If you’ve been using X-VPN to get an IP address from a different country or make your online activity anonymous and it’s stopped working, X-VPN is no longer able to keep up with the massive demand of its huge customer base.
Although not verifiable, X-VPN claims it has 80 million users. On the surface this seems like a good thing however, a customer-base this big can lead to potential problems for a VPN, and it’s probably the reason why X-VPN is no longer working for you.
This number of customers puts pressure on any VPN let alone a free, smaller one like X-VPN, and it can result in the service being unable to provide enough IP addresses for everyone.
The good news is there’s a few things you can try to resolve this issue. In this article we’ll explain how you can fix X-VPN not working, and we’ll also show you how you can stop these issues from arising again in the future.
How to fix X-VPN not working
Try these fixes in order. If one doesn’t work, move on to the next until you’ve resolved X-VPN not working.
Try a different device
If X-VPN is no longer a working, a great test is to try it on a different device.
If X-VPN on your smartphone, but not your computer, then you know X-VPN isn’t the problem.
Check your internet connection
Sometimes when X-VPN stops working, it’s actually your internet connection that’s having issues.
A good place to start is making sure that you’re still connected to the internet. If so, check that your internet is running correctly.
The way to do that is to check your internet speed. You can do thathere.If you think your internet is running slower than usual, that can be a sign your internet connection is having problems. This can create issues with X-VPN. Call your internet service provider (ISP) if this is the case.
Disable antivirus
If you have an antivirus installed on your device, try uninstalling it and then try X-VPN.
VPN software can often be mistaken for a virus or malware by antivirus software. When this happens, the antivirus blocks the VPN.
This might be what’s happening with X-VPN. Disabling your antivirus or making X-VPN an exemption may fix the problems you’re coming across.
Delete Cookies
Deleting your cookies can potentially fix issues you’re having with X-VPN.
Accumulated or corrupted cookies in a browser might interfere with the way websites and online services function, especially when using a VPN.
Clearing these cookies removes any old or problematic data, thereby ensuring a cleaner slate for your X-VPN connection to operate.
This can help in establishing a more stable connection when using X-VPN.
Change to a different server
If X-VPN has suddenly stopped working, it might be because of what you’re trying to access with the VPN turned on.
For example, some websites and streaming services try and block VPN connections. They do this by identifying the IP address that X-VPN has given you.
If this has happened, changing to a different server will give you a different IP address, and if that one hasn’t been blocked, you shouldn’t run into any problems with X-VPN again.
Change protocol
VPN protocols are the beating heart of a VPN. They determine how the VPN works. When you use a VPN the protocol is responsible for hiding your data and rerouting it via VPN servers.
If X-VPN isn’t working, it might be because the protocol you’re using is no longer working.
Try changing to a different protocol to see if that fixes the issue. Take a look at our VPNprotocolsarticle to discover more about which technology might be best for you.
Reinstall X-VPN
X-VPN can sometimes inadvertently download bugs and errors. These can cause the software to run slowly or even not work at all.
A good way of getting get rid of bugs and errors is by starting the VPN with a clean slate. To do that you should reinstall the software.
This ensures you have a clean version of X-VPN and also, the latest version. X-VPN may have updated its software with fixes and reinstalling X-VPN will ensure you’re VPN is up to date.
Upgrade to a better VPN
If the above fixes don’t work, either X-VPN isn’t managing to keep up with the demand of its many customers, or it’s not fast enough to enable you to do what you’re trying to do.
This can be a problem because you’ll have to wait for X-VPN to fix the issue. Unfortunately, there’s no way of telling how long this will take and there’s no guarantee that X-VPN will even fix it.
The best thing to do in this situation is to upgrade to a VPN that has the resources to keep up with increasing demand and has an incredibly fast, secure connection.
The VPNs we recommend are NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
The best VPNs: Quicklist
Why is X-VPN not working?
When X-VPN, or any VPN service, is not working as expected, there can be several reasons behind the issues. Here are some common factors that might cause X-VPN to malfunction or not work properly:
- Server Overload: If too many users connect to the same VPN server, it can become overloaded, leading to slow speeds or connection issues. Trying a different server can often resolve this problem.
- Network Restrictions: Some networks, especially in workplaces, schools, or certain countries, have restrictions that block VPN connections. This can prevent X-VPN from establishing a successful connection.
