VPN not working at university: EASY fixes (walkthrough)

With a reliable VPN, you can disguise your location and access region-locked websites over university wifi. But what happens if your software fails? Our guide on easy fixes explains what to do if your VPN isn’t working at university.

If you fancy streaming content while connected to university wifi, a top-rated VPN can save the day. However, if the VPN you’re using at the moment is struggling, there’s a chance it isn’t hiding your location properly. Try our listof fixes to get it working again.

Disclaimer: The GadgetMouse team does not support using a VPN to access dangerous, distracting or prohibited material at university.

Which VPNs work at university?

Why you can trust GadgetMouse: Our content is written by a team of humans and we refuse to use AI. Plus, we own (and use) every VPN that we write about. For more details, see our editorial policy.

Why is my VPN not working at university?

If the website you’re trying to access discovers you’re browsing from an unauthorised territory, your connection could be blocked.

Your VPN isn’t working on university wifi and that’s probably because it’s not hiding your real location. The VPN servers you have available to you through your current VPN might be blacklisted by the website you’re trying to unlock. By swapping to a better one, you’ll be able to browse the web without being interrupted.

In summary, common reasons for your VPN not working:

• Your VPN server has been cut off by the website or service you’re trying to access
• Cookies are telling websites about your real location, not your spoofed one
• A VPN is leaking your IP address, which causes websites to block traffic

University VPN fixes

1. Update your VPN

If your VPN isn’t unlocking websites while you’re on campus, make sure you’re running the latest version.

On Android, you need to open the Google Play store, tap your user profile in the top-right corner of the screen and then Manage apps and device. Finally, choose Update or Update all.

On iOS, open the Apple App Store and tap your user profile in the top-right corner of the screen.

2. Try a different server

VPN servers can sometimes become unavailable. The best VPNs that we’ve been hands-on with offer multiple servers for each country.

Disconnect from the current server you’re using and then swap to an alternative based in the same country. The country of origin you pick obviously varies depending on what you’re trying to use. If you wanted to stream from the NBC Sports website, for example, you’d need a US-based server.

3. Contact a support channel

Our recommended providers all manage support teams. From a computer, head to your VPN provider’s website and find the Support or Contact us pages. Some VPNs offer a live chat service for members. Explain your situation and mention that you’re trying to use a university wifi connection.

4. Restart your VPN

This trick often works with computer issues and the same goes with VPNs – give it a try if your university VPN is failing. If that doesn’t work, delete and reinstall your VPN.

5. Test your internet at university

VPN problems are sometimes tied to your own internet connection or your university wifi in this instance. Disconnect from your wi-fi network and then reconnect. Try and run your VPN once again.

More university VPN fixes:

Clear cache and cookies. On Google Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. On Safari, go to Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data.

Make sure you aren’t the victim of a DNS leak. Flawed VPNs don’t disguise your real IP address and location at university. To check, turn it off and head to the IP Address Lookup tool. Make a note of your typical IP address, activate your VPN, run the test again and see if those details change. If you don’t see a difference, your VPN isn’t working.

Double-check your login credentials. If you can’t remember, get a reset link sent to your inbox.

Check your VPN servers are active. Your provider might be experiencing an outage.

Is your firewall blocking your VPN? On Windows, head to open Windows Security > Allow an app through the firewall. On Mac, try System Settings > Network > Firewall.

Does your web browser need updating? Your current web browser version might be incompatible with your browser-based VPN.

Are you overworking your VPN? If you’re streaming, gaming and using social media at the same time, your VPN might struggle to keep up.

➡️ Download our free VPN troubleshooting tips poster ⬅️

Best VPNs for university

ExpressVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.53 per month
• 6-month subscription: £8.12 per month
• 1-year subscription + 3 months free: £5.42 per month (49% off)

🌎 Number of servers	160
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	5
⏱️ Our speed test results	-8.7% download, -5.5% upload (London)

If you want to unlock websites while you’re at university, create a membership with ExpressVPN. It’s easy to use, delightfully fast and works well if you’re looking to access content that’s usually reserved for specific countries.

