VPN not connecting: How to fix common VPN issues

So you have a VPN app but the VPN won’t turn on? Here are some possible reasons and how to fix them.

Jump to…
Why is my VPN not connecting?
How to fix a VPN that’s not working
Why is my VPN not connecting while I’m on Wi-Fi?
Why is my VPN browser extension not working?
My VPN isn’t working with Netflix
VPN not working with email
Why is my VPN connection so slow?

Why is my VPN not connecting?

Common reasons your VPN might not connect include: 

• A weak or unstable internet or Wi-Fi connection 
• Restrictions from a firewall or antivirus software
• An issue with the VPN server
• Countries that block VPNs

Keep reading for how to fix these issues.

Get ExpressVPN

How to fix a VPN that’s not working

Now, let’s delve deeper into the details and look at the different steps you can take to troubleshoot issues of VPN not connecting and fix them.

1. Check your internet connection

You need to be connected to the internet to use a VPN. So first verify that you’re online by trying to access a website without your VPN. (If you have a kill switch enabled on your VPN, it needs to be turned off, otherwise you won’t be able to go online without your VPN connection.)

Consider using an online internet speed test, like Ookla or Fast.com, to check your internet speed and internet connection. If you’re using the Chrome browser, you can type internet speed test in your search bar and run a speed test natively. Running a speed test will help determine if your internet connection is very weak and affecting your VPN.

There are numerous ways to try to strengthen your home Wi-Fi. Try restarting your router, moving closer to your router, or connecting to a different Wi-Fi band. If you aren’t able to improve your Wi-Fi yourself, contact your internet service provider (ISP) for professional help. Your ISP should be able to check your area for outages and run a diagnostic test remotely to see if your router has a problem. They’ll also be able to send a technician to your home to investigate the problem and replace your router if necessary.

2. Check your firewall settings

Firewalls are designed to block incoming network traffic that doesn’t meet certain security criteria. Sometimes, a firewall may block your VPN connection. This can happen if your firewall settings are too strict and don’t allow certain types of VPN traffic to pass through. In such cases, you may need to reconfigure your firewall settings to allow VPN traffic or temporarily disable your firewall to establish a VPN connection. 

Here’s how to add an exclusion on your firewall to allow your VPN connection: 

For Windows Defender: 

1. Open your Windows Defender Security Center 
2. Navigate to Virus & Threat Protection settings 
3. Select Exclusions, then Add or Remove Exclusions 
4. Add your VPN software in exclusions 

For macOS: 

1. Select System Settings or System Preferences, depending on your macOS version 
2. Click on Network or Security & Privacy, depending on your macOS version
3. Then, select Firewall and click on Options
4. You’ll then be able to configure your firewall settings and add or remove any programs to the exceptions list

3. Try a different VPN protocol

VPN protocols provide rules regarding how your device communicates with a VPN server. Protocols determine how secure, fast, and reliable your VPN connection will be. Here are some of the most common VPN protocols: 

Your best VPN protocol will depend on your network conditions. 

Get ExpressVPN

OpenVPN is a good choice if you are looking for a secure connection. PPTP may be a better option if you are looking for the fastest connection, but PPTP is not recommended except in cases where security is absolutely non-essential; it is not on any ExpressVPN app.

4. Check the VPN server status 

If you are having trouble connecting to a VPN, it could be due to downtime or connectivity issues with the VPN server. If you’re using ExpressVPN, visit our server page to check if your preferred server is experiencing downtime. You could also try changing server locations to see if connecting to a different server resolves the issue.

5. Give your VPN more time to connect

In countries that try to restrict internet and VPN use, sometimes it just takes longer to connect to the VPN. Give it a minute or two. If you are using ExpressVPN, contact Support and our team will be able to provide information on the best VPN servers to use.

6. Update your VPN app

Just like any other software, VPNs can sometimes experience bugs. It’s essential to keep your VPN (and any other apps) updated to the latest version. ExpressVPN offers auto-update on all our apps for greater convenience, so you get the newest version automatically when it becomes available. 

7. Restart your VPN app

Restarting your VPN app can help establish a new connection to the internet, provided your connection is stable. To do this, you need to close the VPN app completely. Depending on your device, you may need to swipe the app off the screen or use a task manager to force-quit it. Wait a few seconds for the app to shut down completely. Then, reopen the VPN app by tapping on its icon. Once the app is open, try connecting to your VPN account and turning on the VPN to see if the issue has been resolved.

8. Reinstall your VPN app 

Similar to restarting, but taking it to the next level. Reinstalling your app entails uninstalling it from your device, then downloading it again and signing in. Reinstalling can solve a lot of problems with your app behaving oddly for no apparent reason. It could help to resolve issues relating to your account status—for instance, if you just renewed a stopped subscription but your app doesn’t seem to know that.

