How to Fix Microsoft Edge Not Working With VPN

Microsoft Edge sometimes refuses to work when a VPN is active. Pages fail to load, DNS errors pop up, or only certain sites break.

This guide explains why it happens and gives you a full set of fixes, from quick settings tweaks to deep network resets.

How to Fix Microsoft Edge not Working with VPN

0) First, find where it breaks

1) VPN ON → Edge test.
2) VPN ON → Chrome/Firefox test.
3) VPN OFF → Edge test.

– Edge fails only with VPN → fix Edge/VPN settings.
– Everything fails with VPN → fix VPN/network.

1) Fix DNS so Edge actually uses the VPN

Edge can bypass your VPN with its own Secure DNS.

Turn off Secure DNS in Edge
1) Edge → … → Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Security.
2) Turn off “Use secure DNS to specify how to look up the network address.”

Flush Windows DNS and reset sockets
1) Open Command Prompt (Admin).
2) Run, one by one:

ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset

3) Restart the PC.

Managed PC? If Edge shows “Managed by your organization,” a policy may force DoH. Check edge://policy and the DnsOverHttpsMode policy. Ask IT or remove stale policies.

2) Kill proxy conflicts

Windows proxy or WPAD can hijack traffic away from the tunnel.

Disable proxy in Windows
1) Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy.
2) Turn Off “Automatically detect settings.”
3) Turn Off “Use a proxy server,” or clear it if your org requires none.

Also see how to adjust proxy settings in Edge in this guide on how to change proxy settings in Edge to ensure it doesn’t conflict with your VPN.

3) Make sure split tunneling doesn’t exclude Edge

Many VPNs let specific apps bypass the VPN. If Edge sits on the exclude list, it will misbehave with sites that expect the VPN IP.

In your VPN app
– Open Split tunneling/App exclusions.
– Remove Microsoft Edge from exclusions, or disable split tunneling to test.

4) Change server and protocol

Bad or distant servers and shaky protocols break browsing.

Try this order
1) Switch to a nearby server.
2) Change protocol: try WireGuard first, then OpenVPN TCP, then OpenVPN UDP. Your VPN app has a simple dropdown for this.

You might also explore using a VPN extension for Edge in case the main VPN client is facing compatibility issues.

5) Clear Edge’s junk and disable extensions

Corrupted cache or an overzealous extension can block pages.

Clear Edge cache quickly
– Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete → clear Cookies and Cached images and files → Clear now → restart Edge.

Hard test
– Edge → … → Extensions → Manage → Turn off all.
– Try again. Re-enable one by one.

6) Check firewall and antivirus

Windows Firewall or your AV may block Edge when the VPN runs.

Allow Edge and your VPN through Windows Defender Firewall
1) Windows Security → Firewall & network protection → Allow an app through firewall.
2) Click Change settings, then allow Microsoft Edge and your VPN app on Private (and Public if you need it).

If it still fails, temporarily turn the firewall off to test, then turn it back on and add proper allows.

7) Fully refresh the network stack

You already reset Winsock above. If the issue persists:

Use Windows Network Reset
– Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced network settings → Network reset → Reset now → restart.
This removes and reinstalls adapters, so you’ll re-enter Wi-Fi passwords.

8) Reinstall the VPN app (or Edge)

– Uninstall the VPN app → reboot → install latest from the vendor site.
– If Edge still fails only with VPN, reset Edge or reinstall it.

If you’re using a proxy alongside VPN, it may help to read about using a proxy for Edge to see whether your configuration is correct.

9) Quick verification

– With VPN ON, visit any “what’s my IP” page and confirm the IP and country match the VPN.
– Open a few sites in Edge. If they load, you’re good.

FAQs

Conclusion

Microsoft Edge may not work with VPNs because of DNS conflicts, proxies, split tunneling, or firewall rules. By following the nine steps above, you can quickly identify the cause and fix it without reinstalling Windows.