ExpressVPN Not Connecting – Try These 10 Fixes in Sep 2026

So sometimes, out of nowhere, your ExpressVPN app might fail to connect. If that is the case the best alternative of it is Surfshark VPN which is budget-friendly as well. No matter how many times you disconnect and reconnect, you still come across the “Unable to Connect” error message.

Don’t worry though, today’s knowledge base is perfect for you. I’m going to share with you ten (10) easy troubleshooting steps for ExpressVPN not connecting to get this VPN back up and running.

ExpressVPN Now Working: 10 Easy Fixes

1. Check your internet connection.
2. Get the latest version of ExpressVPN
3. Try switching to some other ExpressVPN server location
4. Restart your VPN app
5. Turn off your antivirus, firewall, or any other anti-spyware application
6. Try switching to some other VPN protocol
7. Uninstall and reinstall ExpressVPN
8. Uninstall other VPN clients on your device
9. Send ExpressVPN your diagnostic information file
10. Fix the issues found in the diagnostic file (only for experts)

How to Fix ExpressVPN Not Connecting?

Now, as you go along the troubleshooting steps below one by one, make sure to stop and check to see if your issue is resolved. This way, you’ll save a bunch of time and effort. Trust me! And remember, if you get stuck, you can always try the ExpressVPN live chat option for help.

1. Make sure your internet connection is working properly

To test if your internet connection is working properly, disconnect from the ExpressVPN app and check if you can access any website. If you can access the internet just fine without connecting to ExpressVPN, you can skip to the next troubleshooting step.

But, if in case you’re unable to access the internet even without connecting to ExpressVPN, you will need to fix your internet connection. If you’re on Windows, you can check out this guide to restore your Windows internet connection.

2. Get the latest version of ExpressVPN

This step is rather easy. You can simply download the latest version of ExpressVPN and it should hopefully fix your issue. To download the latest version of ExpressVPN, follow these simple steps:

1. Close the ExpressVPN app if it’s already running.
2. Uninstall the ExpressVPN application like you would do any other app.
3. Now the reinstall and set up the latest ExpressVPN app.

If you need help setting up ExpressVPN on your device, you can check out the quick setup guides below:

• The setup process for Windows
• The setup process for macOS
• The setup process for Linux
• The setup process for iOS
• The setup process for Android

3. Try switching to some other ExpressVPN server location

If you can access the internet perfectly while disconnected from ExpressVPN but cannot connect to any of the ExpressVPN server locations, you can try connecting to a different server location. This guide on the best server locations should come in handy. If you don’t know how to connect or switch servers, check out these guides for different operating systems:

• Server selection for ExpressVPN Windows app
• Server selection for ExpressVPN macOS app
• Server selection for ExpressVPN iOS app
• Server selection for ExpressVPN Android app
• Server selection for ExpressVPN Linux app
• Server selection for ExpressVPN router app

4. Restart your VPN app

Restarting your VPN app can help establish a new internet connection, as long as your connection is stable. To do this, fully close the VPN app. Depending on your device, you might need to swipe the app away or use a task manager to force-close it.

Wait a few seconds to ensure it shuts down completely, then reopen the VPN app by tapping its icon. After it opens, try reconnecting to your VPN account and see if turning on the VPN resolves the issue.

5. Turn off your antivirus, firewall, or any other anti-spyware application

So if you don’t know, firewalls, antivirus, and anti-spyware programs can block your VPN connection. To test if that is the case for you, disable these programs, and see if that helps you can connect to ExpressVPN. If this helps, and you are able to connect to ExpressVPN successfully, do one of these fixes:

Tweak around with settings

If you are tech-savvy and know how to configure your firewall or antivirus programs, then you can configure it properly to allow ExpressVPN. Depending on what program you have installed on your computer, you will have to refer to one of its guides. Typically, you will have to do the following:

• • Switch your security level from High to Medium
  • Set an exception for ExpressVPN or for the UDP ports 1194-1204

Uninstall and reinstall apps

If the above-mentioned steps didn’t work, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling your firewall, antivirus, anti-spyware or any other program that might be blocking ExpressVPN.

