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Why am I unable to access some websites while connected to Surfshark?

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In this tutorial, you will learn the most common issues that may prevent you from accessing some websites and how to troubleshoot them.

 

We will go through these solutions:

 

Change the VPN server

 

First of all, make sure to test out a few different VPN servers in other countries and cities. There is a high chance that you will regain access to a specific website with a VPN server in a different country or city.

 

 

Change the connection protocol

 

Changing the connection protocols can resolve a lot of various issues. From connection issues to streaming issues, VPN protocols are the key elements in a VPN connection. Check out the following steps on how to change the connection protocol:

  1. Go to the Surfshark application.
  2. Click on Settings.
  3. Choose VPN Settings and press Protocol.

Here, you will find all of the available protocols, including OpenVPN UDP/TCP and WireGuard. Remember that this does not apply to router setups or Linux devices, but you still have the OpenVPN UDP or TCP options.

 

Check for connection leaks

 

Having connection leaks can also prevent you from accessing websites. You can easily check for IP leaks and DNS leaks on your device.

If you find out that your connection is leaking, setting custom DNS can efficiently resolve that, and we will cover that below.

 

Set custom DNS

 

Setting custom DNS addresses can significantly improve the overall connection and sometimes even its speed. In addition, changing the DNS on your device has a very high chance of resolving any issues with website access.

Select the guide for your device from the following list: 

 

Disable CleanWeb

 

CleanWeb is a feature that blocks malicious ads as well as malicious websites. With CleanWeb enabled, the browser will show fewer ads and block trackers and phishing attempts.

 

That being said, CleanWeb can block access to certain websites that may look malicious. Find the following steps on how to disable the CleanWeb feature:

  1. Open the Surfshark application.
  2. Go to the Features tab.

Here, you will find the CleanWeb switch.
NOTE: Remember that disabling CleanWeb is risky, as by doing this, you will lose protection from malicious websites that may cause harm to your device.

 

Try out our browser extension

 

If the issue you are experiencing occurs on Windows, macOS, or Linux computers, you can try installing our browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. 

 

Congratulations! Now you know why sometimes you are unable to access certain websites and how to troubleshoot this issue. 

 

 

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