Email not Working With VPN: Easy Ways to Fix

Using a VPN should protect your internet connection and keep your activity private. But sometimes it does the opposite of what you expect and breaks your email. Suddenly your inbox will not refresh, messages are stuck in the outbox, or your client refuses to log in. This is a big disruption if you depend on email every day.

This guide covers the main scenarios you might run into, explains why they happen, and walks you through simple but complete fixes. By the end, you will have a set of foolproof steps to try so your email works even with a VPN on.

What Happens When Email Fails on VPN

• Outgoing mail will not send and emails sit in the outbox until you disconnect the VPN.
• Incoming messages never arrive or the inbox will not refresh.
• Your mail client asks for your password over and over even though it is correct.
• You see error messages about the server, authentication, or encryption.
• Sometimes messages arrive, but the content looks broken or incomplete.
• The problem appears only with certain providers, servers, or VPN locations.

If everything works when you turn the VPN off, the connection is part of the issue. This kind of disruption is similar to what happens in other apps when the VPN shows as connected but not working, which is explained in this guide on VPN connected but not working.

Why VPNs Mess With Email

1. Blocked IP addresses — email providers sometimes block VPN IP ranges to stop spam. If your VPN server’s address is on a blocklist, your email may not send or receive.
2. Port restrictions — outgoing mail depends on specific ports like 25, 465, or 587. Many ISPs and VPNs block port 25 to cut down spam, so you need to use the alternatives.
3. Protocol and DNS problems — some VPN protocols cause packet loss or interfere with DNS lookups. If your mail app cannot resolve the server, connections fail.
4. Split tunneling not enabled — without split tunneling all traffic goes through the VPN. Your mail app may need a direct path to the provider’s servers.
5. Certificate or encryption checks — extra features in VPNs or antivirus tools can break TLS or SSL verification, which prevents secure connections.
6. Provider rules — big services often flag VPN traffic as suspicious. You may need to verify your identity or use an app password.
7. Random VPN issues — overloaded, outdated, or blacklisted servers create problems that disappear if you switch to another server.

What to Do When Email Stops Working With Your VPN

Each solution starts with a clear explanation and then gives you a step-by-step set of actions.

1) Test with VPN Off

Turn off the VPN and check if mail works. This tells you right away whether the VPN is the real cause.

1. Open your VPN app.
2. Tap Disconnect to turn off the connection.
3. Open your email client or app.
4. Send yourself a message with the subject Test.
5. Refresh your inbox.
6. If the message goes through and new ones arrive, the VPN is involved.

2) Switch Protocols

Different VPN protocols handle data differently. TCP is more stable for email than UDP. WireGuard and IKEv2 are often reliable too.

1. Open your VPN app.
2. Go to Settings and find Protocol.
3. Change the protocol. If it is set to UDP, switch to TCP.
4. If TCP does not help, try WireGuard or IKEv2 if available.
5. Reconnect to the VPN.
6. Open your mail app and test sending and receiving again.

3) Change Your Mail Ports

The wrong port setting will stop email cold. Port 25 is blocked almost everywhere. Port 587 or 465 is usually the answer.

1. Open your mail client settings.
2. Find the Outgoing (SMTP) server section.
3. Set the port to 587 with STARTTLS or 465 with SSL or TLS.
4. Turn on SMTP authentication and use your full email address as the username.
5. Open Incoming settings.
6. IMAP should be port 993 with SSL. POP3 should be port 995 with SSL.
7. Save the settings.
8. Restart the app and send yourself another test message.

4) Reset DNS Settings

Custom DNS servers sometimes block or misroute email lookups. Switching back to default often clears things up.

1. Open your VPN app.
2. Go to Settings and look for DNS.
3. Set it to Automatic or Default.
4. Disconnect and reconnect to the VPN.
5. On Windows, open Command Prompt and run ipconfig /flushdns.
6. On macOS, open Terminal and run sudo dscacheutil -flushcache then sudo killall mDNSResponder.
7. Try your email again.

If you keep running into bigger connection problems, it may help to follow this general guide on how to fix VPN not working. And if you notice the same problem in Riot games, follow this guide on how to fix Riot Client not working with VPN before you continue testing email.

5) Use Split Tunneling

Split tunneling lets your mail app skip the VPN while everything else stays protected. This is often the cleanest fix.

1. Open your VPN app.
2. Go to Settings and find Split Tunneling.
3. Add your email client to the list of apps that bypass the VPN.
4. Save the changes.
5. Reconnect to the VPN.
6. Open your mail app and send a test message.
7. If it works, keep the setting on for future use.

6) Whitelist the Mail App

Some VPNs and antivirus tools let you mark certain apps as safe. Whitelisting your mail app ensures it is not blocked by security features.

1. Open your VPN or antivirus software.
2. Look for App Exceptions, Allow List, or Firewall settings.
3. Add your email client to the list.
4. Reconnect your VPN.
5. Try sending and receiving email again.

7) Turn Off Extra Filters

VPNs sometimes bundle threat protection, ad blockers, or email scanners. These features can interrupt secure mail connections.

1. Open your VPN app.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Turn off Threat Protection, ad and tracker blockers, or Email Scan.
4. Reconnect the VPN.
5. Open your mail app and test again.
6. If it works, turn features back on one by one to find the one that caused the block.

Even if your VPN filters spam, it is still important to know how to spot phishing emails yourself.

8) Double Check Your Login

Wrong credentials are easy to miss. Some providers need the full email address, others require OAuth2.

1. Open your mail client settings.
2. Go to Account Information.
3. Make sure the username is your full email address.
4. Reenter your password.
5. If your provider supports OAuth2, select it instead of basic authentication.
6. Save the changes.
7. Test sending and receiving.

9) Deal with Provider Restrictions

Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo sometimes flag logins from VPNs as unusual. They may ask for extra confirmation or block the attempt.

1. Log in to your email account in a web browser.
2. Complete any security prompts or verification codes.
3. Check the account Security section for recent alerts.
4. If offered, create an App Password for your mail client.
5. Enter that password in your mail app.
6. Reconnect your VPN and test again.

If you wonder whether a VPN helps with spam filtering, see this breakdown on whether VPN stops junk mail.

10) Try a Different VPN Service

Sometimes the problem lies with the VPN itself. Certain providers have IPs that email services block more often. Switching to a VPN with cleaner IP ranges and more server options can save hours of frustration.

A reliable option is NordVPN. It has thousands of servers, supports split tunneling, and is known for avoiding email blocks.

1. Sign up for NordVPN using the link above.
2. Download and install the app.
3. Log in and choose a server near your location.
4. In Settings, enable Split Tunneling and add your mail app.
5. Set the protocol to TCP or WireGuard.
6. Connect to the server.
7. Open your mail app and send a test message.
8. If it fails, try a different server in the same region, then another region.

Wrap Up

When email does not work with your VPN, it is usually not a mystery. The common culprits are blocked ports, flagged VPN IPs, or extra security features that clash with your mail client. The good news is that the fixes are straightforward: test without the VPN, switch protocols, correct the ports, and reset DNS.

If those do not work, split tunneling, whitelisting, and checking login details often solve the issue. Provider restrictions are also common, so be ready to verify your account if Gmail or Outlook sees the VPN as suspicious.

And if you have tried everything and email still refuses to work, the easiest fix may be switching to a more reliable VPN service such as NordVPN. It offers cleaner IPs and better flexibility, which makes life easier when you depend on email.