VPN won’t connect? Common fixes

The quick fix

If your VPN won’t connect, do two things first: switch to a different server, and if that fails, change the protocol in settings (try WireGuard, or OpenVPN TCP on port 443 for strict networks). Between them, those two clear the large majority of connection failures. If you’re still stuck, work down the ordered list below.

Why a VPN won’t connect

There are only a handful of real causes, and they’re easy to work through: the server is down or overloaded; the protocol you’re using is being blocked by your network; a firewall or antivirus is quietly blocking the app; the network itself (a workplace, hotel, or restrictive country) blocks VPN traffic; or your internet is simply down. The fixes below tackle each in the order they’re most likely.

The fixes, in order

Start at the top and stop as soon as it connects:

1. 1
   Try a different server

   The server you’re on may be down, overloaded or under maintenance. Pick another location (or another server in the same country) and connect again — the simplest fix, and often all it takes.

2. 2
   Switch the VPN protocol

   In settings, change protocol: try WireGuard for speed, or OpenVPN TCP on port 443 to slip through strict networks (443 is the same port as normal HTTPS, so it’s rarely blocked). IKEv2 is a good fallback on mobile.

3. 3
   Restart the app, device and router

   Fully close and reopen the VPN app; if that fails, restart your device, and finally power-cycle your router. Stale network state is a surprisingly common cause.

4. 4
   Confirm your internet works without the VPN

   Disconnect the VPN and load any website. If the internet is down anyway, the problem is your connection, not the VPN — fix that first.

5. 5
   Check your firewall and antivirus

   Security software can block a VPN’s connection without telling you. Add the VPN app as an allowed/trusted app in your firewall and antivirus, or briefly disable them to test.

6. 6
   Switch network (Wi-Fi ↔ mobile data)

   Some networks — offices, schools, hotels, and some countries — actively block VPN traffic. Try your mobile data instead; if it connects there, the network was the problem.

7. 7
   Update or reinstall the app

   An out-of-date or corrupted app can refuse to connect. Update it, and if that fails, uninstall and reinstall the latest version from the provider or official app store.

8. 8
   Check your subscription and log in again

   An expired subscription or a stale session can block connections. Confirm your plan is active, then sign out and back in.

Connecting on restrictive networks

Offices, schools, some hotels and a few countries deliberately block VPNs. Two things get you through:

• OpenVPN TCP on port 443. This is the same port as normal secure web traffic, so blocking it would break the whole internet — which makes it very hard to filter out.
• Obfuscated / “stealth” servers. Many good VPNs offer these to disguise VPN traffic as ordinary browsing. Turn them on in settings when a network is fighting you.

For heavily-censored countries specifically, obfuscation is essential — see our best VPN for China guide, which is all about VPNs that connect where others can’t.

VPNs that just connect

Some VPNs are simply more dependable at connecting — better apps, more protocols, obfuscation built in, and support that answers when you’re stuck. Our top picks on reliability and ease:

Most reliable to connect

ExpressVPN

Best for streaming & privacy

9.4

View →

NordVPN

Best all-rounder

9.6

View →

Surfshark

Best value

9.3

View →

See the full ranking on best VPN for Ireland, or if the app itself is confusing, our set-up guide. If the VPN connects but something’s leaking, run our leak test.