VPN Gate Not Working? Common Issues and How to Fix Them

Is VPN Gate not connecting or suddenly dropping your connection? You're not alone. While VPN Gate is a powerful free tool for bypassing censorship and firewalls, it can sometimes be frustratingly unreliable.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the most common VPN Gate problems—and how to fix them fast. Whether you’re using OpenVPN, SoftEther, or mobile devices, we've got you covered.

🧭 Quick Overview: What Is VPN Gate?

VPN Gate is a free public VPN relay system run by volunteers and developed by the University of Tsukuba in Japan. It's designed to help users access blocked or censored content by connecting to community-hosted VPN servers around the world.

• SoftEther VPN Client
• OpenVPN
• L2TP/IPSec (manual setup)

🚫 Common VPN Gate Issues (And How to Fix Them)

1. VPN Gate Not Showing Any Servers

If the server list is empty:

Causes:

• You're blocked by a firewall or ISP
• VPN Gate’s website is down
• The client isn't configured correctly

Fixes:

• Visit VPN Gate's mirror list to check if the main site is down
• Switch from SoftEther to OpenVPN or vice versa
• If you're in a restricted country, try using Tor or a proxy to access the VPN Gate server list
• Make sure your firewall or antivirus isn’t blocking the client

2. “Can’t Connect to VPN Server” or Timeout Errors

Causes:

• The server is offline or overloaded
• You're behind a strict firewall or NAT
• Wrong protocol or port selected

Fixes:

• Try another VPN server (VPN Gate has hundreds)
• Use TCP instead of UDP for OpenVPN (more stable through firewalls)
• Switch to a different protocol (e.g., SoftEther or L2TP/IPSec)
• Check your firewall settings or temporarily disable them to test

3. Connection Drops Frequently

Causes:

• Volunteer server has gone offline
• ISP or network is throttling VPN usage
• Unstable internet connection

Fixes:

• Choose servers with low ping and long uptime
• Try switching to a nearby server
• Use a wired connection or stable Wi-Fi instead of mobile data
• Reconnect using a different protocol (SoftEther is often more stable than OpenVPN)

4. VPN Gate Works But Can’t Access Websites

Causes:

• DNS leak or misconfiguration
• Server is blocking certain types of traffic
• Site is geo-blocking the VPN IP

Fixes:

• Use Google DNS (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1)
• Change to another VPN server from a different country
• Clear browser cache and cookies
• Test using a different browser or incognito mode

5. Slow Speeds on VPN Gate

Causes:

• Volunteer servers don’t guarantee bandwidth
• High server load
• You’re connected to a faraway server

Fixes:

• Sort VPN Gate server list by speed or uptime
• Choose a closer server geographically
• Connect during off-peak hours
• Avoid streaming or downloading on overloaded servers

🔧 Step-by-Step Fix: VPN Gate with OpenVPN

If you're using OpenVPN and it won’t connect, try this quick checklist:

1. Install OpenVPN GUI from openvpn.net
2. Download a .ovpn config file from VPN Gate’s server list
3. Run OpenVPN as Administrator (Windows)
4. Import the config file and try connecting
5. If it fails, switch to another server and try again

💡 Some OpenVPN files may no longer be supported if the volunteer server has shut down. Always download fresh configs.

📱 VPN Gate Not Working on Android or iPhone?

On Android/iOS using OpenVPN app:

• Make sure you’ve imported the right .ovpn file
• Enable "Allow unknown sources" if you're sideloading configs
• Disable battery saver or data saver mode
• Check that you're not on a restricted mobile network (some block VPN ports)

Alternative: Try L2TP/IPSec setup under device VPN settings for more stable mobile access.

🌐 VPN Gate Still Not Working? Try This

If you've tried everything and VPN Gate still doesn’t work, consider these alternatives:

• Use the SoftEther VPN Client on Windows (more stable than OpenVPN)
• Switch to Tor Browser if you're mainly browsing censored content
• Use a paid VPN with reliable infrastructure and support

🛠️ Advanced Tips for Stable VPN Gate Use

• Use Wired Connections: Wi-Fi fluctuations often cause disconnects
• Avoid High-Traffic Times: Volunteer servers are more stable in off-peak hours
• Save Working Server Configs: Keep copies of .ovpn files that work well for you
• Enable Reconnect on Disconnect: Many OpenVPN clients support auto-reconnect settings

📋 FAQ

Q: Why does VPN Gate disconnect so often?
A: Volunteer servers can go offline anytime. Always keep a few backups ready.

Q: Can I use VPN Gate in China or UAE?
A: Yes, but you may need to use SoftEther or access via proxy since VPN Gate's site may be blocked.

Q: Is there a kill switch on VPN Gate?
A: Not by default. You need to configure your OS firewall or use a VPN client with that feature.

Q: VPN Gate works on one device but not another. Why?
A: It could be due to device-specific firewall, DNS settings, or VPN client version differences.

Conclusion

VPN Gate is a powerful—but sometimes unreliable—tool. Most issues are caused by unstable volunteer servers, ISP restrictions, or outdated configs. With the right setup and a little patience, you can get VPN Gate working again smoothly.

But if you're dealing with frequent disconnects or slow speeds, it might be time to look into more reliable VPN alternatives that offer consistent performance and strong