9. Make sure you’re using one VPN account at a time 

While having multiple VPN connections from various VPN services might seem like an excellent way to protect your privacy, it doesn’t make sense and can lead to connectivity issues. VPN apps create an encrypted tunnel where all your internet traffic gets routed to. Asking two services to do this at the same time can lead to confusion and conflict.

Why is my VPN not connecting while I’m on Wi-Fi?

There are several reasons why a VPN might not connect while you’re on Wi-Fi. One of the most common reasons is a weak or unstable Wi-Fi connection. If your Wi-Fi signal is weak or unstable, it can cause your VPN to disconnect or not connect at all. Additionally, if you’re using a public Wi-Fi network, it might be blocking VPN connections. 

Other reasons why your VPN might not connect include incorrect VPN settings or restrictions from a firewall or antivirus software.

My VPN isn’t working with Netflix: Why do streaming services block my VPN?

Many people want to use a VPN while streaming shows. However, streaming platforms need to abide by licensing agreements that restrict viewing of shows to certain countries, necessitating the company to block service when it detects the use of a VPN. It’s important to note that the streaming service does not know the VPN user’s actual location—only that the IP address they are using belongs to a VPN company.

Streaming services might be motivated to block VPNs to prevent users from signing up for multiple accounts in different countries to take advantage of free trials or lower subscription prices.

That said, premium VPN brands are constantly optimizing their service to work well with Netflix and other major streaming services. This means users never have to turn off their VPN and can stay protected.. A few tips for using VPNs with services that block them include restarting the service (after you’ve chosen your VPN location) or trying a different server location—customer support might be able to offer suggestions on the best ones to work with the service.

Why is my VPN browser extension not working? 

Your VPN browser extension might not be working because your browser isn’t compatible with the extension. If you are using an older version of your browser, it’s possible that it is not compatible with the VPN browser extension you are trying to use. Another common reason is that the website you are trying to access may block VPN traffic. Some websites and networks block VPN traffic. Website admins sometimes do this to prevent users from circumventing geographical restrictions or to protect their site’s security. 

Additionally, if you’re using a free VPN extension, it’s possible that the extension is not very reliable. Free VPN extensions often have limited bandwidth or data caps and may not be as secure as paid VPN extensions.

VPN not working with email: Why can’t I send emails while using my VPN?

If you experience issues using your email while your VPN is turned on, it’s likely one of two problems: either your email service is blocking your VPN, or your VPN is blocking the port used by your email service. 

Should this be the case, here are some ways to fix it: 

1. If your email service blocks your VPN 

Your email service provider might block VPNs to prevent users from sending spam and phishing messages; VPNs can be used by spammers and phishers to hide their identities and locations. By blocking VPN IP addresses, email providers can help reduce the spam and phishing emails send by their service. 

To get around this, try using a different VPN server. Some VPN servers may be blocked by your email provider, while others may not be. Alternatively, use a different VPN protocol. Some VPN protocols may bypass your email provider’s VPN blocks more effectively than others.

2. If your VPN blocks your email service’s port 

On some occasions, the issue may arise from the VPN provider, as some of them may block unsecured ports to shield you from potential spam and abuse. Some VPN providers might block certain ports, like TCP port 25. So, if you want to access your email with your VPN, you need to switch to more secure ports like port 587 or 465. 

Why is my VPN connection so slow? 

If you notice that a website or application takes too long to load while you’re on a VPN, there could be several reasons for that. 

One common reason is that you’re conducting bandwidth-heavy activities like downloading large amounts of data or streaming too much content simultaneously. Another common reason is an overcrowded server. Many users connected simultaneously to the same server could lead to a lag in your VPN connection. 

ExpressVPN uses next-generation 10 Gbps servers on its large network to prevent slowness or overcrowding. Free VPNs are much more likely to be affected by bandwidth issues stemming from too many users.

Here are a few tips to fix your slow VPN connection: 

Switch to a different VPN server 

One great way to solve this problem is to connect to a server closer to your location. The distance between your device and the VPN server can significantly impact your VPN speed. The closer the server is, the faster your connection will be. This is because data has to travel less distance to reach the server and back.

Switch VPN protocol 

Different VPN protocols have different strengths, and some protocols might be faster than others. Your network conditions might work better with a different protocol.

Change your port or IP protocol 

When multiple devices on a network are trying to use the same port simultaneously, congestion can occur. This can slow down your internet connection. Switching to a different port can help to avoid port saturation and improve your internet speed.

On the other hand, different IP protocols have different performance characteristics. For example, the IPv6 protocol is faster than the IPv4 protocol, which means switching to IPv6 could greatly improve your internet speeds. 

Use a different VPN 

If you have tried all of the above troubleshooting tips and you are still experiencing slow VPN speeds, you may need to consider switching to a different VPN provider.

Some VPN providers have better infrastructure and more servers than others. This can lead to significant differences in speed and performance. Additionally, some VPN providers may offer features that are optimized for speed, such as dedicated streaming servers or gaming servers.

Get ExpressVPN