- Outdated App Version: Running an outdated version of the X-VPN app may lead to compatibility issues. Ensure that you are using the latest version of the app.
- Firewall or Antivirus Interference: Sometimes, firewall or antivirus settings can interfere with VPN connections. Temporarily disabling these or adjusting their settings might help.
- Protocol Incompatibilities: VPNs use various protocols to establish connections. If the selected protocol is blocked or not supported by your network, switching to a different protocol within the X-VPN settings might solve the issue.
- ISP Throttling or Blocking: Some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) throttle or block VPN connections. Using a different server or VPN protocol can sometimes bypass these restrictions.
- Corrupted Installation: The X-VPN app installation on your device might be corrupted. Reinstalling the app can often fix this problem.
- Temporary Service Outages: VPN services can sometimes have temporary outages due to maintenance or technical issues. Check X-VPN’s official website or social media channels for any service status updates.
Key features to look for in a VPN
Here are the key features and qualities that define a good VPN:
- Strong Encryption: A good VPN uses strong encryption standards, such as AES-256, to protect your data. This ensures that your internet activity is secure and private, even on unsecured networks like public Wi-Fi.
- No-logs Policy: A strict no-logs policy means the VPN provider does not collect, store, or share any data related to your internet activity. This is crucial for maintaining privacy.
- Speed and Reliability: A VPN should offer fast connection speeds with minimal lag or throttling, ensuring that streaming, downloading, and browsing can be done without significant slowdowns. Reliability means stable connections without frequent disconnections.
- Server Network and Locations: A wide range of servers in multiple countries allows for more options to bypass geo-restrictions and ensures better speeds by connecting to a server closer to your location.
- Ease of Use: The VPN should have user-friendly software for various platforms (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, etc.), making it easy for users to connect to VPN servers with just a few clicks.
- Security Features: Additional security features like a kill switch (which automatically disconnects your device from the internet if the VPN connection drops), DNS leak protection, and split tunneling enhance the VPN’s ability to protect your data.
- Customer Support: Efficient, responsive, and helpful customer support (via live chat, email, etc.) is essential for resolving any issues users might encounter.
- Compatibility: The VPN should support a wide range of devices and operating systems, including routers and smart devices, allowing for a versatile use case scenario.
- Price and Value: The cost of the VPN service should be reasonable and competitive, offering good value for the features, security, and services provided.
- Trial Periods or Money-Back Guarantee: Offering a free trial or a money-back guarantee period allows users to test the service to ensure it meets their needs before committing.
- Reputation and Transparency: A good VPN provider should have a transparent and privacy-focused policy, with a positive reputation in the industry. Independent audits by third parties to verify security and privacy claims are a significant plus.
- Bypassing Geo-restrictions: The ability to consistently bypass geo-restrictions for streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, etc., is a valuable feature for many users.
What we think are the best VPNs currently available
1. NordVPN
An excellent, affordable, and fast VPN option for 2024
- ✔Affordable pricing
- ✔Effective streaming access
- ✔Diverse server types
- ✔Solid speeds
- ✔Useful add-ons
- ✔Strong security
- ❌Limited server locations
- ❌No virtual servers
Streaming: NordVPN is highly effective for bypassing geo-restrictions on streaming platforms like Netflix and BBC iPlayer. It has shown consistent success in connecting to various streaming services without noticeable issues.
Servers: NordVPN’s server network spans 60 countries. While this is below the average of 71 countries for the top 20 VPNs, its commitment to physical servers ensures faster and more reliable connections.
Privacy: NordVPN’s secure connection and no-logs policy have been verified via three independent audits, including one by Deloitte. The audits have confirmed NordVPN’s adherence to its no-logs policy, ensuring user privacy.
Price: NordVPN offers three pricing plans: Complete, Plus, and Standard. The 2-year plan for the Standard package is priced at $3.19/month, the 1-year plan at $4.99/month, and the monthly plan at $12.99/month. It accepts major credit cards and various payment systems.
