Surfshark Not Connecting? Fix Connection Failed and No Internet
Fix Surfshark stuck on Connecting, connection failed, other VPN detected, connected with no internet, or failing after sleep and app updates.
Quick answer
Verify normal internet without Surfshark, try another location, then change between WireGuard and OpenVPN. Quit competing VPN or filter apps, recover a stale Kill Switch state, and restart once. If Surfshark still fails on every combination, avoid spending another hour changing unrelated DNS and router settings: install one alternative VPN and test the same network. A successful connection identifies a Surfshark-specific failure and restores access; use an eligible refund window to limit the cost of the comparison.
Surfshark not connecting usually means the app is stuck before the tunnel forms, another VPN or security filter owns the route, the selected protocol is blocked, or Kill Switch keeps internet access closed after a failed attempt.
Identify the failure
Change one thing
Verify the result
Repeated connection errors cost more time than one clean comparison
“Connection failed,” a stale Kill Switch, or “Other VPN detected” can leave you offline after every restart or wake. Once location, protocol, competing-app, and restart checks fail, continuing to change unrelated DNS and router settings creates more uncertainty.
Install one alternative with a refund window and test it on the same network. If it connects immediately, you have isolated the failure and restored access without waiting for another reinstall cycle.
Compare VPNs for a same-network testDiagnose the Surfshark connection failure
Pick the exact symptom. “Cannot connect” and “connected but no internet” need different fixes.
Recommended next check
Change location and protocol first
Try another nearby location, then switch between WireGuard, OpenVPN UDP, and OpenVPN TCP.
Run the ordered fixesFix Surfshark not connecting step by step
These steps cover the highest-frequency SERP and question-query causes without asking you to weaken device security.
- 1
Verify the base connection
Disconnect Surfshark and confirm normal browsing works. Complete any hotel, school, or public-Wi-Fi captive portal before reconnecting the VPN.
- 2
Try another location
Choose a nearby non-static location first. If one endpoint is unavailable, another often confirms that the account and app are healthy.
- 3
Change protocol
Try WireGuard, OpenVPN UDP, and OpenVPN TCP one at a time. A network can block one protocol while allowing another.
- 4
Quit competing VPN and filter apps
Only one system tunnel can own certain routes cleanly. Close other VPNs, corporate clients, DNS filters, and traffic-monitoring apps for the test.
- 5
Recover from Kill Switch or adapter state
Disconnect inside Surfshark, check Kill Switch, fully quit the app, and restart the device. Reconnect before changing unrelated router settings.
- 6
Reinstall as the final local step
Use the normal uninstall process, restart, then install the current app. Preserve diagnostic logs if support has asked for them.
Surfshark connection symptom matrix
Match the app message with what happens outside the tunnel.
| What you see | Most likely cause | Best next action |
|---|---|---|
| Connection failed / unable to connect | Server or protocol handshake failure | Change location, then protocol, then test another trusted network. |
| Other VPN detected | Competing adapter, profile, or filtering app | Quit the competing client and remove only obsolete VPN profiles. |
| Connected but no internet | DNS, route, or Kill Switch state | Disconnect cleanly, restart the app/device, and reconnect before editing DNS. |
| Works until the computer wakes | Suspended service or virtual adapter | Fully quit Surfshark, restart, and install the current version if it repeats. |
Preserve diagnostics before a clean reinstall
If support is actively investigating a repeatable connection failure, export or submit diagnostics before uninstalling. Reinstallation can remove the evidence needed to identify a service or adapter crash.
If Surfshark still will not connect, test the network with another VPN
A replacement test distinguishes a Surfshark-specific failure from a router, ISP, firewall, or device-wide VPN block. Pick one eligible refund window and test the same device, network, and time of day.
Best privacy-first replacement test
Proton VPN
Proton VPN is the strongest trial when you want open-source apps, multiple modern protocols, and useful connection modes for restrictive networks. Its paid plans also add P2P and port forwarding.
- Open-source apps
- WireGuard, OpenVPN, and Stealth options
- Paid P2P and port-forwarding support
Limit: The free plan is useful for a basic connection test but does not include the complete paid feature set or P2P support.
Refund: 30-day money-back guarantee on eligible paid-plan purchases; purchase channel and current terms apply.
Longest refund window of these three
PureVPN
PureVPN is a practical comparison test when you want common protocols, broad app coverage, and an extra day to check whether your home, work, or mobile network behaves better with another provider.
- 31-day eligible refund window
- WireGuard and OpenVPN
- 24/7 support and a kill switch
Limit: Special features such as port forwarding can cost extra, and refund eligibility depends on how and when the subscription was purchased.
Refund: 31-day refund policy for an eligible initial purchase; renewals, trials, cryptocurrency, and some store payments have exclusions.
Best for detailed app controls
Private Internet Access
PIA suits users who want to tune protocol, ports, DNS behavior, automation, and kill-switch settings instead of relying only on an automatic connection mode.
- Detailed desktop settings
- Open-source apps
- P2P and selected-region port forwarding
Limit: More controls also mean more choices to verify. Port forwarding is unavailable in some regions and is not a permanent dedicated port.
Refund: 30-day money-back guarantee on eligible purchases; app-store, gift-card, third-party, and some repeat purchases are excluded.
Related checks
Frequently asked questions
Retest before you pay or reinstall again
Repeat the same test after each change. Record the server, protocol, network, app status, and whether ordinary internet works. That small log makes both self-diagnosis and support tickets much faster.
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