malware or injection attacks
- Cloudflare – Analyze traffic spikes and block bot abuse
Prevention Tips: Stop the Problem Before It Starts
- Monitor your site daily with automated tools
- Keep plugins, CMS platforms, and themes updated
- Test on multiple devices and browsers regularly
- Audit your redirect rules and SSL configurations quarterly
- Backup your site weekly—more often for ecommerce or news platforms
Final Thoughts: Don’t Let Reload Loops or Crashes Derail Your Business
If your website keeps reloading or crashing, take it seriously. It’s not just a technical issue—it’s a revenue blocker, a brand buster, and a huge SEO liability.
Start with the basics, use the right tools, and apply fixes methodically. Addressing errors on websites early not only improves performance—it protects your online credibility.