IPVanish Not Connecting? Let‘s Fix That

Is your IPVanish VPN giving you headaches by failing to connect? I hear you. Few things are more frustrating than when your VPN stops working right in the middle of a streaming session or important browse session.

Not to worry! In this guide, I‘ll show you the best ways to get your IPVanish VPN up and running again quickly. With the right troubleshooting steps, you can get your secure connection back fast.

Let‘s start at the beginning – what is IPVanish and why are VPNs useful in the first place?

A Quick IPVanish VPN Refresher

For those new to VPNs, IPVanish is one of the most widely-used virtual private network (VPN) services available today. VPNs allow you to browse the internet privately by encrypting your traffic and hiding your IP address.

IPVanish offers excellent speeds, allowing you to stream, download, and browse without buffering or lag. It uses industry-leading 256-bit AES encryption to keep your activity safe from prying eyes. With servers in over 75 worldwide locations, you can access restricted content from anywhere.

VPNs protect your privacy in several key ways:

• Encrypting connections – Secure VPN tunnels prevent hackers from spying on your activity.

• Changing IP addresses – Mask your physical location and access region-restricted content.

• Preventing tracking – Stop advertisers and websites from collecting data about your browsing habits.

• Securing public WiFi – Safely use open hotspots without exposing your data.

• Bypassing censorship – VPNs allow users in restrictive countries to access the open internet.

But to enjoy these benefits, you need a smooth, reliable connection. Let‘s look at what causes IPVanish problems and how to troubleshoot them.

Why Does IPVanish Keep Disconnecting or Not Connecting?

Before we fix connectivity issues, it helps to understand what‘s behind them. Here are the most common reasons your IPVanish VPN may fail:

Internet problems – A temperamental internet connection makes it impossible for IPVanish to maintain your encrypted tunnel. Always check your network first when troubleshooting.

App conflicts – IPVanish app crashes, freezes, and software bugs are a prime suspect when connections fail. Resetting the app often helps.

Server congestion – During peak evening hours, overloaded IPVanish servers sometimes reject new connections. Switching servers usually fixes this.

Protocol blocking – Some restrictive networks deliberately block VPN protocols like OpenVPN. Changing protocols may allow a connection.

Incorrect settings – Simple errors like using the wrong VPN protocol or entering your password incorrectly can prevent connections.

Outdated software – Make sure to keep your IPVanish app, device OS, and device drivers fully updated to avoid issues.

VPN detection – IPVanish scrambles traffic to avoid deep packet inspection that identifies VPN usage, but networks may still block its connections.

By understanding what typically causes problems, we can better troubleshoot them. Now let‘s walk through solutions to get you reconnected.

Step 1 – Check Your Network Connection

Before we blame IPVanish, let‘s verify your internet connection is actually working properly. Without a solid network link, your VPN can‘t connect.

On a Fire TV Stick:

1. From the Home screen, select the Settings icon.
2. Choose Network.
3. View your Connection Status.

If you see Connection Failed or anything other than Connected, you have a network issue to resolve before IPVanish will work.

Try resetting your modem and router to restore connectivity. If you consistently struggle with internet stability, contact your ISP to troubleshoot or upgrade your service. Rock-solid internet is a must for smooth VPN performance.

Step 2 – Reset the IPVanish App

Once you‘ve confirmed your network is running properly, now we can dig into the IPVanish app itself.

Resetting the app often resolves random glitches or errors preventing connectivity. Follow these two easy steps:

Force Stop the App

1. Go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications.
2. Select IPVanish.
3. Choose Force Stop.

Forcing the app to fully close out allows it to start fresh. This clears any frozen processes or background crashes.

Clear Cache and Data

1. Within Manage Installed Applications, select IPVanish.
2. Choose Clear Cache followed by Clear Data.

Wiping the cache removes stuck loading files or errors. Clearing data fully resets the app to factory defaults. You‘ll need to re-enter your IPVanish credentials.

After resetting the IPVanish app, try connecting again. In many cases, this breathe of fresh air is all your VPN needs to sync up.