Speeds: Below is a table showing the speeds tested for NordVPN. From our tests in New Zealand, NordVPN displayed very good speeds, although slightly behind ExpressVPN, but significantly faster than many other VPNs on the market.
| Download Speeds (Mbps) | Upload Speeds (Mbps) | |
| No VPN (New Zealand) | 937.07 | 520.93 |
| NordVPN US server | 710.90 | 6.98 |
| NordVPN UK server | 531.12 | 3.73 |
Read our full NordVPN review.
2. ExpressVPN
The fastest and most reliable VPN of 2024
- ✔Physical servers in 104 countries
- ✔Brilliant for unblocking streaming services
- ✔Very high-speed Lightway protocol
- ✔Available on almost any device
- ✔Very secure
- ❌Pricey
- ❌Only 8 simultaneous devices
- ❌No addons
Streaming: ExpressVPN excels in unblocking geo-restricted content and works seamlessly with streaming services, even in countries where VPNs are banned. It consistently performed well in tests with Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and HBO Max.
Servers: ExpressVPN has a robust network with servers in 104 countries, significantly above the 71-country average. Less than 3% of these servers are virtual, ensuring a reliable and fast physical network.
Privacy: ExpressVPN’s privacy measures include passing independent audits by cybersecurity firms like Cure53 and F-Secure, ensuring a strong level of security and no significant weaknesses in its macOS, Linux, and Windows apps. More details can be found in the audit reports available online.
Price: ExpressVPN offers three payment plans: a 1-month option at $12.95/month, a 6-month option at $9.99/month, and a 12-month option at $6.67/month. Payment methods include major credit cards, PayPal, Bitcoin, and other systems, accommodating a wide range of users.
Speeds: ExpressVPN maintains high download speeds with minimal drop-off, ensuring efficient performance. Tests showed a slight decrease in upload speeds, but download speeds remained fast across various server locations, including the US, UK, and Vietnam.
| Download Speeds (Mbps) | Upload Speeds (Mbps) | |
| VPN off | 937.07 | 520.93 |
| ExpressVPN US server | 824.62 | 6.96 |
| ExpressVPN UK server | 794.95 | 3.70 |
| ExpressVPN Vietnam server | 761.90 | 3.81 |
Read our full ExpressVPN review.
3. Surfshark
Affordable and secure VPN with unlimited device policy of 2024
- ✔Attractive pricing for long-term subscriptions
- ✔Supports unlimited simultaneous connections
- ✔Robust security and privacy
- ✔24/7 responsive chat support
- ✔Extensive server network in 100 countries
- ❌Has trouble with services like Hulu
- ❌Lacks a unique proprietary protocol
- ❌App can be overwhelming
- ❌Not the fastest among competitors
Streaming: Surfshark performs well with most streaming services but faces challenges with some, like Hulu. This could be a drawback for users who heavily rely on VPNs for streaming content from various regions.
Servers: Surfshark boasts a server network in 100 countries, which is well above the average and includes both physical and virtual servers, providing extensive geographic coverage.
Privacy: Surfshark emphasizes its commitment to privacy with successful DNS leak tests and independent security audits by Cure53, ensuring robust online security and privacy. You can find more about their security audits here.
Price: Surfshark offers a 1-month option costing $12.95/month, a 12-month option at $3.99/month, and a 24-month option at $2.49/month. It accepts major credit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, and various cryptocurrencies.
Speeds: Below is a table that gives you an idea of the speed performance when using Surfshark. From our tests, we observed decent speeds, suitable for general use, but not the fastest compared to some rivals.
| Download Speeds (Mbps) | Upload Speeds (Mbps) | |
| No VPN (New Zealand) | 940.55 | 520.24 |
| Surfshark US server | 775.9 | 6.15 |
| Surfshark UK server | 587.79 | 3.79 |
Read our full Surfshark review.
4. Private Internet Access
Affordable and secure VPN with wide device compatibility
- ✔Affordable pricing plans
- ✔Unlimited simultaneous devices
- ✔Extra features like ad blocker and email protection
- ✔Verified no-log policy
- ✔Compatible with streaming services like Netflix and Hulu
- ❌High use of virtual servers
- ❌Not as fast as top-tier VPNs
- ❌Lacks proprietary protocol options
Streaming: Private Internet Access works well with streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max, although it initially faced some difficulties with BBC iPlayer, which were resolved after some fixes.
Servers: PIA has over 35,000 servers in 84 countries, which is above the average of 71 countries. However, 50% of these servers are virtual, impacting reliability compared to VPNs with more physical servers.
