Introduction
If you’re a digital nomad in Berlin, a remote worker in Toronto, or a student in Sydney, you’ve probably asked yourself: why does grammerly not work with vpn. The answer is rarely a single line of code; it’s a mix of DNS routing, regional server blocks, and the way Grammarly validates your connection.
Across the globe, users report the same symptom – the Grammarly editor loads, then suddenly throws an error, or the browser extension shows a red “Can’t connect” badge. These are classic examples of Grammarly VPN connection issues that affect people from New York to New Delhi.
In this guide we will break down the technical reasons behind the problem, show you how to diagnose it, and give you actionable steps to restore a smooth Grammarly experience while keeping your VPN active. By the end you’ll know exactly why does grammerly not work with vpn in your specific GEO context and how to fix it.
We’ll also touch on related topics such as what a VPN can do for your writing workflow and why some VPN providers are more compatible with Grammarly than others. Let’s dive in.
Step‑by‑Step Instructions
Step 1 – Verify the core issue. Open a fresh incognito window and navigate to Grammarly.com while your VPN is active. If you see the “Can’t connect” message, you have confirmed the problem. Note the exact error text – it often matches the article in Grammarly’s support page: Error: Can’t connect to Grammarly or Something went wrong.
At this stage, we ask ourselves again: why does grammerly not work with vpn? The answer is usually a blocked IP range or a mis‑routed DNS request.
Step 2 – Switch VPN server locations. Choose a server in a country where Grammarly has a strong presence, such as the United States, United Kingdom, or Australia. For users in South America, a Brazilian server often works, while Asian users may find Japan or Singapore more reliable.
Testing different GEO locations helps pinpoint whether the issue is regional. If you move from a German server to a US server and Grammarly starts working, the problem is a location‑based block. Remember, the phrase why does grammerly not work with vpn appears again because the root cause is the server’s IP reputation.
Step 3 – Adjust DNS settings. Many VPNs use their own DNS, which can conflict with Grammarly’s CDN. Change the DNS to a public resolver like Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) in your network settings. After the change, clear your browser cache and retry the Grammarly editor.
If the DNS tweak resolves the issue, you now understand one of the main reasons why does grammerly not work with vpn: DNS hijacking.
Step 4 – Disable IPv6. Some VPNs leak IPv6 traffic, leading Grammarly to see a mismatched IP address. On Windows, go to “Network & Internet → Change adapter options”, right‑click your VPN adapter, select Properties, and uncheck “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)”. On macOS, disable IPv6 in System Preferences → Network → Advanced.
Disabling IPv6 is a proven fix for many Grammarly VPN connection issues, especially for corporate VPNs that route IPv6 outside the tunnel.
Step 5 – Test with a different protocol. Most VPN apps let you switch between OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, WireGuard, and IKEv2. Grammarly’s traffic can be sensitive to UDP packet loss. Switch to TCP or WireGuard to see if the connection stabilises.
This step often reveals why does grammerly not work with vpn in environments with strict firewalls (e.g., schools in Singapore or offices in Dubai).
Step 6 – Check for split tunneling conflicts. If your VPN client offers split tunneling, ensure that the browser or the Grammarly desktop app is not excluded from the tunnel. Conversely, you may want to force Grammarly traffic through the VPN while letting other traffic bypass it.
When split tunneling is mis‑configured, you get intermittent Grammarly VPN connection issues.
Step 7 – Review the VPN’s firewall or kill‑switch settings. Some VPNs automatically block all non‑VPN traffic if the tunnel drops. If Grammarly tries to reconnect during a brief drop, the kill‑switch may block it, resulting in the familiar error. Temporarily disable the kill‑switch to test connectivity.
Again, you’ll see the phrase why does grammerly not work with vpn as the kill‑switch is a common culprit.
Step 8 – Examine your ISP’s NAT or proxy. In some regions (e.g., parts of Africa and the Middle East), ISPs use carrier‑grade NAT that interferes with VPN handshakes. Contact your ISP or use a “stealth” mode offered by premium VPNs to mask VPN traffic as regular HTTPS.
