IPVanish Not Connecting? How to Fix It in 2026 (Login, Fire TV, Errors)
When IPVanish won’t connect, the cause is usually one of four things: a login block after wrong passwords, a protocol your network doesn’t let through, an outdated app, or a device the app doesn’t support (the first-generation Fire Stick is the classic). The fixes below follow IPVanish’s own help centre, in the order that solves most cases fastest.
- “Failed Attempt Limit Reached” or “too many attempts”: IPVanish blocked your username after too many wrong passwords. Wait 12 hours, or ask support to lift the block.
- Won’t connect at all: switch the protocol (WireGuard, IKEv2 or OpenVPN), try a nearby server, and update or reinstall the app.
- Connected, but no websites load: check your internet with the VPN off, then change server, protocol and DNS.
- Fire TV or Fire Stick: the first-generation Fire Stick isn’t supported. On newer sticks, clear the app’s cache and turn on WireGuard.
- Keeps disconnecting: pick a closer, less busy server and use OpenVPN over UDP or WireGuard instead of TCP.
- Is it down? IPVanish’s status page is status.ipvanish.com.
- Mac security flaw (2026): fixed in version 4.10.3 of the macOS app. If you’re on anything older, update.
"Too Many Attempts" or "Failed Attempt Limit Reached"
This is the most common reason people get locked out, and it isn’t a fault. After too many sign-ins with the wrong username or password, IPVanish automatically blocks that username to stop account takeovers (IPVanish help).
You have two ways out:
- Wait 12 hours. The block lifts on its own.
- Ask support to clear it. Send the email address on your account and your public IP address (the one shown at the top of whatismyip.com).
While you wait, reset the password if you aren’t sure of it, so you don’t trip the limit again the moment the block ends. A saved login with an old password on another device can trip the limit too, because it keeps retrying in the background.
IPVanish Won't Connect: Work Through These in Order
Start with the quick checks and stop when it connects.
- Check your internet without the VPN. If nothing loads with IPVanish off, the problem is your connection. Restart the router or call your provider.
- Look at the status page. status.ipvanish.com shows outages. The Windows and Mac apps also hide servers that are down for longer.
- Try another server. A nearby one with a lower load is IPVanish’s own first suggestion.
- Change the protocol. In the app’s settings, switch between WireGuard, IKEv2 and OpenVPN. IPVanish recommends this in most of its connection articles.
- Update the app, or reinstall it. IPVanish now has version 4 apps alongside the older “Legacy v3” apps, and several old errors only exist in v3. A clean install (uninstall, restart, install the current version) clears broken settings.
- Check your firewall or antivirus. Security software sometimes blocks the VPN adapter. Allow IPVanish, or test with it briefly paused.
Some networks block VPN traffic on purpose: offices, schools, hotels and some public Wi-Fi. IPVanish’s protocols use these ports (IPVanish help):
- WireGuard: TCP 443 and UDP 51820
- OpenVPN: TCP or UDP on 443, 1194 or 8443 (the app uses 443)
- IKEv2: UDP 500
If WireGuard and IKEv2 fail but your phone connects fine on mobile data, OpenVPN over TCP 443 has the best chance on a restrictive network, because it looks like ordinary web traffic. On a network you don’t own, check that you’re allowed to use a VPN there.
Error messages with known fixes
- “System extension blocked” on a Mac: after a big macOS upgrade such as Sequoia, re-allow the IPVanish extension under System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions > Network Extensions.
- “IPVanish Helper Install Error” (Mac, Legacy v3 app): enter your Mac’s administrator password when the app asks for it. Better still, move to the current app.
- “Error 87: The parameter is incorrect” (Windows): appears with IKEv2. Restart Windows and install its updates, or switch to WireGuard or OpenVPN.
- “Exception of type ‘DotRas.RasDialException’ was thrown” (Windows, Legacy v3 app): another old-app error. The current Windows app is the lasting fix.
