Why does my VPN say connected but I have no internet on Android?
Updated
Usually because something between your phone and the VPN server drops the traffic after the app reports "connected". The most common causes are an unfinished Wi-Fi login page, a Private DNS setting that clashes with the VPN, a network that blocks the protocol (often WireGuard over UDP), Data Saver restrictions, or a second VPN app. Each takes a minute to check.
The key icon is in the status bar, the app says "Connected", and nothing loads. It's one of the most common VPN problems, and it is rarely the server being down. Work through the fixes below in order; most people are done by step 3.
Quick checklist
| Symptom | Most likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing loads on hotel, airport or café Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi login page not finished | Step 1 |
| Some apps work, browsers don't | Private DNS clash | Step 2 |
| Works on mobile data, not on one Wi-Fi | That network blocks the VPN protocol | Step 3 |
| Stops working when the screen is off | Battery or Data Saver restrictions | Step 5 |
| Started after installing another VPN or ad blocker | Two VPNs fighting | Step 6 |
1. Finish the Wi-Fi login page first
Guest Wi-Fi often asks you to accept terms on a login page (a "captive portal"). Until you do, the network only lets that page through, and the VPN can't reach its server.
Turn the VPN off, open http://neverssl.com in your browser, accept the terms on the page that appears, then turn the VPN back on. If you use Android's Block connections without VPN, switch it off for this step; it blocks the login page too.
2. Set Private DNS to Automatic
Android's Private DNS sends your DNS lookups to a provider you choose. Some providers and networks don't work well with a VPN, so names stop resolving even though the tunnel is up.
Go to Settings → Network & internet → Private DNS and choose Automatic (or Off). Reconnect the VPN and try again.
3. Switch to a protocol that looks like HTTPS
WireGuard runs over UDP. Many hotel, office and campus networks block or throttle UDP, or recognise the WireGuard handshake and drop it. Depending on the app, that shows up as a VPN that "connects" and then passes nothing.
Switch to a protocol that runs over TCP port 443 and looks like normal HTTPS, such as VLESS with Reality, and reconnect. Our guide on VPNs blocked on hotel and office Wi-Fi explains why this works.
4. Try another location
A single server can be overloaded or unreachable from your network for a while. Pick a different location, ideally one close to you, and reconnect. If every location fails, the problem is on your side of the connection, not the servers.
5. Lift battery and data restrictions
Android may cut a VPN's background data to save battery or mobile data:
- Settings → Apps → your VPN → Mobile data & Wi-Fi: turn on Unrestricted data usage and Background data.
- Settings → Apps → your VPN → App battery usage: choose Unrestricted.
- If Data Saver is on (Settings → Network & internet → Data Saver), add the VPN to the apps allowed unrestricted data.
6. Make sure only one VPN is active
Android runs one VPN at a time. Ad blockers, firewalls and "data savers" are often VPNs too. If another one is set to Always-on, it can take the slot back.
Open Settings → Network & internet → VPN, and turn off Always-on for every VPN except the one you use. Uninstall apps you no longer need.
7. Check the date and time
Encrypted handshakes fail if your phone's clock is far off. Settings → System → Date & time → turn on Set time automatically.
8. Reset the network connection
Toggle Airplane mode on and off, or forget and rejoin the Wi-Fi network. This gets a fresh address from the router and clears most stuck sessions. Then reconnect the VPN.
9. Still stuck? Compare networks
Turn Wi-Fi off and try mobile data. If the VPN works on mobile data, the Wi-Fi network is the cause (steps 1 and 3). If it fails everywhere, update the app, restart the phone, and contact the VPN's support with the time it happened and the network you were on.
How SimpleV avoids "connected but no internet"
SimpleV VPN for Android doesn't report "connected" until the server has actually answered:
- Auto mode waits for a WireGuard handshake from the server. If none arrives within a few seconds, it switches to VLESS with Reality on TCP 443, which gets through most restrictive Wi-Fi.
- You can also pin one protocol in the settings.
- Free: 500 MB every day, no account. Premium: unlimited data, 33 locations in 20 countries, up to 5 devices.
FAQ
Why does my VPN work on mobile data but not on Wi-Fi?
The Wi-Fi network is blocking or filtering VPN traffic, or you haven't finished its login page. Mobile carriers rarely block VPNs. Try a protocol that looks like HTTPS on port 443.
Can Private DNS stop a VPN from working?
Yes. A custom Private DNS provider can clash with the VPN's own DNS, so pages fail to load while the tunnel is connected. Set Private DNS to Automatic.
Does "Block connections without VPN" cause no internet?
Only when the VPN can't connect: then Android blocks everything by design. It also blocks Wi-Fi login pages, so switch it off briefly to sign in to hotel or airport Wi-Fi.
Is it the VPN server that's down?
Rarely. If changing locations doesn't help and mobile data works, the cause is the local network. If nothing works anywhere, update the app and contact support.
Will reinstalling the VPN app help?
Sometimes, if the VPN permission or configuration got stuck. Try the steps above first; they fix the cause rather than resetting the app.