Why Won’t My VPN Connect and How Do I Fix It?
When your VPN isn’t working, it can impact everything from your online security and privacy to your ability to safely stream your favorite shows and sports. It can even block your internet connection completely.
The good news is, more often than not, it’s a quick fix. We’ll walk you through how to troubleshoot these issues and get your VPN back up and running.
How to Fix a VPN That’s Not Connecting: 9 Common Issues
Before you try anything else, check if your internet works without the VPN.
It sounds simple, but it’s important to determine that your VPN is actually the issue. Disconnect the VPN app, and try to open any website in your browser. If it doesn’t load, the problem probably isn’t your VPN (unless you’re using a kill switch – more on that below). Restart your router or modem, or switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data to test if your internet is working.
If the internet works without a VPN, here’s what to do next:
1. Make Sure Your VPN Subscription Is Active
If your VPN won’t connect, take a moment to check your account status. It might sound obvious, but expired plans or login issues can be easy to overlook, especially if you’ve switched devices recently or haven’t used the VPN in a while.
If you’re not sure, reach out to your VPN’s customer support team, and they’ll help you sort it out. Private Internet Access (PIA) offers 24/7 customer support, and our team can help you quickly spot and resolve an issue with your account.
If you’re using a free VPN, keep in mind that many of them come with limits. You might’ve hit your daily or monthly bandwidth cap without realizing it. When that happens, the VPN simply stops working. Most don’t offer customer support, either.
2. Check Your Firewall Settings
Your firewall helps protect you from unwanted traffic, and it can sometimes flag your VPN’s encryption as suspicious and block it.
To check if this is the reason why your VPN won’t connect, temporarily disable your firewall and try reconnecting to your VPN. If it connects, adjust your firewall settings to allow your VPN to run.
On Windows
- From the Start menu, search for “Windows Security” and click on it.
- Go to Virus & Threat Protection.
- Scroll down and select Manage Settings.
- Click Add or Remove Exclusions.
- Select Add an Exclusion, then choose File, and add the VPN app.
On macOS
- Open System Settings (or System Preferences, depending on your macOS version).
- Go to Network or Security & Privacy.
- Select the Firewall tab, then click Firewall Options.
- From here, you can add PIA to the list of allowed apps.
Once you’ve added the VPN as an exception, try reconnecting. In most cases, that’s all it takes to get things running smoothly again.
3. Connect to a Different VPN Server
You may get a “VPN connection failed” message if the server you’re trying to connect to is under maintenance or overloaded and running very slow. The best fix for this is to just choose another server.
If you’re trying to stream and see an error message on the screen or just a blank page, it can be that the streaming platform is blocking VPN traffic. Again, you can try connecting to a different server, but be aware that some streaming platforms are very good at identifying and blocking VPNs.
PIA VPN has multiple streaming-optimized servers in the US and other key countries around the world. Our engineers test these servers regularly to ensure they work with major streaming platforms.
4. Try a Different VPN Protocol or Port
If your VPN won’t connect, or it connects but feels unusually slow, the problem can be your VPN protocol or port.
VPN protocols are the rules your VPN uses to build a secure tunnel between your device and the VPN server. Some networks block certain protocols or don’t handle them well, especially in places like schools, workplaces, or countries with internet restrictions.
Ports are digital entry points your device uses to talk to the internet. VPNs rely on specific ones to work. If your ISP or local network blocks these ports (intentionally or by default), your VPN might not be able to connect at all.
In the PIA VPN app, you can manually select both your protocol and port. You can pick WireGuard, choose between OpenVPN UDP or TCP, or set your port to 443, which is commonly used for regular HTTPS traffic and is less likely to be blocked. You can also enable options like Use small packets in the app to improve reliability on slower or more restricted networks.
Testing different combinations of protocol and port settings is one of the simplest ways to solve stubborn connectivity issues, especially when everything else seems fine.
5. Obfuscate Your VPN Traffic
Some networks block VPN traffic. They do this by inspecting your data and looking for certain patterns associated with VPN encryption. For a VPN to work in these circumstances, it needs an obfuscation feature.
