A VPN that refuses to connect is frustrating, but the cause is almost always one of a handful of common issues. Work through these fixes in order.

Troubleshooting Steps

  1. Check your internet connection. The VPN needs a working base connection. Open a browser and confirm you can reach any website before blaming the VPN.
  2. Try a different server. The server you selected may be overloaded or temporarily down. Switch to another server in the same country or region.
  3. Switch VPN protocols. Try WireGuard instead of OpenVPN, or switch from UDP to TCP if your VPN allows it. Firewalls sometimes block UDP traffic.
  4. Restart the VPN app. Close the app completely, wait 10 seconds, and reopen it.
  5. Reboot your device. Clears lingering network state that can prevent a clean VPN handshake.
  6. Check firewall and antivirus. Your firewall or security software may be blocking the VPN client. Temporarily disable it to test, then add a firewall exception if that is the cause.
  7. Re-enter credentials. A recently changed password or expired subscription will cause authentication failures.
  8. Reinstall the VPN app. Corrupted app data can prevent connections. Uninstall, download the latest version from the official site, and reinstall.

VPN Stuck on "Connecting"

If the app shows "Connecting" indefinitely, the issue is usually a firewall blocking the VPN port, a server that is unresponsive, or a DNS resolution failure. Try TCP mode (port 443) which is rarely blocked, then try different servers.

VPN Works at Home but Not at Work/Hotel

Corporate networks and hotels sometimes block VPN traffic. Use OpenVPN TCP on port 443 to disguise VPN traffic as HTTPS, which is almost never blocked.

People Also Ask

How to fix VPN stuck on connecting?
Switch to a different server, change the protocol to TCP, and disable any firewall rules blocking the VPN app. If still stuck, reinstall the VPN client.

Related: What is a VPN? | OpenVPN | VPN Leak Test