- “There was an error, please contact support”: IPVanish has no help article for this generic message. Update or reinstall the app first; if it stays, contact support with the app’s diagnostics or logs.
Connected, but No Internet (or No Internet After Disconnecting)
When the app says “connected” but no page loads, IPVanish’s help centre suggests these steps (IPVanish help):
- Disconnect and check that your internet works without the VPN.
- Reconnect to a server in a different location.
- Change the VPN protocol.
- Check or change your DNS settings.
- If nothing helps, send your logs to IPVanish support.
Losing the internet after you disconnect is often the kill switch doing its job a little too long. The kill switch cuts all traffic whenever the VPN drops, and IPVanish has documented cases on Macs where the connection stayed blocked after closing the app. Reopen IPVanish and disconnect properly, turn the kill switch off in Settings, or restart the device.
IPVanish Not Working on Fire TV or Fire Stick
Check your model first. IPVanish says its app won’t work on the first-generation Fire Stick (FCC ID 2ABDU-0509), even though it may install and open there, and it can leave that stick barely usable (IPVanish help). You need a second-generation Fire Stick or newer, a Fire Stick Lite, a 4K or 4K Max, or a Fire TV.
On a supported device:
- Clear the app’s cache. Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications > IPVanish > Clear cache, then restart the stick.
- Turn on WireGuard in the app’s settings (IPVanish has a step-by-step guide for the Fire TV app), or try another protocol.
- Make sure you have the current app. IPVanish’s version 4 app has a different home screen from the older one; if yours looks different from IPVanish’s guide, you’re on an older version or an older device.
- Restart the stick and your router.
The newest sticks are a special case. Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Select (2025) runs Vega OS, a Linux-based system, instead of Android-based Fire OS. IPVanish built a separate app for it, and that app currently has no protocol switching or split tunnelling (IPVanish help). So the “change the protocol” fix doesn’t exist there yet.
If it still fails, the Fire TV app can export diagnostics for IPVanish support.
IPVanish Keeps Disconnecting
IPVanish says most new dropouts on a particular server get fixed within a few business days, but many disconnects come from the device or the home connection rather than its servers (IPVanish help). Its suggestions, in short:
- Use a closer server, or one with a lower load.
- Change the protocol. OpenVPN over UDP is faster and steadier than OpenVPN over TCP; WireGuard and IKEv2 are worth trying too.
- Check your Wi-Fi signal. IPVanish even names household appliances with motors, such as fans and fridges, as a source of interference.
- Try another connection, for example your phone’s hotspot, to rule out your provider.
- Do a clean install of the app and update your operating system.
Disconnects when your computer goes to sleep are normal. The connection drops with the network adapter; turn on auto-reconnect if your app version has it.
Is IPVanish Down Right Now?
Check status.ipvanish.com, IPVanish’s official status page. If it shows no incident, test IPVanish on a second device or network. When it fails everywhere, it’s likely on IPVanish’s side and waiting is the fix. When it fails only on one device or network, go back to the checklist above.
The 2026 IPVanish Security Flaw on Mac
If you searched for “IPVanish security issue”, this is it. In early 2026, researchers at SecureLayer7 found a flaw in IPVanish’s macOS app that let a program already running on the Mac, such as malware, run code as root without any user interaction. According to IPVanish, only Mac users connecting over OpenVPN were affected. It wasn’t remotely exploitable, and IPVanish said there was no intrusion into its server network and no effect on VPN encryption (TechRadar).
IPVanish fixed it in version 4.10.3 of the macOS app, released on March 6, 2026. Check the version in the app’s About screen and update if you’re below that. Windows, iPhone, Android and Fire TV users weren’t affected by this flaw.
Contacting IPVanish Support, or Switching
Price from: $4.99/mo
Available on:
pros
Cons
IPVanish support is available 24/7 by live chat, email and social media, and by phone on weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Central Time (IPVanish help). Have your account email, device, app version and the exact error ready, plus the app’s logs or diagnostics if it can export them. That saves a round of questions.
