VPN Not Working In Turkey? How to Fix it to Access Banned Sites

If you’re in Turkey and you’re having trouble using a VPN, it’s likely due to government-imposed restrictions that the VPN cannot bypass.

While VPNs are technically legal in the country, the government has tightly controlled their use since 2016.

When your VPN isn’t working, it’s likely your IP is blacklisted.

Read on as we explore other reasons why your VPN is not working in Turkey and how to resolve it.

Does Turkey block VPNs?

Yes, the Turkish government blocks several VPN services, even though VPN usage is legal in theory. 

Some VPN services and websites, such as TunnelBear, Zenmate, and Hotspot Shield, are difficult to access in Turkey.

However, because of occasional blocks on popular services like Twitter, SoundCloud, YouTube, and more, many Turks have to use VPNs for online freedom.

So, whether you’re tweeting or jamming to tunes, a VPN can be your trusted ally for unrestricted online access in Turkey!

However, using one may not be as easy as in other countries.

To prevent people from using VPNs, the Turkish government uses different methods:

• Blacklisting and blocking VPN IP addresses worldwide
• Blocking internet traffic on ports commonly used by VPNs
• Checking the protocol used by VPNs using Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) technology

Overall, while VPN usage is legal in theory, it’s heavily restricted, which is the reason why it is sometimes not working.

However, read on as we will help you fix VPN not working in Turkey.

How to fix your VPN when it’s not working in Turkey?

1. Change the server

Changing to a different server solves the problem of blocked/banned IPs, because a different server will give you a different IP address.

Follow these steps to change to another server on your VPN:

1. Open your VPN.
2. Select the option to change the server and search for a new server.

3. Connect to the server.

4. Now, access the website or app you want to unblock.

While countries can do efforts to block VPN IPs, they won’t be able to block an entire VPN service. It’s practically impossible to find all VPN IPs and ports belonging to a VPN service.

2. Clear your browser cache and data 

Clearing the cache can fix your VPN connection issues. Browser data helps you surf the web faster because you won’t have to send identification info every time you connect.

The downside of that is that they store location data. And if by any chance you connected without VPN, your browser will use that information even when you connect to the VPN.

Here’s how to fix this and make your VPN work:

1. Click on the three dots at the top right edge of your browser.

2. Go to More tools, and select Clear browsing data.

3. Choose the time range from the drop-down list. Use All time to delete everything.

4. Check the boxes for Cookies and other sites’ data and Cached images and files.

5. Click Clear data.

6. Go back to the website or app you want to access in Turkey. It should work by now. 

3. Allow your VPN through a Firewall 

Your firewall may mistakenly label your VPN app as dangerous, even though that’s false. This will stop it from connecting.

Therefore, when you allow your VPN app through Firewall, your device sees the VPN as a safe app. 

This makes the application work without interference:

1. Enter Window Defender Firewall into the Windows search bar.
2. Click on Windows Defender.

3. Select Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall. 

4. Look for your preferred VPN in the application list.
5. Check the box beside Private and Public.

6. Click OK.

7. Visit the website you’re trying to unblock and try to access it. 

Now your VPN can safely work without restriction from your Firewall.

4. Change to a different protocol

Protocols determine how your VPN reroutes your online data through its server, and they use ports that may get blocked by the Turkish government. 

Therefore, changing to a different protocol can resolve VPN not working in Turkey. Follow the steps below to switch to a different protocol.

For a good experience, we recommend using up-to-date protocols such as OpenVPN, WireGuard, or Lightway.

Outdated VPNs can be easier to detect and block, especially in countries that actively try to do so, including Turkey.

5. Change to a better VPN provider 

If the previous solutions fail to resolve the issue, the government may have identified and blocked all IP addresses available through your VPN.

Alternatively, you can upgrade to a higher-quality VPN that won’t encounter these problems.

For this, we recommend ExpressVPN. It has multiple servers in 94 countries, including countries. It also has automated obfuscation which disguises VPN traffic as regular VPN traffic.

Here’s how to set up ExpressVPN:

1. Subscribe to an ExpressVPN plan and download the software compatible with your device.

2. Install the ExpressVPN app on your computer.
3. Log in with your credentials.

4. Search for a server. For example, we used a server from the UK.

5. Select and connect.
6. Once connected to the server, open the app or website you want to access.

With this VPN you’ll be able to unblock geo-restricted websites such as Cine5, Kanal D, Ekşi Sözlük, Kanal 7, Beyaz TV as well as geo-locked content on streaming apps like Netflix or HBO Max.

ExpressVPN

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Best VPNs to use in Turkey

Official Turkish authorities have cracked down on different VPN services in the recent past, and they plan on doing it again. Therefore, not all VPNs are accessible within Turkish territories.

However, below are VPNs that are reliable and efficient to use.

They use advanced security features and constantly update their servers to stay ahead of government blocking efforts.

• ExpressVPN – split tunneling, AES 256-bit encryption, TrustedServer Network, built-in obfuscation for protecting data and bypassing censorship in Turkey
• Private Internet Access (PIA) – reliably offers multiple protocols to prevent government blocks, including OpenVPN, L2TP, and PPTP. It also has a strict no-logs policy and strong encryption.
• NordVPN – secure VPN for Turkey, backed up with privacy-enhancing features like Double VPN, Nordlynx, CyberSec, and obfuscated servers

Summary

Using VPNs in Turkey can be challenging due to government restrictions and technical issues. 

However, users can troubleshoot VPN issues by changing their VPN provider, switching VPN protocols, or checking their internet connection. 

Once you’ve done that, you can access blocked services in Turkey like Youtube, Wikipedia, Facebook, etc.