Have you just set up your VPN, but you are struggling with VPN not working or VPN failing to connect? You're not alone — VPN connection problems are one of the most common issues for remote teams, consultants, and IT admins. Whether you're seeing a VPN connection failed message, authentication error, or you're connected but can’t access internal services, this guide has you covered.
In this detailed VPN troubleshooting guide, we’ll walk you through the most frequent solutions for VPN not working — and how to fix them quickly so you can get back online and stay connected.
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VPN Not Working? Check Your Internet Connection First
If you have trouble with your VPN not working or you're seeing a VPN connection failed message, the first thing to check is your internet connection. VPN Tracker relies on an active internet connection to establish a tunnel to your VPN gateway. Without it, the connection cannot be initiated, and you'll likely run into VPN connection problems or timeout errors.
Before trying more advanced VPN troubleshooting steps, make sure you’re connected to the internet and that your network is stable. Then try reconnecting your VPN.
Fix VPN Connection Timed Out Errors in VPN Tracker
VPN not working and seeing a VPN connection timed out error in VPN Tracker? This means the app waited for a response from your VPN gateway but didn’t receive one in time. It’s a common cause of VPN not working issues — especially in slower or unstable network environments.
This type of VPN not working error often leads users to believe their VPN connection has failed, when in fact it may just be a delay in communication. Before diving into deeper VPN troubleshooting, try adjusting the timeout settings.
If your gateway responds slowly, increasing the connection timeout may help VPN Tracker establish the VPN tunnel successfully. You can change this setting under: Configure > Advanced Settings > Connection Timeout.
VPN Gateway Not Responding? Fix Phase 1 Connection Errors
Getting a VPN gateway not responding error in VPN Tracker? This typically means that the app is unable to reach your VPN device to initiate a secure connection — often resulting in a VPN connection failed message or a VPN not working scenario.
This type of error usually occurs during Phase 1 of the VPN handshake and can be caused by several issues on the network or device configuration side. Here’s how to troubleshoot and resolve these VPN connection problems effectively:
Device is offline or misconfigured
Your VPN gateway may be turned off or experiencing internal issues. Make sure it’s powered on, reachable over the network, and correctly configured to accept VPN connections.
Incorrect IP address
If the wrong IP address was entered during setup in VPN Tracker, the app won’t be able to locate the device. Double-check the gateway IP under Configure > Host.
Dynamic DNS (DDNS) needs updating
Are you connecting via hostname using a service like DynDNS, NoIP, DynU, or FreeDNS? Your hostname may still point to an outdated IP address. Log in to your dynamic DNS provider and confirm the current IP matches your network. If needed, reconfigure DDNS on your VPN gateway to ensure it stays up to date.
Fix VPN Connection Failed: No Proposal Chosen (Phase 1 Settings Conflict)
Seeing a “No proposal chosen” error in VPN Tracker? This is a common cause of VPN connection failed messages and usually means there’s a mismatch between the VPN settings configured in VPN Tracker and those accepted by your VPN gateway.
This Phase 1 error typically occurs when the gateway refuses the proposals offered by VPN Tracker — a frequent reason why your VPN is not working or can't establish a secure tunnel.
To resolve this VPN connection problem, compare your settings in VPN Tracker to those on your gateway. If any values don’t match, the connection will fail.
Key Phase 1 settings to check:
- Exchange mode (main / aggressive)
- Encryption type (3DES, AES-128, AES-256, etc.)
- Hashing algorithm (SHA-1, SHA-256, etc.)
- Diffie-Hellman Group (e.g., Group 2, Group 5, Group 14)
Update your connection in VPN Tracker under Configure > Advanced Settings and try again to restore the VPN tunnel.
Fix VPN Authentication Errors in VPN Tracker
Most VPN connections require authentication to verify that you’re allowed to access the remote network. If your login or credentials are incorrect, VPN Tracker will show a VPN authentication error — one of the most common causes of VPN connection failed messages.
VPN Connection Failed Due to XAUTH Authentication Error
A XAUTH error occurs when the username and password entered into VPN Tracker do not match the credentials stored on the VPN gateway. This often leads to a VPN is not working scenario, even if all other settings are correct.
If you didn’t set up the VPN connection yourself, check with your system administrator for the correct login details. In larger organizations, this is typically your internal network login.
Pre-shared Key (PSK) Mismatch: Fix VPN Shared Secret Errors
Another frequent VPN authentication problem is a mismatch in the Pre-shared Key (PSK), also known as a Shared Secret. If the PSK entered into VPN Tracker doesn’t exactly match the key configured on the gateway, you’ll see a Hash Mismatch error or experience a failed connection.
Tip: Avoid using special characters in your PSK, as some VPN gateways interpret them differently than VPN Tracker. If possible, reconfigure the shared secret using only letters and numbers to eliminate encoding issues.
Fix VPN not working Due to Network Conflict
If your VPN connection is not working or fails to access remote services, a network conflict may be the cause. This happens when your local IP network overlaps with the remote network you're trying to access over VPN.
When the same subnet (e.g. 192.168.10.0/24) is used both locally and remotely, VPN Tracker cannot route traffic correctly, resulting in VPN not working and connection failed error or loss of connectivity to internal services.
To resolve this VPN issue, make sure your local network uses a different IP range than your VPN’s remote network. For example, if your VPN connects to 192.168.10.x, use a local range like 192.168.100.x instead.
Need more help? Check out Local and Remote Networks Conflict guide to resolving VPN network conflicts.
Fix VPN Connection Failed Due to Protocol Compatibility Issues
If your VPN is not connecting or you’re seeing a VPN connection failed error, the issue might be related to protocol compatibility. Certain network environments block or restrict specific VPN protocols like IPsec, IKEv2, or PPTP — which can prevent VPN Tracker from establishing a secure tunnel.
For example, if your IPsec VPN relies on NAT-Traversal (NAT-T) and it is disabled on the local router, your connection will fail — often without a clear error message. This can make VPN troubleshooting more difficult, especially in shared or public networks.
The easiest way to detect these issues is by using the built-in Connection Checker in VPN Tracker. It tests your current network environment and reports any protocol compatibility issues before you attempt to connect.
VPN Connected But Not Working? Fix Internal DNS Resolution Issues
If VPN Tracker says you're connected but you still can't access internal tools like intranet sites or file servers, you're still struggling with VPN not working. In this case you’re likely dealing with a DNS resolution issue — a common cause of VPN connected but not working problems.
To test if DNS is the issue, try accessing the internal service using its IP address instead of its hostname (e.g., intranet.greenhaven.net). If it works via IP, the problem lies with VPN DNS configuration.
Tip: Use the built-in DNS Lookup tool in VPN Tracker to perform a reverse search and find the correct IP address:
To resolve the issue, ensure that DNS is enabled for the VPN connection and that your DNS settings are correctly configured in VPN Tracker.
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Still struggling with VPN not working? We're Here to Help
If you’ve followed all the steps in this VPN not working guide and your VPN is still not connecting, don’t worry — we’ve got your back.
Open a support request directly from VPN Tracker by going to Help > Contact Support. Our team will help you diagnose and resolve your VPN connection problems quickly and securely.
Need help with a more complex or custom VPN configuration? Our VPN Consulting Service is designed for professionals, IT admins, and teams looking for expert guidance with advanced VPN setups, remote access deployments, or multi-site configurations.
Whether you're facing a persistent VPN connection failed error or struggling with VPN protocol compatibility, our team can help you get back online.