If you’ve had enough, check whether you can still get your money back. IPVanish’s 30-day money-back guarantee covers first-time customers on annual or longer plans bought on its website. It excludes monthly plans, renewals, and subscriptions bought through Apple, Google or Amazon (IPVanish help). Cancelling in the customer portal within the 30 days refunds you automatically.
If you switch, ExpressVPN is the one we’d look at first. It has apps for the same devices, including Fire TV, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and 24/7 live chat. The yearly plan costs $74.85 for the first 15 months ($4.99 a month), or $83.72 for the first 28 months when the two-year plan is offered ($2.99 a month); both renew at $99.95 a year. Our ExpressVPN review has the details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some people found answers to these questions helpful
Why is IPVanish not connecting?
The usual causes are a login block after wrong passwords, a protocol your network blocks, an outdated app, or an unsupported device. Change the protocol, try a nearby server, update or reinstall the app, and check status.ipvanish.com.
What does "Failed Attempt Limit Reached" mean on IPVanish?
IPVanish blocked your username after too many sign-ins with the wrong password. The block lifts after 12 hours, or support can clear it if you send your account email and your public IP address.
Why is IPVanish not working on my Fire Stick?
IPVanish doesn't work on the first-generation Fire Stick. On newer models, clear the app's cache, turn on WireGuard, update the app and restart the stick. The Vega OS app on the Fire TV Stick 4K Select (2025) can't switch protocols yet.
Is IPVanish down?
Check IPVanish's status page at status.ipvanish.com. If it shows no problem, test another device or network to find out whether the fault is on your side.
Why does IPVanish keep disconnecting?
Usually a distant or busy server, a weak Wi-Fi signal or an unstable internet connection. Pick a closer server, use OpenVPN over UDP or WireGuard instead of TCP, and do a clean install of the app.
Why do I have no internet when IPVanish is connected?
Check that your internet works with the VPN off, then switch server, protocol and DNS. If you lose the internet after disconnecting, the kill switch may still be blocking traffic; reopen the app and disconnect, or turn the kill switch off.
Is IPVanish safe after the 2026 security flaw?
The flaw affected only the macOS app on OpenVPN and needed a malicious program already on the Mac. IPVanish fixed it in version 4.10.3 on March 6, 2026, and said its servers weren't breached. Update if your Mac app is older.
Can I get a refund from IPVanish?
Yes, within 30 days, if you're a first-time customer on an annual or longer plan bought on IPVanish's website. Monthly plans, renewals and app-store purchases are excluded.
38 Comments
Cy
May 12, 2026 6:18 pm
My IPVanish newly bought worked on my Computer 10 for a few wks, & now not able to sign in. But on my cell phone its working perfectly. I did everything suggested it still will not work on my computer. It shows up for a few secs, & will not allow me to sign in.. & goes back to being an icon on my computer that does not open.
Cy
May 12, 2026 6:24 pm
And I am not using this with a firestick, etc… just on my Windows 10 Computer (that it isn’t working on NOW. Yet it works perfectly on my Samsung Galaxy phone.
Rene Alvarado
September 22, 2021 5:32 am
I’ve had IP vanish for several years and it worked fine on my fire box second generation. I just installed a fire cube second generation today and the moment I start ipvanish my fire cube disconnects from the ethernet connection. I do not understand why my fire cube is rejecting or rather the other way around. I’ve rebooted everything and cleared the cash and even data a couple times. Still the same, I it works up until I turn on ipvanish and then my internet immediately disconnects and I have no connection?
Kathi
August 14, 2021 1:15 am
Thank you!! The clear data/cache worked!!!
Shang
July 16, 2021 3:27 pm
my ipvanish app refuse to install in my system. when trying to install it, it will show “failed. see log file for details.”
Can someone help me out
Steve F
July 9, 2021 10:39 pm
Have been useing ip vanish a good few years now.
But Iv’e just noticed that when setting it up to connect via London or Manchester, or some other uk city. Although it says it is connected via that town/city, when I check the actual IP address shown top left, using an IP checker, it is in fact an ip address somewhere in the USA. Usually Ashburn, or some place near Witchita, Kansas. -What the hecks going on.