1. 1. Uninstall the ExpressVPN app on your device.
   2. Get rid of the program that you suspect of blocking the ExpressVPN connection.
   3. Reinstall the ExpressVPN app once again.
   4. Reinstall the program that you installed in step #2.

6. Try switching to some other VPN protocol

Sometimes, simply switching to a different protocol can help significantly. Although ExpressVPN recommends using the Automatic protocol, however, if you’re experiencing connectivity issues, you can try connecting to other protocols like the ones listed below:

• TCP OpenVPN
• UDP Open VPN
• IKEv2
• L2TP/IPSec

If you don’t know how to change protocols on the ExpressVPN app, you can refer to the quick guides below for different operating systems:

• Change ExpressVPN protocol on Windows
• Change ExpressVPN protocol on macOS
• Change ExpressVPN protocol on Android
• Change ExpressVPN protocol on iOS
• Change ExpressVPN protocol on Linux

7. Uninstall and reinstall ExpressVPN

Reinstalling the app takes troubleshooting a step further. This involves uninstalling the app from your device, downloading it again, and signing back in.

Reinstalling can resolve many issues where the app is acting up for no clear reason. It may also fix problems related to your account status, such as when you’ve renewed a subscription but the app isn’t recognizing it.

8. Uninstall other VPN clients on your device

You can only connect to one VPN at a time. If you try to use multiple VPNs simultaneously, or this happens by mistake, connection issues can occur.

This is especially common on mobile devices, where it’s harder to control all the running processes. To avoid problems with ExpressVPN, it’s best to stick to using just one VPN app at a time.

9. Send ExpressVPN your diagnostic information file

If none of the troubleshooting steps we’ve looked over so far worked for you, the best option you have is to run a diagnostic and send over the information file to the ExpressVPN support team to get the best possible solution. Here’s how you can access diagnostic information:

For Android and iOS

1. First Tap on Options or hamburger icon (≡) and access Help & Support.
2. Next, Tap Email Us or Contact Support whichever one you prefer.
3. Now in the provided text field, type in the issue you’re facing with ExpressVPN.
4. Finally, Tap Send or Submit and wait to get a response back from ExpressVPN via email.

For Windows and Mac

1. Simply click on the hamburger icon (≡) then Help & Support and then Diagnostic Information.
2. Click on Contact Support and type in the issue you’re facing with ExpressVPN.
3. Tick the box that reads “Include details about recent connection errors or Include diagnostic information”.
4. Finally, wait to get a response back from ExpressVPN via email.

10. Fix the issues found in the diagnostic file (only for experts)

This step is not for everyone. If you’re not tech-savvy, I would advise you to contact and rely on the ExpressVPN support team. However, if you’re an expert and are willing to go in-depth and fix the issues yourself, then you can check out this guide.

How to Fix ExpressVPN Not Working with Netflix

ExpressVPN is one of the top VPNs for Netflix, and during our testing, we didn’t encounter any issues using it with Netflix. However, if you do experience problems, here are a few things you can try:

• Log into your Netflix account and then activate ExpressVPN.
• Use Incognito Mode in your browser or switch to a different browser to prevent Netflix from recognizing your browser fingerprint.
• Try connecting to a different ExpressVPN server, as overcrowded servers might not work properly for everyone.
• If you’ve tried these steps and still can’t access Netflix, contact ExpressVPN’s customer support. Their knowledgeable agents are available to help resolve any VPN-related issues.

ExpressVPN Not Working on Firestick? How to Fix

If you’re having trouble using ExpressVPN with your Firestick, here are some tips to try:

• Update your Firestick account details to match the country from which you want to stream content.
• If your account is set to your current location, it may restrict access. In the “Applications” settings, clear the cache to remove old data.
• Switch to a different ExpressVPN server location.
• If the issue persists, reach out to ExpressVPN’s support team for assistance.

Cannot Connect ExpressVPN on Router

If you’ve installed ExpressVPN on your router and are having trouble either with your router or with ExpressVPN, the option for you is to contact ExpressVPN live chat support or you can switch to other reliable and pocket-friendly VPN services like Surfshark or NordVPN.

Other ExpressVPN Guides

Check out our other guides on ExpressVPN

• ExpressVPN Activation Code
• ExpressVPN Engine Unavailable
• Setup ExpressVPN on Linksys Router