Blog / iran
Using a VPN in Iran: connecting on filtered networks
Why VPNs stop working on Iranian networks, what to try when yours won't connect, and how to avoid fake VPN apps. An honest, practical guide.
More than half of the people who use Berry are in Iran, so we spend a lot of time on one question: why does a VPN connect in one place and fail in another? This guide sums up what we’ve learned, without promises no one can keep.
A note before you start: Iranian law restricts VPNs that aren’t officially authorised. Know the rules and the risks where you are.
Why VPNs stop working in Iran
Iranian networks filter a lot of international traffic, and the filtering keeps changing:
- Known VPN servers get blocked. Once a server’s address is on a block list, it stops working for everyone on that network.
- Each network is different. Mobile operators and home internet providers don’t always block the same things at the same time. A VPN that fails on mobile data may work on Wi-Fi, and vice versa.
- Restrictions tighten and loosen. Around certain events, filtering gets much stricter for hours or days. At times, access to the international internet has been cut almost completely.
That’s why a VPN that worked perfectly last week can suddenly sit on “Connecting…”.
What to try when your VPN won’t connect
- Update the app first. Berry 1.2 was built for networks like these: it looks for servers that can be reached from your own network and joins the fastest, instead of trying a fixed list. It connects on many networks where older versions failed. Update from Google Play or our download page.
- Leave the location on Auto so the app can search every country.
- Give it time. On a heavily filtered network, the app has to test more servers before one answers. Let it finish.
- Switch between mobile data and Wi-Fi. Different networks, different blocks. Our guide on mobile data vs Wi-Fi explains why.
- Try again later. Berry refreshes its server list every 30 minutes, so new servers appear through the day.
There’s a longer checklist in our guide to a VPN that won’t connect.
When nothing will connect
Be honest with yourself about what a VPN can do. If the country is cut off from the international internet, no VPN, free or paid, can get through, because there’s no route to any server abroad. You’ll usually notice that foreign websites fail even without a VPN. When access comes back, update your app before you try again.
Watch out for fake VPN apps
When VPNs are hard to find, fake ones spread: modified APKs in messaging channels, “unlocked premium” versions and copycat apps. They can steal passwords or show ads everywhere. Install Berry only from Google Play or the download page on berryvpn.app, never from a file someone forwarded to you. Our guide to downloading a VPN safely has more tips.
Keep your expectations realistic
A VPN encrypts the connection between your phone and the VPN server, and hides your IP address from the sites you visit. It doesn’t make you anonymous, and it can’t protect you if your phone itself is compromised. Use apps you trust, keep them updated, and be careful about what you share.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my VPN work one day and stop the next in Iran?
Filtering on Iranian networks changes often, sometimes daily, and can differ between mobile operators and home internet providers. A server that worked yesterday may be blocked today, which is why apps that search for working servers each time do better than fixed lists.
Does any VPN work during a full internet shutdown?
No. When the connection to the international internet is cut, there is nothing for a VPN to connect to. Domestic services may still work, but VPNs, which connect to servers abroad, cannot.
Is using a VPN legal in Iran?
Iranian law restricts VPNs that are not officially authorised. Many people use them anyway, but you should know the rules and the risks where you are. We can't give legal advice.