So I checked some of the European locations. Most showed correct IP but a few, were also connected via somewhere in US.
Seems strange, any ideas, hehe, seems like crossed wires somewhere.
Graeme Hill
December 30, 2020 10:25 pm
Just noticed although have my suspicions its been going on for months IPvanish App shows me connected in the task bar and the app turns green the Ip address never changes always shows my home IP Address it doesnt matter what server I use or what protocol I use if i open the app it shows me as not connected even though the task bar shows me as connected
Miklos Zoltan
July 7, 2021 5:56 pm
IPVanish honestly isn’t really that great of a VPN. We made this guide to help people with connection issues and firestick issues – which are very often encountered with this VPN – but we generally do not recommend the VPN itself.
Robert Schlund
December 23, 2020 4:03 pm
Amazon Firestick
Your asked to re-login to IPVanish after months of use. You login to IPVanish again and get a message that sez
Login error will not accept your login ID & password. The fix ! = # 1 unplug your router/modem for 2 minutes and your firestick , restore power . Go to firestick settings/IPVanish force stop clear cache then open IPVanish, login again . Most times you’ll be good to go. If not go to settings and check network settings to make sure you have a good internet connection , if not this is your problem!
Barry
December 22, 2020 10:56 am
seem to have screen saying connection lost and can’t access TV programmes or anything.frozen
corine Marla saldivar
December 3, 2020 6:48 am
I have an active account with IPVANISH and it has never connected. All I see is connection failed. I’m about to cancel my account.
Barry
November 6, 2020 12:12 pm
I had same problem. Went into settings apps found ipvanish and forced stop came out and added my email and password and it worked. Hope it helps someone
DB
October 28, 2020 1:22 pm
Seems this connection issue is STILL a problem. I also cannot get my NVidia tv box to connect, which it has (up till recently) worked for over a year. Frankly, this is not acceptable, as I/we are paying for a service we’re not getting.
Yes, I’ve tried all the obvious stuff, so please do not treat me like a noob. What the hell am I supposed to do now ???
Rex
October 28, 2020 12:01 pm
I am bit unhappy with the current ipvanish Android app. I have a disney+ hotstar account which is only accessible in India. With ipvanish current Android tv/mobile app it is not working as they can detect you as a vpn user. I have then used the open VPN client with my ipvanish account credentials, and it worked fine. Maybe some one could help me what should I do to make this happen that it would work also in ipvanish client too. Thank in advance for your reply.
Justin B Kunsman
September 10, 2020 2:26 am
Hello I’m just wondering I have a fire stick and I downloaded the app ipvanish to my fire stick but I can’t seem to find the app anywhere when I go to look for it. I have to actually go into settings and go to applications to find it is there a reason for this?
James Walsh
July 30, 2020 9:48 pm
My account is only 2months old and now all I get for my money is 30 seconds of the IP logo and then it turns off. Tried everything suggested. Cleared everything and reinstalled twice. Same result every time. Absolute rubbish.
John
July 29, 2020 10:27 pm
Make sure your account is still active. If your credit card has changed, it will not renew and you will not be able to connect even though you are logged in. Go to their website and update your payment info.
Strawberrisc
July 18, 2020 12:27 pm
I have just changed my broadband provider. IP Vanish still works on my Firesticks but it won’t let me access the app, the website or several other VPN websites. Is there something I can programme into my router to bypass this?
Javid
May 30, 2020 3:10 pm
Same issue… Unable to connect to the net while IPVanich is connected.
Vickie Robinson
May 10, 2020 4:45 pm
Mine is exactly the same going to cancel and find a new one
Wheelie
March 28, 2020 12:34 pm
I’ve used IPVanish for years and now all of a sudden, I get “connection failed” over and over again, and none of the common fixes solve the problem.
