There are a few reasons for Hotspot Shield you could have connection issues with Hotspot Shield on a Mac:
User has two or more VPN/Proxy applications installed: When you have more than one VPN/Proxy application installed on your machine, both of them try to configure settings to connect to their respective servers. Due to this, settings will not be configured properly for one or both of the applications, and one or both of them will fail. Always make sure you are only running one Proxy/VPN application at a time. This includes any browser extensions such as Ghostery.
A firewall with strict settings configured can prevent connectivity to the Hotspot Shield servers. You should disable your firewall settings on both your device as well as the network your connecting to if you have customer firewalls in place.
An antivirus could also interfere by blocking the Hotspot Shield application. For testing purposes, you should disable your antivirus software or remove the program completely.
If none of the factors above applies to you, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Check your internet connection
- Close the Hotspot Shield application.
- Then, open your browser and try browsing a website to confirm that your internet connection is working properly while not connected to Hotspot Shield.
If you can’t browse the internet when the VPN is off, turn off and back on Wi-Fi. If that doesn’t help, you may need to check your network settings or contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Step 2: Relaunch Hotspot Shield
If you have Hotspot Shield open, but can’t connect to any virtual location, exit the Hotspot Shield app and then relaunch it.
Step 3: Change VPN protocol
Changing the VPN protocol in the app may help resolve the connection issue. You can try different VPN protocols to determine which one works best for your connection.
Click the “gear” icon on the left side of the application, then you can choose the desired protocol.
Step 4: Change Virtual Location
If you are still not able to connect, follow these steps:
- Click in the bottom-left corner of the app (“Virtual Location”).
- Then, select a different virtual location from the list of available countries and cities.
If the issue persist, please reach support using the Chat bubble in the corner.