Privacy: PIA’s app is open-source, inviting third-party scrutiny and verification. It has also passed an independent no-log policy audit conducted by Deloitte, affirming its commitment to privacy.
Price: PIA offers three subscription options: 1-month at $11.95/month, 1-year at $3.33/month (upfront cost $39.95), and 3-year at $2.03/month (upfront fee $79). Payment methods include credit cards, PayPal, cryptocurrencies, and Amazon payments.
Speeds: Speed tests for PIA showed significant drops in download speeds across various servers. While using WireGuard protocol, speeds were faster than OpenVPN but still slower compared to top-tier VPNs like ExpressVPN.
| OpenVPN Download Speeds (Mbps) | OpenVPN Upload Speeds (Mbps) | WireGuard Download Speeds (Mbps) | WireGuard Upload Speeds (Mbps) | |
| VPN off (New Zealand) | 930 | 516 | ||
| PIA US server | 238.52 | 7.17 | 300.65 | 8.65 |
| PIA UK server | 245 | 3.77 | 315.78 | 7.23 |
| PIA Vietnam server | 445 | 6.55 | 489 | 8.24 |
Read our full Private Internet Access review.
5. PureVPN
A mid-range VPN that balances performance and price
- ✔Affordable
- ✔Unblocks major streaming services
- ✔Use on up to 10 devices simultaneously
- ✔Streamlined user interface
- ✔No log audit verified by KPMG
- ✔Several free add-ons
- ❌Buffering on BBC iPlayer at peak times
- ❌Past concerns with “no log” policy
Streaming: PureVPN has shown improvement in its ability to unblock streaming services. While it initially struggled with BBC iPlayer, its performance improved during less busy times. PureVPN can unblock major streaming services, but it may encounter buffering issues during peak streaming periods.
Servers: PureVPN offers a wide range of servers around the world. Although specific numbers are not provided, PureVPN’s server offerings are robust, allowing users to access various international content.
Privacy: PureVPN has faced criticism in the past for its privacy policies. However, it has recently undergone a no-log audit verified by KPMG in the past 12 months, aiming to reassure users about its commitment to privacy.
Price: PureVPN offers three payment options: a 1-month plan at $10.95/month, a 1-year plan at $3.74/month, and a 2-year plan at $1.96/month. PureVPN accepts all major credit cards, PayPal, and a variety of other digital payment options.
Speeds: Below is a table that gives you an idea of the speed performance you can expect when using PureVPN. The VPN has shown variable download speeds across different streaming servers, with some experiencing significant drop-offs during peak times.
| Download Speeds (Mbps) | Upload Speeds (Mbps) | |
| No VPN | 189.44 | 139.82 |
| PureVPN UK Server | 24.31 | 98.99 |
| PureVPN US Server | 49.83 | 106.52 |
Read our full PureVPN review.
How to fix X-VPN not working: FAQs
Q: Why isn’t X-VPN connecting on my device?
Answer: This could be due to a range of issues including network restrictions, server overload, or incorrect app settings. Try switching servers, checking your internet connection, and ensuring your app is updated to the latest version.
Q: How can I improve the speed of my X-VPN connection?
Answer: Slow speeds may result from connecting to a distant server, network congestion, or bandwidth throttling by your ISP. To improve speed, connect to a server closer to your location, use a wired connection if possible, and try changing the VPN protocol in the app settings.
Q: What should I do if X-VPN is constantly disconnecting?
Answer: Frequent disconnections may be caused by unstable internet connections, incorrect VPN settings, or software conflicts. Ensure your internet connection is stable, update X-VPN to the latest version, and disable other VPNs or firewall settings that may be conflicting.
Q: How can I access geo-restricted content with X-VPN if it’s not working?
Answer: If you’re unable to access geo-restricted content, the server you’re connected to might not be optimised for that content. Try connecting to a different server in the desired country or contact X-VPN support for server recommendations.
Q: Can using X-VPN result in a slower internet connection?
Answer: Yes, using any VPN, including X-VPN, can potentially slow down your internet connection due to the encryption process and the distance of the server you’re connected to. To minimise speed loss, choose a server location close to you and experiment with different VPN protocols to find the fastest option for your network.
