So I'm in the middle of a 3-week trip and my ExpressVPN just... died. Like, connected but zero actual internet. Couldn't load anything. Not Google, not WhatsApp, not even my own email.
I was in a hotel in Xi'an, supposed to be working remotely (yes I know, gray area, different discussion), and I had a client call in 2 hours.
What I tried:
• Switched servers 20 times. Nothing.
• Reinstalled the app. Nope.
• Tried my backup VPN (Surfshark). Also dead.
• Panic. Lots of panic.
What actually worked:
Went to the hotel business center, used their computer (which somehow had working internet?), logged into my VPN account online, and switched protocols. Changed from "Automatic" to "Lightway" and it magically worked again.
Also: reached out to ExpressVPN support via live chat. They responded in 3 minutes and confirmed there was a temporary block wave happening that week. Gave me a list of specific servers that still worked.
Lessons learned:
• Have TWO different VPN providers. Not one with multiple servers — two COMPLETELY different services.
• Know how to change protocols in your VPN app BEFORE you need to.
• Hotel business centers sometimes have unrestricted internet (don't ask me why).
• VPN support live chat is actually helpful — use it.
• Download offline maps and translation packs so you're not completely helpless.
The client call went fine btw. But my blood pressure was not okay for about an hour there.
Anyone else had a VPN die at the worst possible moment?
Posted on 2026-5-23 00:15:08