John
March 26, 2020 1:38 pm
Just signed up logged in and keep getting connection failed tried several different things
Theresa Belmont
March 21, 2020 10:50 pm
Same problem here. It started on March 18th. Getting connection failed msg on all servers.
JSloan
March 5, 2020 1:20 am
My IPVanish has also stopped working. Once I to to that screen and click on connect it shuts it down and goes to the home screen. New Firestick that it work with until recently.
Paul
March 4, 2020 1:04 am
When I’m in the ipvanish app it will not connect keeps telling me connection failed
Edward Olver
March 2, 2020 3:24 pm
My IPVANISH also for no reason just will not connect all of a sudden
Andrew
February 13, 2020 2:00 am
Same thing happens to me. ^
I contacted support and wasted a ton of time. If anyone has a recommendation for a better VPN supported by fireTV let me know. IPVANISH is a joke
Raquel
January 31, 2020 1:02 am
I have 3rd gen firestick and it won’t connect it’s not even making an attempt I did the troubleshooting the only thing that did was stopped it from closing everytime I tried to connect
Rich
July 18, 2019 2:28 pm
Mine has done this for 6 months and still won’t work! On phone or TV? All I get is unknown error logging in? And they’ve just taken another years subscription out, I wanted to cancel.
Andi Fox
April 27, 2019 12:48 am
THANK you. Now I can go to Kodi.
Michael Sims
April 25, 2019 4:47 pm
Have tried all above suggestions but IPVanishVPN will still not connect. It worked fine until a few days ago then just quit working. I have reset both Fire cube and the IPVanishVPN app multiple times and also unplugged the device with no success. Any suggestions
VPNTeacher
April 25, 2019 4:54 pm
Hey Michael. I’m sorry to hear that. Could you please describe your problem in a bit more detail? You can start the VPN app but no matter what you do it does not actually connect to a VPN server? By reset, you mean you have uninstalled the IPVanish app and re-installed it?
Michael Sims
April 25, 2019 4:58 pm
I can start the vpn app but when I try to connect, it won’t. And yes, I have uninstalled the app and reinstalled it with the same result.
VPNTeacher
April 25, 2019 5:05 pm
Did you also try this with several servers and it’s the exact same result? Sometimes a particular server might not work for some reason and you need to try others. Either way, I’m going to try this out myself to see if I will encounter the same problem. It seems to be weird though and I know it’s very frustrating. Are you still in the 7 days refund policy period? Just in case it will not you should get your money back. I’ll investigate though and hopefully it will work.
Michael Sims
April 25, 2019 5:11 pm
The app worked fine for a couple of months then just quit working. I haven’t changed anything that I know of. The only thing I haven’t tried is clearing all data on the fire cube. Have been reluctant to do that since I’ll have to reload all my apps again. I have tried different servers, different countries, cities, etc. with same results. I’ve tried all the supposed fixes recommended on multiple websites. Must be overlooking something but don’t know what.
VPNTeacher
April 25, 2019 5:15 pm
I’m sorry to hear that. It’s possible this could be caused by a software update by either of the providers, which apparently broke things a bit. It sometimes happens when a new firmware version is released for a product. This might mean that it will work soon once they patch the issue. I’d drop a line to IPVanish support, maybe they are aware of it and will confirm it, or maybe even know the right solution.
I have also found this but I assume you have already seen it: https://support.ipvanish.com/hc/en-us/articles/115002080773-Amazon-Fire-TV-Fire-Stick-Troubleshooting
VPNTeacher
April 25, 2019 5:20 pm
A temporary solution could be to use the free trial version of NordVPN for 7 days and hopefully, in the meantime IPVanish will fix this issue. You can find it here: https://free.nordvpn.com/trial/ <– it's a normal link to their website, we will not be paid anything at all if you click on it (even if you get the paid version later). It's 7 days free trial, so don't forget to cancel it before that, in case IPVanish will work again.
As for IPVanish, as promised, I'll look into that issue myself as well.
Lilly
April 30, 2019 5:18 am
Same , I even uninstalled it and reinstalled it