This article addresses the common question, “What should I do if v2rayNG won’t connect?” It skips the technical details and walks you through a checklist covering your phone’s network, system permissions, node settings, subscription updates, and log troubleshooting—so you can follow along step by step.
1. First, check that your network environment is working
Many connection failures aren’t caused by a problem with v2rayNG itself. They may be due to your current network or your phone’s permissions. Rather than repeatedly reinstalling the app, try the steps below in order.
- Test a different network: Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data, or try another Wi-Fi network. Some campus, office, and hotel networks restrict proxy connections.
- Turn off other proxies/VPNs: If another VPN, accelerator, or packet capture tool is running on your phone, it may take over the VPN connection.
- Check your system time: Go to “Date and time” on your phone and enable automatic settings. A significant time discrepancy may cause the TLS handshake to fail.
- Check v2rayNG permissions: The first time you connect, you’ll see a VPN connection request. You must tap Allow. If you previously denied it, remove the old configuration in your system’s VPN settings and try again.
- Disable battery restrictions: Some Android systems freeze v2rayNG in the background. In Battery settings, set the app to Unrestricted or allow it to run in the background.
2. Check that the node and subscription are working
If your network environment is fine, check the node next. Free nodes can stop working quickly. An expired subscription, an incomplete configuration, or a protocol mismatch can all cause “connected, but websites won’t load” or prevent the connection entirely.
- Long-press the current node and select “Test configuration connectivity” or a similar option. Start with a node that passes the test.
- If you use a subscription, open the menu in the upper-right corner and update it. We also recommend updating the free nodes provided on this site before testing. Don’t keep using an old link.
- Make sure the node details are complete. Links for VLESS, VMess, Trojan, and other protocols must include all required fields, such as the protocol prefix, port, UUID, encryption, and transport settings.
- If importing a QR code fails, try importing by copying the link instead. Make sure there are no extra spaces or line breaks.
If a particular node keeps failing, that doesn’t mean the app is broken—the node may simply be temporarily unavailable. Try other nodes using the same protocol or nodes in different regions to compare.
3. How to adjust common v2rayNG settings
After opening v2rayNG, start with the default settings. We don’t recommend changing advanced parameters at random. Most users only need to check the following:
- Routing mode: Usually, choose “Bypass LAN and mainland China addresses” or “Global” for testing. If you just want to check whether the connection works, temporarily switch to Global.
- Local DNS: If you can connect but websites won’t load, try enabling “Enable local DNS” or changing the DNS-related options, then reconnect.
- Per-app proxy: If you’re proxying only a specific browser, make sure the target app is selected. If you’re unsure, turn off per-app proxy first.
- Core version: Check the v2rayNG version in the app settings. If it’s outdated, update to the latest client version.
4. Use the logs to identify the cause
After tapping Connect, open the log page. Common messages can be interpreted as follows: timeout usually means the node is unreachable or the network is restricting the connection; connection refused may indicate that the port or server is unavailable; TLS- or certificate-related errors often point to an incorrect time or mismatched configuration; DNS errors mean you should check your routing and DNS settings first.
Recommended troubleshooting order: switch networks, update the subscription, try another node, and then check the logs. Don’t clear all your settings right away, or it may be harder to identify the cause. If all free nodes fail, wait for the subscription to update or temporarily switch to another source, then test again using the same steps.
5. Quick recovery steps
The quickest approach is to close v2rayNG and any other VPNs → restart your phone’s network connection → update the subscription → test all nodes → select a working node → enable Global mode to verify the connection → switch back to your usual routing mode. Following this checklist will usually help you determine whether the problem is with your network environment, the node, or the client settings.