Step 3 – Switch IPVanish Servers

Did resetting the app not work? Let‘s try hopping to a different IPVanish server. With over 1,600 servers in 75+ countries, you have plenty of options.

Changing servers avoids congestion and isolates any problems to certain locations. To switch in the IPVanish app:

1. Tap on Server.
2. Select a new city or country from the list.

I recommend testing 3-4 different server locations to identify any glitchy servers. Jumping between continents helps determine if the issues are localized.

Don‘t forget to also test different protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2. Some locations may restrict certain protocols. Mix it up!

Step 4 – Modify Connection Settings

For persistent connection difficulties, take a close look at your VPN settings. Simple changes here often get IPVanish back online.

Account login – Double check your username and password if IPVanish asks you to sign in repeatedly. Typos happen!

VPN port – Change from the default port to something like TCP 443 that avoids firewalls.

Encryption level – Try toggling your encryption between AES-128 and AES-256 to improve stability.

VPN protocol – Switch back and forth between protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2 if one isn‘t working.

Scramble – Enable scramble to further anonymize your traffic and avoid VPN blocking.

Don‘t be afraid to experiment with different configurations – your settings may need a tweak to work with your ISP or network.

Step 5 – Contact Customer Support

If you‘re still encountering connection issues after trying these steps, it‘s time to bring in the big guns – IPVanish Customer Support.

IPVanish offers 24/7 live chat and email support. Their reps can investigate stubborn connectivity problems and suggest advanced troubleshooting you may not have tried:

• Request a protocol or port change on their end to avoid restrictions
• Have them whitelist your IP address if your ISP blocks IPVanish
• Check whether your account or subscription is active
• Adjust account security settings if you suspect unauthorized access

IPVanish customer support also monitors server loads in real time. They can instantly switch your connection to a less congested server if needed. Don‘t hesitate to lean on their expertise to get your VPN access back online.

Why Does My IPVanish Keep Disconnecting?

Frequent disconnections can be even more frustrating than failures to connect initially. But similar culprits are often to blame:

• Server congestion – During peak hours, busy servers bump existing users. Ask support to switch your server.

• Protocol blocking – Switching protocols sometimes avoids restrictions from your ISP.

• VPN detection – Deep packet inspection spots VPN traffic. Enable IPVanish scramble mode.

• Firewall conflicts – Ensure IPVanish is allowed in your network firewall settings.

• Weak signal – A poor WiFi connection causes more drops. Plug into Ethernet if possible.

• Outdated apps – Running outdated VPN apps leads to more disconnects as compatibility suffers.

• ISP throttling – Some ISPs deliberately throttle VPN traffic, increasing disconnects.

Methodically testing different factors will help narrow down what exactly is disrupting your IPVanish connectivity. Patience pays off.

Preventing Future Connection Problems

Once you get your VPN working again, take steps to avoid recurring issues:

• Use Ethernet for reliable connectivity when possible.

• Keep your device OS, IPVanish app, and VPN drivers fully updated.

• Change ports and protocols periodically to avoid restrictions.

• Enable the IPVanish VPN kill switch to block leaks if the VPN drops.

• Set the IPVanish app to auto-connect at startup.

• Connect to different server locations regularly for best speeds.

• Contact IPVanish support proactively about potential ISP conflicts.

Proactive maintenance keeps your VPN running smoothly for the long haul. Combined with the troubleshooting tips above, you‘ll bounce back fast from any future connection problems.

Let‘s Recap How to Fix IPVanish VPN

To summarize, here are the steps to take when IPVanish won‘t connect:

1. Confirm your network is up and running strong.

2. Reset the IPVanish app by force stopping and clearing cache/data.

3. Switch server locations and protocols until finding a stable connection.

4. Adjust account settings like the port number and encryption level.

5. If issues continue, leverage IPVanish‘s excellent 24/7 customer support.

6. For frequent disconnections, methodically test each potential cause.

7. Take preventative measures like using Ethernet and updating software.

With the right troubleshooting approach, you can get your IPVanish VPN back up and running smoothly in no time. Here‘s to secure, uninterrupted VPN browsing!