To enable obfuscation in the PIA app, go to Multi-Hop in the settings. This feature routes your connection through a second VPN server and disguises your VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic.
6. Check Your DNS Settings
Your ISP’s DNS can sometimes cause problems with your VPN. Try switching to a public DNS like Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1.) Just make sure your VPN DNS leak protection is enabled to keep your data safe.
If you’re using PIA, you can fix most DNS issues by using PIA DNS (the default setting).
7. Check the Kill Switch
A VPN kill switch is a security feature that protects your data if your VPN connection suddenly drops.
When it’s turned on, the kill switch blocks your device from accessing the internet until the VPN connection is restored. This prevents your IP address or other personal data from leaking. It’s one of those features that works quietly in the background, but when it kicks in, it can look like your entire internet just stopped working.
If your VPN suddenly disconnects and you lose internet access altogether, it might be the kill switch doing its job. To get back online, reconnect to a VPN server.
If you’ve enabled the Advanced Kill Switch option in the PIA app, you won’t be able to connect to the internet unless you’re connected to the VPN – even if the app is closed. Just open the VPN app and make sure you connect to a VPN server to solve it.
While you could disable the kill switch to regain internet access, it’s not recommended. Turning off the kill switch reduces your VPN’s privacy and security, potentially exposing your real IP address if the VPN connection fails.
8. Make Sure You’re Only Using One VPN at a Time
Running more than one VPN app on the same device might sound like doubling up on privacy. However, you can generally only have one active VPN connection per device (unless you’re working with contained environments or virtual machines). VPNs work by creating a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet. If two apps try to set up separate tunnels at the same time, they end up interfering with each other.
If you forgot you have a different VPN running on your browser, device, or router, the one you’re trying to connect to probably won’t work. Make sure to fully remove or fully close any other VPN apps before launching PIA VPN. This clears the way for a clean, stable connection.
9. Restart, Update, or Reinstall the VPN App
If your VPN isn’t connecting, your app might just need a reset or a refresh. Start by closing the app completely – not just “X-ing” it out. On desktop, this means quitting it from the taskbar, and on mobile, you can just swipe it away from recent apps. This clears out any temporary bugs and lets the app start fresh.
If that doesn’t solve your VPN issues, make sure you’re running the latest version. VPN updates often include important fixes for bugs, speed, or connection stability. PIA VPN supports automatic updates on most devices, but it’s worth checking manually if things aren’t working as expected.
If problems persist, try reinstalling the app entirely. Delete it from your device, then download it again and sign back in. This is especially helpful if the app seems stuck, crashes often, or doesn’t recognize a renewed subscription. Reinstalling can clear out hidden issues and give you a clean slate without much effort.
Why Isn’t My VPN Working on Windows?
If your VPN won’t connect on Windows 10 or 11, it’s often due to adapter issues, conflicting software, or manual setup errors. Here’s how to get things working again:
- Restart or reset your network adapter: Open Device Manager, right-click your network adapter, and try updating it. If that doesn’t help, disable and re-enable it, or uninstall it and reboot your PC to trigger a clean reinstall.
- Double-check manual VPN settings: If you set up the VPN manually, go to Settings > Network & Internet > VPN and confirm that the server address, protocol, and login info are all correct. Using an official app is easier and reduces setup errors.
- Look for software conflicts: Other VPNs, firewalls, or antivirus programs might block your connection. Temporarily disable them to test. If your VPN connects afterward, add it to your security software’s exception list.
- Check for recent Windows updates: Some updates can affect VPN performance. Make sure your system is fully updated, or roll back the last update if the issue started recently.
- Run the VPN as an administrator: Right-click the app and choose Run as Administrator to avoid permission issues.
Why Isn’t My VPN Working on My Phone?
If your VPN isn’t connecting on your iPhone or Android device, it could be a permissions issue. Your phone might not have granted the app full access to create a VPN connection. Head to your device settings, find the VPN section, and make sure the app is allowed to connect.
Restarting the app or your phone often helps too.
