TikTok not working with a VPN in 2024: 10 easy fixes

TikTok is a popular video-sharing app that has millions of loyal users worldwide. Unfortunately, it is banned in some countries due to its suspicious conditions regarding data privacy. The only solution to access TikTok in restricted areas is to use it with a VPN so you can change your virtual location to a region where it is available.

However, not all VPNs work with TikTok, and even if your VPN was unblocking it, you may still encounter issues. In order to solve this, we’ve come up with a guide that includes 10 easy and effective fixes when TikTok is not working with a VPN.

Continue reading to learn what might cause TikTok not to work with a VPN, find the best VPNs for TikTok, and easy solutions for emerging VPN issues.

Why is TikTok not working with a VPN?

• Blocked IP address. If you try to access TikTok with a VPN that has provided you with an IP address that is currently blocked, your effort will not be successful. This is possible because TikTok has VPN detection techniques, so they blacklist all the IPs that are associated with VPN usage.
• IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks. You may encounter geo-blocks even with a VPN, as some providers can leak your true IP, DNS, or WebRTC data. More precisely, they include information about your real location. So, if leaked, you wouldn’t gain access to the platform.
• Data stored in your browser. While browser cookies and cache help you reach content you may like, they can also collect and reveal data regarding your actual location. Due to this, you may not be able to use TikTok even with a VPN.
• Wrong server location. TikTok is unavailable in many countries due to security regulations. An example of such a country is India, so if you’ve connected to an Indian VPN server, your access will be restricted.
• Connectivity issues. Sometimes, VPNs don’t get enough maintenance, or they may simply have fewer servers and become overcrowded. Due to this, you may not be able to unblock TikTok from your desired location.
• Weak VPN. Free or unreliable VPNs lack strong unblocking capabilities, and they also often have limited server fleets. As a result, you may not have access to TikTok.

VPNs that work with TikTok in 2024

Not all VPNs are capable of unblocking TikTok in restricted countries. Luckily, we tested multiple VPN providers on the market and came up with a list of the three best ones that are capable of unblocking TikTok. Below, you’ll find TikTok VPN clients with amazing unblocking capabilities, vast server fleets, incredible security features, and fast speeds. Here are the VPNs that still work with TikTok:

1. NordVPN – best-rated VPN that works with TikTok in 2024
2. Surfshark – speedy VPN that works with TikTok
3. Norton Secure VPN – TikTok VPN with a bulletproof security package

TikTok not working with a VPN: 10 easy solutions

TikTok not working with a VPN can be because of the detection methods they use, but there might also be a few other reasons. We’ve put up a list of 10 easy fixes, so you can go back to using TikTok from anywhere in no time.

Switch your VPN server

The IP address associated with your current server could be on TikTok’s blacklist. To surpass this issue, you should switch to an alternative server within the same country or change the country completely, especially if the one you’re connected to has TikTok restrictions.

Additionally, your current server may be experiencing high traffic or undergoing maintenance, leading to significantly slower speeds. Due to this, we recommend you choose a VPN with a big server fleet that has a lot of servers in one country as well as throughout the globe, leaving you with more choices.

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Clear your browser’s cookies and cache

When you’re accessing TikTok through a web browser, you may accept cookies and cache. While they help you watch the content you may like, these files contain and may reveal information about your actual location.

That’s why clearing these files is important. They can also be corrupted and interfere with the proper website or online service functionality. To delete them, follow these steps (our example is on Chrome, but the steps will be similar on any other browser):

1. Open the browser you’re using and click on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner
2. Navigate to More Tools and select Clear browsing data
3. Then select All time in the Time range drop-down menu
4. Tick all of the boxes, like Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files
5. Delete your cache and cookies by clicking on Clear data

Make sure your VPN application is up to date

If your VPN has outdated software, it may become laggy, not unblock effectively, and lack the latest security patches. An outdated VPN might cause compatibility issues, thus giving bad performance or not working with some apps at all.

Always check if you are using the most recent version of your VPN client to avoid such issues.

Activate the kill switch and DNS leak protection

Data leaks cause a lot of issues. They can compromise your safety and also reveal your actual location. You can check if your data is leaking by visiting websites such as ipleak.net or dnsleaktest.com.

Most modern VPNs, like NordVPN, have features like a kill switch and DNS leak protection. To enhance connection stability and prevent data leaks, make sure these features are turned on.

