How to Stop a Firewall from Blocking a VPN?

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In my experience, when a firewall blocks my VPN, there are a few reliable steps I follow to bypass the issue. Here’s what works best for me:

  1. Switch VPN Protocols: One of the first things I try is switching the VPN protocol. Firewalls sometimes block specific protocols like OpenVPN or IKEv2, but switching to OpenVPN with TCP often does the trick. This protocol operates on port 443, which is commonly used for HTTPS traffic and less likely to be blocked.
  2. Enable Stealth Mode or Obfuscation: If the protocol switch doesn’t work, I turn on the VPN’s stealth mode or obfuscation feature. This disguises VPN traffic to appear as regular web traffic, making it harder for firewalls to detect and block it. This feature has saved me in networks with aggressive restrictions.
  3. Change VPN Ports: Firewalls might block specific ports, so manually switching the port within the VPN app can be effective. I often switch to port 443 (for OpenVPN) since it’s less likely to be blocked, given that it’s used for secure web browsing.
  4. Whitelist VPN in Firewall Settings: If I have control over the firewall (like on my home network), I add the VPN app or server IPs to the firewall’s whitelist. This prevents the firewall from blocking my connection. It’s a quick solution for personal devices where you can modify firewall settings.
  5. Use a Dedicated IP Address: Shared VPN IP addresses are sometimes blocked by firewalls because they’re heavily used. I’ve found that using a dedicated IP address from my VPN provider can help me avoid these blocks, especially in more restrictive environments.
  6. Turn Off Firewalls on Personal Devices: If I’m using my own device, and the VPN is still being blocked, I temporarily turn off the firewall to see if that resolves the issue. Once I confirm it’s the firewall, I can tweak the settings or keep it off while using the VPN (though I only do this if it’s safe to disable the firewall temporarily).

These steps have consistently helped me get around VPN blocks caused by firewalls, and they should help you as well. Furthermore, for a detailed comparison of VPNs you can explore VPN comparison table.