VPN not connecting? Eight checks, in the right order
Written by the b4vpn team ·
VPN will not connect and you cannot tell why? Work through these checks in order. Each one rules something out, and most problems turn up in the first few.
The checks, in order
1. Does the internet work without the VPN?
Turn the VPN off and open a website. If that fails, the problem is your connection and the VPN is not the place to look.
2. Is your subscription active, with traffic left?
Check the end date and remaining traffic in your account. Running out of either is one of the commonest reasons a connection stops.
3. Are the details exactly right?
One missing character is enough. Copy the config again in full, with no added spaces or line breaks. Type usernames and passwords carefully, minding upper and lower case.
4. Are your device’s date and time correct?
This one is easy to miss. Some protocols are sensitive to the clock, V2Ray configs in particular. Set date and time to automatic.
5. Is the app up to date?
Old versions may not understand newer configs. Get the latest from the download page.
6. Try another network
Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data, or the other way round. If it connects on one, your account is fine and the block is on the other network. This is the most useful test on this list.
7. Try another location
If your plan has several locations, pick a different one. Sometimes one route has a problem and the rest are fine.
8. Is something else in the way?
Close any other VPN completely, since two at once interfere with each other. Check your firewall and antivirus too.
Connected, but no internet
If the app says connected but nothing loads, the cause is usually DNS or routing.
- Disconnect and connect again.
- Turn airplane mode on and off.
- Try another location.
- In apps such as v2rayNG or V2Box, run the latency test to see whether the server answers at all.
Connects, then drops
- Turn off battery optimisation for the app. Android may be closing it in the background.
- Some networks close idle connections. If it keeps happening, try another method.
- If it drops every time the network changes, update the app.
When to contact support
If you have done all of this and it still will not connect, contact support with these four things. They usually save a round of questions:
- Your device and operating system
- The protocol and app you are using
- The provider or network you are on
- The error text, or a screenshot
Never send your password or config to anyone. Support does not need them.
Step-by-step instructions for each device are in the guide centre.