In this guide, we’ve listed the top solutions to fix the most common VPN issues that you may encounter on your iPhone or iPad.
A VPN app on your device may be stuck on the “connecting” screen or websites may not load when connected to your favorite VPN.
Note: We’ve used screenshots from Proton VPN to illustrate this post. This troubleshooting guide provides general tips that will work regardless of the VPN app used. For guidance, some of the most popular VPN services out there include NordVPN, Express VPN, Surfshark, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, IPVanish, PrivateVPN, Hide.me, TunnelBear, AtlasVPN, ZoogVPN, Hoxx, Avira Phantom VPN, Speedify, Hotspot Shield, and others.
1. Make sure Wi-Fi or cellular data is working
A VPN cannot connect to servers and work unless your device has internet connectivity via Wi-Fi or cellular data.
To check if your iPhone has an active internet connection, open Safari and visit any website you like. If it loads, proceed to the next tip. Otherwise, try these solutions to establish a working Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity on your iPhone.
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2. Disconnect and reconnect your VPN app
In the VPN app on your iPhone, tap the Disconnect button or similar to stop the service, then wait a few seconds before reconnecting.
Important: A VPN label is displayed in the iOS status bar and the Control Center when connected to a VPN service. Sometimes the label appears even if your VPN app is stuck on the “Loading connection info…” or “Connecting…” screen and not actually working. Be patient and don’t exit the VPN app until it’s established a working connection.
Related: 4 free ways to visit a blocked or geo-restricted website on iPhone and Mac
3. Force quit the VPN app and reopen it
Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen or double-press the Home button to open the built-in app switcher, then swipe up the VPN app thumbnail to force-quit the app. With that done, wait 10 seconds before reopening the VPN app.
4. Toggle Airplane Mode
Enable Airplane Mode in the Control Center or the Settings app. Doing so will turn off all wireless radios in your iPhone. Now turn off Airplane Mode to reestablish network connections. Re-open the VPN app and it should work now.
5. Restart your iPhone
If your iPhone continues to exhibit VPN issues, your next bet is powering your iPhone off and back on. Restarting often fixes many temporary problems.
6. Restart your Wi-Fi router
After restarting your iPhone, do the same with your Wi-Fi router. Just unplug it from power, then wait about 30 seconds before turning it back on.
7. Make sure you have sufficient VPN allowance
Many paid VPN plan are not metered, but some like TunnelBear include a limited amount of data in the free tier. You may get anywhere between from 500 MB to a few gigabytes of data. Once you’ve used up your VPN’s monthly data allowance, the service will stop working.
If you’re on a free VPN, open the app’s accounts section and check if there’s an alert about exceeding your limit. If so, consider upgrading to a paid plan or switch to another free VPN app.
8. Delete the VPN profile and re-add it
This is an important tip that has worked for me many times.
- Open the Settings app and go to General > VPN & Device Management > VPN.
- Tap the info button ⓘ next to the added VPN profile.
- Tap Delete VPN and confirm.
- Now, open the VPN app and tap its connect button. iOS will pop up an alert asking for permission to add the VPN profile to your device. Tap Allow and authorize with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode (if you don’t see the prompt, delete and reinstall the VPN app).
The VPN app should now connect without issues.
9. Check the VPN server congestion
Services like Proton VPN provide a list of servers maintained in every country, with the congestion percentage displayed for each service. If a VPN server is congested 90 percent or more, try switching to a less congested one that will connect quicker and offer faster data speeds.
10. Pick a different country or VPN server
If all VPN servers in a particular country happen to be overloaded or experiencing a temporary downtime, pick a server from another country.
11. Change the VPN protocol
A VPN protocol is responsible for routing internet traffic from your iPhone to servers. Many VPN apps support multiple protocols and select the best one automatically. Some may even dynamically switch between protocols as network conditions and server load change to ensure a stable, secure connection.
