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Troubleshooter · two questions

VPN blocked on this Wi-Fi? Find the fix

Hotel, campus and office networks often stop VPNs, usually by accident. Tell us where you are and what you see, and get the steps that work for that case.

Find my fixHelp center

Two questions

What's going on?

Pick where you are and what you see. Your answers stay in this page.

1Where are you?
2What happens?

Every fix, by symptom

The same answers the questions give, all in one place.

The Wi-Fi wants you to sign in first

Hotel, airport and café networks hold every connection until you accept their terms on a login page (a captive portal). No VPN can connect before that.

  1. Tap Android's "Sign in to network" notification, or tap the network's name in Wi-Fi settings.
  2. Accept the terms, or enter the room number or code.
  3. Go back to PryVPN and tap Connect.
  4. With Always-on VPN and "Block connections without VPN" on, the page may not appear: turn Always-on off for a moment, sign in, then turn it back on.

Wi-Fi login pages in hotels, airports and cafés · Kill Switch and Always-on VPN

It keeps trying, or the handshake times out

The network blocks UDP, which WireGuard uses to be fast. Many hotel, office and campus networks do.

  1. Leave the protocol on Auto: after about 7 seconds without an answer, PryVPN switches to Stealth and remembers it for this network.
  2. Or choose Stealth yourself in Settings › Protocol. It carries WireGuard inside TLS 1.3 on port 443, like a website (Android 10 or later).
  3. Try another location: some filters block particular server addresses.
  4. If nothing gets through, the network only allows a short list of services. Mobile data may work instead.

Protocol: Auto, UDP or Stealth · Networks that block VPNs: work, school and some countries

PryVPN says the network is inspecting traffic

Some company and university networks, and some antivirus apps, open encrypted connections to look inside. PryVPN checks our certificates and refuses to connect when they've been replaced, so it warns you instead of sending anything.

  1. Try Stealth in Settings › Protocol.
  2. If Stealth is inspected too, use another network, such as mobile data.
  3. If an antivirus app on your phone inspects secure connections, turn that feature off.

Networks that block VPNs: work, school and some countries · Protocol: Auto, UDP or Stealth

Connected, but some sites or apps don't load

Some networks can't carry the largest packets once the VPN wraps them. Small things get through; big pages, photos and videos get stuck.

  1. PryVPN usually notices this and switches to a smaller packet size for that network by itself.
  2. If it keeps happening, open Settings › Advanced › MTU and choose 1280.
  3. Disconnect and connect again.

Connected, but some sites or apps don't load

PryVPN can't start, or another VPN takes over

Android runs one VPN at a time, and a work or university device can be set to forbid VPNs.

  1. Turn off the other app's VPN: ad blockers, firewalls, your work VPN or Samsung's Secure Wi-Fi.
  2. If Always-on VPN is set to another app, change it in Android's VPN settings.
  3. On a managed device, only its administrator can allow VPNs.

Another VPN, a work profile or a blocked device

Where you are makes a difference

Networks have rules

Using a VPN is legal in most countries, but some restrict it, and universities and employers can set rules for their own networks. You're responsible for following the laws and rules that apply to you.

Questions

Blocked VPN questions

Nothing is storedWe don't keep the result. Your address and your answers stay in this browser tab, and no other company is involved.
Why does hotel Wi-Fi block VPNs?

Mostly by accident. Many hotel networks only let web traffic through and cut off UDP, which fast VPN protocols use, and many hold every connection until you sign in on their login page. PryVPN's Stealth mode uses the same port as websites, so it usually gets through.

Why does my VPN work at home but not on this Wi-Fi?

The network is different. Public, office and campus networks often block UDP or known VPN protocols, and some inspect encrypted traffic. The fixes on this page cover each case.

Is it legal to use a VPN on a network that blocks them?

Using a VPN is legal in most countries, but some restrict it, and universities and employers can set rules for their own networks. You're responsible for following the laws and rules that apply to you.

What is Stealth mode?

PryVPN's Stealth mode carries WireGuard inside a TLS 1.3 connection on port 443, the port websites use. It's slower than UDP but gets through most networks that block VPNs. Networks with advanced inspection can still detect it. See how PryVPN unblocks sites.

Is anything sent when I answer the questions?

No. The answers are matched in your browser and aren't sent or kept.

Learn more

Blog

Hotel Wi-Fi blocking your VPN? Here's why, and what works

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What the owner of a café, hotel or airport hotspot can see, how fake hotspots work, and a simple checklist for using public Wi-Fi safely.

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PryVPN won't connect: start here

Find your symptom and follow the matching guide. Most problems come from the network you're on, and most have a quick fix.

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Protocol: Auto, UDP or Stealth

Auto works for almost everyone. Choose Stealth when a network blocks VPNs, and UDP if you always want the fastest option.

Read itHelp center

Networks that block VPNs: work, school and some countries

Some networks block or inspect VPN connections on purpose. Stealth gets through most of them, but not all, and the network's rules still apply.

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A VPN built for difficult networks

Auto switches to Stealth by itself when a network blocks UDP. PryVPN is free, has no activity logs and is in beta on Google Play.

Coming soon toGoogle PlayWe email you a link to confirm your address and the steps to install the beta from Google Play. No spam.