IPVanish not connecting in 2021

IPVanish not connecting? As with almost any VPN, it isn’t perfect, and every now and then, users run into connectivity issues.

If your IPVanish can’t connect, don’t worry. This article will run through why you might be struggling to connect and how to work around the problem in 2021.

Besides, don’t forget that the annual IPVanish plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee. After it, you can choose another VPN service that doesn’t have connection problems.

7 reasons why you can’t connect to IPVanish

This service is popular and well-thought-of in VPN circles, so there are few chronic connection issues to worry about. Still, customers do sometimes struggle to get online.

The most common issue is basic internet connection problems. Much of the time, when IPVanish won’t connect, the VPN itself isn’t at fault. Instead, the user’s web connection is to blame. Now here’s what you can do:

1. So try restarting your router and disconnecting your device a couple of times.
2. Then test the connection with IPVanish turned off.
3. If everything works, it means the problem is somewhere else. Read on to learn about other options.

Now here are the other 6 most common issues which come up when you can’t connect to IPVanish:

1. Expired IPVanish subscription. As funny as it might seem, this problem is not unheard of. If you have set up an automatic payment, you can skip this point. Otherwise, check out the step-by-step guide below.
2. IPVanish protocol problems. If it’s not the server or your web connection, the fault could lie in the protocol you are using to create the IPVanish VPN tunnel. See below for a quick guide to changing protocols.
3. User Account Control (UAC) settings. UAC can interfere with your VPN connection. Therefore, it’s best to turn it off completely.
4. IPVanish server problems. On its website, IPVanish admits that some customers encounter glitchy servers and may need to try alternative locations to find the best connection. This is an issue of almost all VPNs and definitely not specific to IPVanish.
5. TAP drivers. If you have installed a VPN other than IPVanish, the chances are that their TAP drivers are conflicting. Your best bet is deleting the unused drivers and reinstalling IPVanish TAP drivers.
6. DNS problems. DNS issues can make websites totally inaccessible. In this case, you may need to use IPVanish to set up 3rd party DNS.

What to do when IPVanish won’t connect

1. Check if your IPVanish subscription hasn’t expired

If you don’t know whether your IPVanish has expired, follow these steps:

1. Go to the IPVanish website and log in to your account.
2. Check if your subscription is still active.
3. If not, renew it for the desired term.

2. How to change protocols on IPVanish

Sometimes, protocols are the prime reason for IPVanish not connecting. Thankfully, it’s relatively easy to switch between protocols via the IPVanish client. Here’s how it’s done for Windows users:

1. Open the IPVanish client and enter your login details.
2. Click “Settings” under the cogwheel icon on the left.
3. Choose the tab “Connection.“
4. This menu will show a drop-down list of protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPSec, and others. The protocol selection depends on your device and OS. Click on the toggle and scroll down the list to change your current selection.

3. Change your computer’s User Account Control settings

User Account Control (UAC) is a Windows feature that regularly interrupts VPN connectivity and is easy to turn off. Here’s how to do that on Windows 10:

1. Click “Start” and type “Control Panel” to access this app.
2. In the “Control Panel” search field at the top right corner, type “UAC” and click the result.
3. On the “User Account Control Settings” screen, choose the option to “Never notify” and press OK.
4. Restart Windows and try to log onto IPVanish.

4. How to ping an IPVanish server

Another option is to find out whether your computer can communicate with IPVanish servers. If not, the problem probably lies with your connection. Here’s how to do so:

1. Connect to your account on the IPVanish website.
2. Select Server List from the top menu.
3. Choose a server and copy its Address.
4. Head to the Windows Start Menu.
5. Type “Command Prompt” and open it.
6. At the prompt, type “ping” followed by the address of the IPVanish server you’d like to connect to, i.e., “ping syd-a09.ipvanish.com” and hit Enter.
7. If you see “Request timed out,” that means you can’t connect to this server.

5. How to install a TAP device

It’s pretty common to experience TAP driver issues that arise because of software conflicts or driver signing issues. One of the more popular cases is when you install multiple VPN tools, making multiple TAP driver installations. The quickest solution is this:

1. Open the IPVanish client and enter your login details.
2. Click “Settings” under the cogwheel icon on the left.
3. Choose the tab “Connection.“
4. At the bottom, you’ll find the “Install/Repair OpenVPN Driver” button. Click it.
5. After the message about successful installation, restart the IPVanish client and try again.

If this didn’t help or IPVanish unable to reinstall the TAP drivers on its own, just follow our advice on manually reinstalling the TAP device.

6. Change the DNS configuration

If nothing helped until now, the problem might be in your DNS configuration. One of the options is called DNS flushing. It forces your device to lookup IP addresses for each website, removing bad entries.

Learn how to flush DNS cache on various devices in our dedicated article.

The other option is changing your DNS server. If you haven’t done this before, it will be better to contact IPVanish support and ask for help.

Final thoughts

If you try a few servers and can’t log on, or none of the protocols work, double-check your time and date settings. Finally, you can try turning your router on and off.

If none of that works, don’t give up hope. This provider has an excellent reputation for customer support (more in our IPVanish review), and you can get in touch via their 24/7 live chat.

Above all, don’t panic if IPVanish won’t connect. In 99% of cases, there’s a simple technical fix that requires a few mouse clicks to execute – allowing everyone to enjoy privacy and security without stressing about how to get online.

Alternative VPN services

If your patience ran out and you’d rather try your luck with a different service, here are a few well-established VPN recommendations:

NordVPN

NordVPN starts at $3.30/month and has a 30-day money-back guarantee. It works perfectly with streaming services like Netflix, has a huge 5500 server infrastructure, and is ridiculously fast with its proprietary WireGuard implementation.

Plus, it has dedicated servers for torrenting or getting around online censorship. Furthermore, privacy is guaranteed with its independently-audited no-logs policy. You can protect up to six devices with NordVPNs top-notch security.

Try NordVPN

Surfshark

If you want to secure as many devices as possible, Surfshark is the way to go. You can connect an unlimited number of devices and gain access to 3200 servers in 65 countries.

Plus, it has the WireGuard tunneling protocol, a kill switch, and a malware blocker. Additionally, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee and a strong no-logs policy. All for only $2.49/month.

Get Surfshark

VyprVPN

For the most bang for your buck, check out VyprVPN. For merely $1.67/month, you can secure yourself with a kill switch, the proprietary Chameleon protocol, or try out WireGuard for ridiculous speeds.

With 700 servers in 70 countries, you’ll be safe from any online censorship and geo-restrictions. Additionally, VyprVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee and an independently-audited no-logs policy.

Get VyprVPN

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FAQ

Why is IPVanish not connecting on Fire Stick?

First, make sure that you are using at least a Second Generation Fire Stick. IPVanish or any other VPN does not support first Generation Fire Sticks.

Secondly, check your network connection. It’s recommended to have the connected device in the same room as your router.

Finally, if your network is working fine, clear the IPVanish cache and restart your Fire Stick device.

Why can't IPVanish connect to a server?

First off, ensure that your internet is working properly with the VPN disconnected. Then, try connecting to a few different server locations. If that doesn’t work, try switching to a different tunneling protocol. If the issue persists, change your DNS server configuration. As a last resort, send your IPVanish diagnostics file to their support team.

How do I reset my IPVanish password?

Visit the official IPVanish website, click “Forgot password” at the bottom of the account page. You’ll be taken to the password reset page. Enter the email address associated with your account and click the “Submit” button. You’ll receive an email with further instructions.