If you cannot connect to VPN, open in-app settings in the VPN app you’re using, hit the protocol button and choose a different protocol. Now try connecting to the VPN to check if it works. No luck? In that case, try the remaining supported protocols one by one. If all of them fail, switch back to the default protocol and proceed with the remaining troubleshooting tips solutions right ahead.
12. Turn off the second VPN on your iPhone or Wi-Fi router
Some folks may simultaneously use more than one VPN service for extra protection. You may also be running a VPN on your iPhone and another VPN directly on your home Wi-Fi router. In that case, switch off the router VPN and only use a VPN service on your iPhone.
13. Update the VPN app
Touch and hold the App Store icon on the Home Screen or in the App Library and choose Updates from the shortcuts menu. Next, pull down the Updates screen to refresh it. If there’s a pending update available for your VPN app, install it manually from here.
14. Uninstall and reinstall the VPN app
In rare circumstances, the only way forward is by deleting the VPN app and re-installing it. Make sure you do that before proceeding with the remaining solutions.
15. Turn off private Wi-Fi addresses
A few people have found luck by disabling the Private Wi-Fi Address feature, which rotates Wi-Fi addresses periodically to increase privacy. Venture into Settings > Wi-Fi and tap the info button ⓘ next to the name of the connected Wi-Fi network. On the next screen, tap Private Wi-Fi Address and select Off.
Does the VPN now work? If not, restart your iPhone and try again. Should the problem persist, set Private Wi-Fi Address back to Fixed or Rotating and try the remaining solutions.
16. Switch off Connect On Demand or Always-on VPN
Open the VPN app and see if you can find an option labeled Always-on VPN or Connect On Demand. If it’s not present, go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > VPN and tap the info button ⓘ next to a VPN profile, then turn off Connect On Demand.
Related: How to use the on-demand VPN feature on your iPhone or iPad
17. Change DNS inside the VPN app
Some VPN apps may give you the option to change DNS servers. For instance, you can replace the existing DNS address with that of Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), Google (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4), etc.
18. Some websites and services don’t work via VPNs
Specific websites, apps, and services don’t play nice with some VPNs. As a rule of thumb, you’re recommended to turn off your VPN before updating your iPhone. The same applies when an app on your iPhone won’t work when the VPN is active.
19. Upgrade to a reputable VPN
If using a free VPN service, evaluate your needs. Is this something you envision using frequently? If so, consider purchasing a subscription. Most VPNs cost $3 to $6 per month if you commit to at least 12 months of service. NordVPN is among the best VPNs, and it’s available across many popular devices including Apple TV. Some VPNs offer a money-back guarantee in case you decided you don’t like their service within 30 days or so.
20. Has a VPN stopped working in your country?
Lack of profits, regulations, or governmental pressure may push any VPN service out of a country. If your favorite VPN has pulled out of your country, your only option is to switch to a different VPN service.
21. Try another VPN app
If none of the tips above heave helped you fix the issue and the VPN still isn’t working, it may be high time to explore other options. Searching for “VPN” or on the App Store will yield relevant matches. Check out reviews and read about people’s experiences with various VPNs in online forums such as Reddit and Quora before settling on one.
Related: The best VPNs for iPhone, iPad, and Mac
Almost all VPN services are available across multiple devices. If the VPN app you’ve invested in has stopped working on your iPhone, check if it still works on other devices, like your computer. If so, something about your iPhone might be preventing the VPN from working; in that case, proceed with the last tip to reset the network settings on your iPhone.
22. Reset network settings
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset and pick Reset Network Settings from the list. Try connecting in your favorite VPN app and it should work now. Resetting network settings will forget all your Wi-Fi networks, meaning you’ll need to retype passwords again. Still no dice? It may be time to reset all settings on your iPhone.
23. Contact VPN support
If your favorite VPN service won’t work no matter what you try, contact customer support and ask for assistance. If you use a paid VPN, request a refund before switching to a different VPN provider. You should be able to reach out to your VPN provider using options at the bottom of in-app settings app or the official website.
Please let us know which solutions did the trick for you. If you have other valuable tips, share them in the comments section down below.
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