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Connection & Troubleshooting

I can't connect to the VPN

2 min read

The app gives each connection attempt 20 seconds to establish a tunnel. If it doesn't connect in that window, you'll see an error and stay disconnected. There's no automatic retry — you reconnect manually.

Quick checks first

  1. Is your internet working without the VPN? Open any website. If nothing loads, fix the network first.
  2. Are you signed in? Open the app — if it shows the login screen, sign in and try again.
  3. Is your subscription active? Open Profile → Subscription. If it's expired, the connect button won't work.

Common errors

"VPN connection timed out"

The tunnel didn't come up within 20 seconds. Causes:

  • Server is overloaded or down → switch server (see change server)
  • Your provider is blocking the protocol → switch protocol (see change protocol)
  • Weak network signal → reconnect to Wi-Fi or switch to mobile data

"VPN permission" / "PREPARE_FAILED" / "Save preferences failed"

The OS-level VPN permission was not granted.

iOS / macOS — Settings → General → VPN & Device Management → allow Kryon VPN profile. On macOS you may also need to allow the system extension in System Settings → Privacy & Security.

Android — when you tap connect for the first time, Android shows a connection request popup. Tap OK. If you tapped Cancel, force-quit the app and try again.

Windows — the first connect installs the TUN driver. Approve the driver installation prompt.

"SYSEXT_REQUIRED" (macOS)

The macOS system extension for the VPN wasn't approved. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll down, and click Allow on the Kryon system extension prompt. Then reconnect.

Connection succeeds but no internet

The tunnel is up but traffic isn't flowing. Try:

  • Disconnect and reconnect
  • Switch to a different server
  • Switch protocol — some networks let the handshake through but throttle the traffic

Still not working

If multiple servers and protocols all fail, the issue is most likely on your network:

  • Corporate or campus networks often block VPN traffic
  • Some hotel and airport Wi-Fi blocks all non-HTTP traffic
  • In some regions, deep packet inspection may target specific protocols — try a different protocol or transport (see change protocol)

Open in-app chat support with: which server you tried, which protocol, what error message appeared, and your country.