This VPN keeps your real IP address hidden at all times, so websites won’t know you’re accessing content from outside of a supported country. Every ExpressVPN member has access to servers in over 90 countries around the world. ExpressVPN works on a range of different devices including Mac, PC, Android or iOS smartphone.

Pros: Smartphone app lets you connect in seconds, 'favourite' most-used VPN servers for quick access, performed remarkably well in our chat support speed test

Cons: Rival VPNs are cheaper, can't use many devices at once

Try ExpressVPN today

Ivacy

• 1-month subscription: £8.62 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3 per month (65% off)
• 5-year subscription + FREE password manager: 80p per month (90% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,700
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

Ivacy is a great pick for students, and it’s well-suited if you don’t want to spend lots of money. This service supports 256-bit encryption, which helps keep cybercriminals away. You also get public wi-fi security that protects your gadgets against malware if you’re connecting to a hotspot in a public area.

Wherever you are, you can use Ivacy to access geo-restricted websites and apps without anybody knowing about it. Ivacy enforces a very strict no-logs policy, which prevents your valuable personal data from being sold to sinister third parties.

Pros: Connection is steady when using multiple devices, notifications mention if Ivacy is disabled, server locations split by country and city

Cons: We think the ExpressVPN mobile app is faster, below-average results in our chat support speed test

Try Ivacy today

NordVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.49 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3.99 per month (40% off)
• 2-year subscription: £2.79 per month (58% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,200+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	6
⏱️ Our speed test results	-14% download, -7% upload (London)

Here’s another VPN that lets you use region-locked websites at university. NordVPN has servers all over the world and all of them are protected by military-grade encryption. With Nord’s enhanced encryption technology, you can even stay safe on public wi-fi networks without speeds being affected.

NordVPN’s servers are brilliantly secure and you can connect without handing over personal data. This VPN doesn’t watch how you’re using the service, so privacy is guaranteed. You can also try the CyberSec feature, which blocks suspicious-looking websites and lowers the risk of your device being infected with data-grabbing malware.

Pros: Built-in internet kill switch works well, profile page on app includes 'Security score' with privacy tips, takes less than a minute to reach a live chat agent (based on our tests)

Cons: Other VPNs tested are cheaper, some streaming services require multiple resets to work

Try NordVPN today

PureVPN

• 1-month subscription: $10.95 per month (12% off)
• 1-year subscription: $3.74 per month (70% off)
• 2-year subscription + 4 extra months: $1.96 per month (84% off)

🌎 Number of servers	6,500+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

PureVPN is one of our favourite services to recommend for VPN newbies at university. It’s simple to use and doesn’t limit bandwidth. Members have access to optimised servers that are specifically designed to provide a buffer-free experience.

As soon as you connect to PureVPN, your data is encrypted and then passes securely through a series of tunnels that lead to the company’s servers. That means you’re completely anonymous. You have a 24-hour support team at your disposal, so you can reach out at any time if you have a question or need help.

Pros: Surprisingly affordable considering features, lots of UK and US-based servers, generous with simultaneous devices

Cons: Takes a couple of minutes to reach live chat agents (based on our tests), performs better on iOS compared to Android (in our experience)

Try PureVPN today

How to use a VPN at university

Before you start using a VPN while you’re at university, you need to pick a geo-restricted website or service that you’re aiming to unlock.

As an example, let’s say you’re based in the UK and you want to use HBO Max – that service is usually only available to viewers based in the US. So, to unlock HBO Max while you’re at university in the UK, you would need to run through these steps:

1. Pick one of our suggested VPNs – we’ll use ExpressVPN for this example.
2. Once you’ve created your ExpressVPN account, sign in.
3. From Windows or Mac, open ExpressVPN and select a server in a supported country. In this example, you could choose a server based in the US.
4. Once you’re connected, head to the HBO Max website.
5. Log in to your HBO Max account and enjoy.

As per our affiliate policy, we might earn affiliate commission when you select a retailer link. Prices and information correct at time of publication.