Blog / how-to
VPN won't connect? 10 fixes that work on Android
Your VPN is stuck on connecting or keeps failing? Go through these fixes in order, from the two-second ones to the ones that solve stubborn networks.
A VPN that sits on “Connecting…” forever is one of the most common problems people ask us about. The good news: most of the time the fix takes less than a minute. Go through these steps in order and stop when it works.
1. Check that the internet works without the VPN
Turn the VPN off and open a website. If nothing loads, the problem is your connection, not the VPN. Toggle airplane mode on and off, or restart your router.
2. Update the app
This fixes more problems than anything else on this list. Networks change how they treat VPN traffic all the time, and apps change with them. An old version may simply not know how to get through any more.
In Berry, version 1.2 changed how connecting works: instead of trying a fixed list, Berry now looks for servers that can actually be reached from your own network and joins the fastest of them. That’s why it connects on many networks where older versions failed. Update from Google Play, or download the latest version from our website if Play isn’t available to you.
3. Give it a minute
On a network that blocks a lot, finding a working server takes longer, because the app has to test more of them. If the app is still searching, let it finish before you tap again. Cancelling and retrying every few seconds starts the search over.
4. Leave the location on Auto
If you picked a specific country, that country’s servers may all be unreachable from your network right now. Auto lets the app choose from every country, which gives it the best chance. Once you’re connected, you can try a specific country again.
5. Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data
Your mobile operator and your Wi-Fi provider are different networks with different rules. If one fails, try the other. We wrote a whole guide on why a VPN works on mobile data but not on Wi-Fi, and the other way round.
6. Turn off other VPNs, proxies and “boosters”
Only one VPN can run on Android at a time. Other VPN apps, ad blockers that use a VPN slot, “internet booster” apps and some antivirus apps can block the connection or take over the VPN slot. Close them, or check Settings → Network & internet → VPN and make sure nothing else is set as always on.
7. Check the date and time
A phone with the wrong date or time can fail secure connections of every kind. Go to Settings → System → Date & time and turn on automatic time.
8. Allow the VPN permission again
If you tapped “Cancel” on Android’s VPN request at some point, or another app took the VPN slot, the permission may need to be granted again. Disconnect, close the app, open it and connect: when Android asks, tap OK.
9. Turn off battery and data savers for the app
Aggressive battery savers can stop the app while it’s still connecting. Set the VPN app’s battery use to Unrestricted and allow it to use background data. Our guide on a VPN that keeps disconnecting shows where these settings are.
10. Try again a little later
Server lists change through the day. Berry refreshes its list every 30 minutes, so a network where nothing worked at 9:00 may have working servers at 9:30. And during a full internet shutdown, when a whole country is cut off from the outside world, no VPN can get through: that’s not something an app can fix.
Still stuck?
Write to us at support@berryvpn.app with your phone model, your country and whether you’re on Wi-Fi or mobile data. We read every message, and these reports help us make the next version connect on more networks.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my VPN connect on Wi-Fi but not on mobile data?
Each network decides what traffic it lets through. A mobile operator may block or slow connections that a home Wi-Fi network allows, or the other way round. Switching networks is one of the fastest ways to get connected.
Does reinstalling the VPN app help?
Rarely. Updating to the latest version helps far more often. In Berry, reinstalling on the same phone keeps your account and any Premium pass.
Is there a VPN that works on every network?
No. Any honest VPN will tell you that some networks block too much for anything to get through, for example during a full internet shutdown. A good app tries several routes and tells you when it can't find one.