VPN not connecting?
Let's sort it out in a couple of minutes
If your VPN won't connect, sits on "Connecting…" for a long time, or shows "couldn't connect over any protocol" — the cause is almost always simple. Below is a quick checklist and a breakdown of each error.
Quick checklist: 6 steps
One of these steps solves it 9 times out of 10. Go through them in order — it takes a minute.
Check the internet without VPN. Turn off the VPN and open any website. If nothing loads even without VPN, the problem is your network, not the VPN.
Check your subscription. Sign in to your dashboard and check that your subscription or trial hasn't expired. Once a subscription expires, the key stops connecting (we warn you about this in advance).
Update the app. Install the latest version of HamikVPN or AmneziaVPN — older versions may not get past new blocks.
Switch server and network. Choose a different region in the app. Try mobile data instead of Wi-Fi — sometimes a specific provider cuts the connection.
Regenerate your key. In your dashboard, delete the old device, add a new one, and import a fresh .conf. The old key may have been revoked.
Check the date and time. Turn on automatic date and time. A time mismatch breaks the encrypted handshake — the VPN won't connect.
Error-by-error breakdown
⚠"Couldn't connect over any protocol"
What it means
The app tried every protocol in your key, but none of them could establish a connection. This isn't an app malfunction — something is specifically blocking the handshake.
What to do
- Check your subscription — if it's unpaid, the key gets revoked and the connection fails on every protocol.
- Regenerate your key in the dashboard and import it again — the old one may have been revoked.
- Switch networks: mobile data ↔ Wi-Fi. Often it's one specific provider blocking it.
- Check the date and time — set them automatically.
- On Android, use our HamikVPN app — it connects over AmneziaWG with obfuscation, which is harder to block.
⚠"Servers unavailable" or endless "Connecting…"
Cause
The server is briefly overloaded or unreachable, or your provider is blocking its IP.
What to do
- Switch region/server in the app and reconnect.
- Wait 1–2 minutes and try again.
- Check the status on our channel @HamikVPN — we post there about major outages.
- Make sure your subscription is active.
⚠VPN connects, but there's no internet
Cause
This is usually MTU or DNS: the tunnel comes up, but packets don't get through.
What to do
- Reconnect and restart your device.
- Regenerate your key in the dashboard and import it again.
- Use the HamikVPN app — its MTU value is already tuned for obfuscation, so this issue almost never comes up.
⚠VPN keeps disconnecting on its own
Cause
Switching networks (Wi-Fi ↔ mobile data), sleep mode, or aggressive battery saving unloads the app.
What to do
- Android: turn off battery optimization for the app (Settings → Battery → Unrestricted).
- Enable "Always-on VPN" in your system network settings.
- The HamikVPN app restores the tunnel on its own within 20–45 seconds after a network switch — give it a couple of seconds.
⚠VPN works, but it's very slow
Cause
A distant or overloaded server, or a speed limit set by your provider.
What to do
- Pick the closest region — the closer the server, the lower the latency.
- Check your baseline speed without VPN to see the ceiling of your connection.
- Try another server: one may be more loaded than the rest.
Still stuck? Contact us
If the checklist didn't help, message support and we'll look into your case. Include your platform (Android / Windows / iPhone), the error text, and what you've already tried.