Last updated: March 5, 2026
Your GitHub Pages website may fail to load, show a 404 error, display a blank page, or not update when you push new code. Custom domains may also stop working.
Build failed: Jekyll or other static site generators may have build errors.
Wrong branch configured: GitHub Pages may be pointing to the wrong branch.
Missing index.html: The root directory must have an index.html file.
Custom domain DNS issues: DNS records may be misconfigured.
Repository settings: Pages may not be enabled or is set to private.
• Go to your repository > Settings > Pages.
• Verify the correct branch and folder are selected.
• Make sure the source is set to "Deploy from a branch".
• Go to your repository > Actions tab.
• Look for the "pages build and deployment" workflow.
• If it failed, click on it to see the error details.
• Make sure you have an index.html file in the root of your selected branch/folder.
• The file name must be exactly "index.html" (lowercase).
• Check that the file isn't empty.
• Verify your CNAME file contains the correct domain.
• Check DNS records point to GitHub's servers (185.199.108-111.153).
• Wait up to 30 minutes for DNS changes to propagate.
• Enable "Enforce HTTPS" in Pages settings.
• Hard refresh with Ctrl+Shift+R.
• Try viewing your site in an incognito window.
• GitHub Pages can cache old versions for up to 10 minutes.
• Make a minor change to any file and push a new commit.
• This triggers a new build and deployment.
• Check the Actions tab to monitor the deployment.
If your site still doesn't load, contact GitHub support at support.github.com or check githubstatus.com for outages.
Q: How long does GitHub Pages take to deploy?
A: Usually 1-5 minutes. First deployments or those with many files may take longer.
Q: Is GitHub Pages free?
A: Yes, for public repositories. GitHub Pro users can also use Pages with private repositories.
Q: Can I use a custom domain with GitHub Pages?
A: Yes, add a CNAME file to your repository and configure DNS records with your domain registrar.
Q: Why does my site show an old version?
A: GitHub Pages caches content. Wait 10 minutes, clear your browser cache, or check the Actions tab to make sure the latest deployment succeeded.