1. Open your VPN’s settings
2. Turn the kill switch on by toggling the button on
3. Tick the two boxes below the button

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Reboot your device

Sometimes solutions lie in simple actions. If none of the tips work, you may just need to restart your device. This can sometimes resolve connectivity issues without any effort. Once you do this, open TikTok again and see if it works.

Switch VPN protocols

Some VPN protocols may not be suitable for your activity. Therefore, we encourage you to experiment with swapping between different VPN protocols available in your VPN client. Certain protocols might deliver better performance when trying to access TikTok.

You can do this in three easy steps:

1. Open your VPN app’s settings
2. Navigate to Connection
3. In the VPN protocol tab, choose your VPN protocol manually
4. Experiment with different protocols to see whether any of them work with TikTok

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Contact VPN’s customer support

If the problem persists, you can always contact your VPN provider’s support team for assistance. They may have specific recommendations for accessing TikTok and even guide you through the process step by step. They might also advise you on any ongoing server maintenance.

Check your internet connection

Occasionally, problems can arise from connectivity issues. In such instances, disconnect from your Wi-Fi network and reconnect, or consider rebooting your internet router altogether. Afterward, turn on the VPN again, open TikTok, and see if it helped.

Flush DNS cache

DNS data stores recently accessed domain name and IP address mappings. Its main activity is to speed up web browsing by avoiding the need to look up the same information from DNS servers repeatedly.

Unfortunately, it can reveal your true location to TikTok. Below is the process of how to flush DNS on both Windows and macOS devices.

Flush DNS on Windows

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator
2. Type ipconfig /flushdns in the Terminal
3. Click Enter

Flush DNS on macOS

1. Open the Terminal
2. Type in: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
3. Press Enter (you might need to enter your password)

Switch to a more reliable VPN provider

Free or weak VPNs may not update their server infrastructure and IP pool efficiently enough, making it easier for these IPs to be blacklisted by TikTok. Besides, weak VPNs might fail to hide your actual VPN.

It’s important to choose a reliable VPN that is capable of unblocking TikTok from anywhere effortlessly. We strongly recommend NordVPN, which has 6300+ worldwide servers, including about 2,000 US ones, fast speeds, top-notch security features, and impressive unblocking abilities.

Access TikTok with NordVPN

How does TikTok detect VPN usage?

• Blacklist of known VPN IP addresses. TikTok might have a list of IP addresses that are associated with VPN usage. When a connection attempt is made from an IP address on this list, it can trigger a block. These IP lists are usually obtained from GeoIP databases like Maxmind, which various online platforms often team up with.
• Behavioral analysis. TikTok may also analyze users’ online behavior to identify patterns consistent with VPN usage. More precisely, rapid changes in the IP addresses of a single account or multiple logins from the same IP address to different accounts in a short span may indicate VPN usage.
• IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks. VPNs sometimes leak IP, DNS, and WebRTC information, revealing your true IP and location. TikTok monitors such leaks and uses them as indicators for VPN usage.

Is it legal to use a VPN with TikTok?

The legality of using a VPN with TikTok entirely depends on the laws of the country in which you are residing. Overall, in most countries, it is completely legal to use a VPN with the TikTok platform. However, there are some exceptions.

For example, in India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Somalia, Taiwan, and a few others, TikTok is considered illegal and, therefore, completely banned. There are other countries that partially ban the use of TikTok. For example, in the UK, Australia, Canada, and some other countries, TikTok is banned on all government devices to protect sensitive data from leaking.

In the US, there was a plan for nationwide TikTok restrictions, but this did not come into effect. However, staff of federal agencies are asked to delete TikTok from their devices, and the White House doesn’t allow TikTok on any of the staff’s devices.

Conclusion

TikTok is unavailable in some countries, such as India, Afghanistan, or Somalia. While you can use it with a VPN, it might not always work. You need a reliable one to an IP address that is not on the TikTok’s blacklist.

If your VPN still doesn’t work, try to implement some of the fixes we mentioned – switching servers or VPN protocols or flushing the DNS cache. However, the best and most effective way is to find a reliable VPN provider that will work with TikTok with no issues. Our top recommendation is NordVPN because of its strong unblocking capabilities, extensive server fleet worldwide, and strong encryption practices.

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