If the problem continues, check that battery saver settings or background activity restrictions aren’t blocking the app. These settings block certain activity to conserve power, and they can interfere with VPN connections.
Here’s how to add your VPN app to the list of exceptions in power-saving mode:
- Android: Open Settings, select Battery, and then Battery Saver to adjust the settings.
- iOS: Go to Settings and tap Battery, followed by Low Power Mode, to make necessary adjustments.
To allow your VPN to operate in the background:
- Android: Go to Settings > Apps > Show All, select your VPN app, tap on App Battery Usage, and make sure it’s not set to Restricted.
- iOS: Go to the Settings > General > Background App Refresh and make sure your VPN app is in the allowlist.
Why Isn’t My VPN Working with My Email?
If you can’t send emails while your VPN is on, it usually comes down to one of two things:
- Your email provider is blocking VPN traffic.
- Your VPN is blocking the port your email service uses.
Some email services block VPN IP addresses to prevent spam and phishing. If that’s the case, try switching to a different server or VPN protocol. A fresh connection often solves the problem.
Other times, your VPN might block certain ports, like port 25, to protect you from unsecured traffic. To fix this, check your email settings and make sure you’re using a secure port like 587 or 465. That should get your messages flowing again.
Why Isn’t My VPN Working with Streaming Services?
If your VPN isn’t working on a streaming platform, the IP address of the server you’re connected to has likely been recognized and blocked. Most streaming services have country-specific licensing agreements that restrict certain content to particular regions. To enforce these rules, they often block connections from IP addresses associated with VPNs.
If you’re using a VPN to keep your connection secure and prevent ISP throttling (to improve streaming quality), these blocks can still happen.
At PIA, we regularly monitor our network to support stable, high-speed connections across a wide range of servers. If you’re having trouble streaming while connected, try switching to a nearby server for better connection quality. If that doesn’t help, disconnect and try another server with lower latency.
You can also reach out to our 24/7 customer support team for help improving connection stability based on your location and setup. This way, you can keep your connection secure and avoid interruptions while using streaming platforms.
Private Internet Access is a VPN service not intended to be used as a means of copyright circumvention. Please refer to the PIA Terms of Service and the relevant streaming platform’s Terms of Use for more information.
FAQ
How do I force a VPN to connect?
There are several things you can try to force your VPN to connect, such as restarting your VPN app, trying a different server, changing your firewall settings, switching VPN protocols and ports, and enabling obfuscation to disguise your VPN traffic if you’re on a restrictive network. If nothing works, you should contact your VPN’s support team.
Why can’t I connect to a VPN when on Wi-Fi?
Some networks block VPNs to prevent users from accessing certain kinds of content. If your network is blocking VPN traffic, you’ll need to enable obfuscation. You should also try switching servers, using a different VPN protocol, and, if all else fails, connecting through mobile data.
Can Wi-Fi block a VPN?
Yes, some networks are configured to block common VPN ports or traffic patterns. This is especially common on public or school Wi-Fi networks. To work around it, try switching to a different transport protocol like TCP, using port 443, or enabling stealth features. If that doesn’t help, you can test the VPN over mobile data to confirm if Wi-Fi is the issue.
What is error code 812?
Error 812 is a Windows-specific message that usually means there’s a mismatch in your VPN connection settings. It might be related to your authentication method, group policy, or configuration on the VPN server. If you’re using manual setup, double-check your VPN type and login info. If you’re using the app, try switching servers or contacting support.
Why is my VPN blocking my connection?
If your VPN is blocking your internet, the kill switch may be turned on. This feature cuts off internet access if the VPN disconnects, helping protect your IP address and data. To fix it, just open your VPN app and reconnect. If you’re not using the VPN at that moment, you can temporarily turn off the kill switch in the settings.
Why is my VPN browser extension not working?
VPN browser extensions can fail to connect if they’re outdated, misconfigured, or conflicting with other extensions. Make sure you’re using the latest version of both your browser and the VPN extension. Restart your browser and try disabling other extensions that might interfere. If problems persist, use the full VPN app for more consistent protection.