Stealth mode can eliminate many of the Grammarly VPN connection issues caused by deep‑packet inspection.
Step 9 – Update the Grammarly app or browser extension. An outdated client may use deprecated TLS versions that some VPNs block. Ensure you are on the latest version of Grammarly for Windows, macOS, Chrome, or Edge.
Keeping the app current reduces the frequency of why does grammerly not work with vpn scenarios.
Step 10 – Contact VPN support. If none of the above solves the problem, reach out to your VPN’s support team. Provide them with the exact error message, the server location you tried, and your IP address (use https://whatismyipaddress.com). Most reputable providers will whitelist Grammarly’s IP ranges for you.
Many users have reported that after a quick support ticket, the Grammarly VPN connection issues disappear permanently.
Tips for a Seamless Grammarly‑VPN Experience
Choose a VPN with a large server pool
A provider with over 1,000 servers in 90+ countries gives you the flexibility to find a region where Grammarly’s CDN is not blocked. For example, users in Mexico often find success on a US‑East server, while users in Japan may need a Hong Kong node.
Enable “Obfuscated Servers” or “Stealth Mode”
These features disguise VPN traffic as ordinary HTTPS, bypassing restrictive firewalls in countries like China, Iran, or the United Arab Emirates. This can dramatically reduce why does grammerly not work with vpn incidents.
Regularly clear DNS cache
On Windows run ipconfig /flushdns, on macOS use dscacheutil -flushcache. Clearing the cache prevents stale DNS entries from sending Grammarly requests to the wrong server.
Use a dedicated browser profile for writing
Create a Chrome or Edge profile that always runs with the VPN turned on. This isolates your research browsing (which may not need a VPN) from your writing sessions, eliminating split‑tunneling mistakes.
Monitor for IP leaks
Visit ipleak.net while the VPN is active. If your real IP appears, Grammarly may reject the connection, believing you are switching networks mid‑session.
Combine VPN with a trustworthy DNS service
Using Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 for DNS while your VPN handles encryption gives you a double layer of privacy and often resolves the “blocked by DNS” variant of why does grammerly not work with vpn.
Alternative Methods When VPN Fails
Use a Smart DNS service
Smart DNS reroutes only the DNS queries for specific services. By configuring your device to use a Smart DNS that supports Grammarly, you can keep your regular ISP connection for speed while still bypassing geo‑blocks.
Leverage a mobile hotspot
When you’re at a coffee shop in Dublin, connect your laptop to a mobile hotspot from a carrier that doesn’t throttle VPN traffic. This bypasses the local network’s VPN restrictions and often solves the issue.
Switch to a different writing assistant
If you need an immediate workaround, tools like ProWritingAid or LanguageTool have similar features and are less likely to be blocked by VPNs. They can serve as a temporary substitute while you resolve the Grammarly problem.
Use a remote desktop on a non‑VPN machine
Spin up a cloud VM in a region where Grammarly works (e.g., AWS US‑East) and access it via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). This way, the VM’s direct connection talks to Grammarly, and your local device stays behind the VPN.
Conclusion
Understanding why does grammerly not work with vpn is the first step toward a reliable, secure writing environment. By following the step‑by‑step instructions, you’ll identify whether the problem stems from server location, DNS routing, IPv6 leaks, or VPN protocol mismatches.
Remember, each mention of why does grammerly not work with vpn in this guide reflects a real-world obstacle that users across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, Brazil, and many other GEO regions encounter daily. The same applies to the recurring phrase Grammarly VPN connection issues, which highlights the universal nature of the challenge.
By implementing the tips, testing alternative methods, and, when needed, reaching out to your VPN provider, you can eliminate most of the friction. Your writing workflow will stay uninterrupted, your data will remain encrypted, and you’ll retain the freedom to travel and work from any corner of the globe.
For further reading on the broader possibilities of VPN usage, explore our internal resources: What to Use a VPN For, What to Do With VPN, Is Radmin VPN Safe, and What the Meaning of VPN Is. These articles provide additional context on how VPNs protect your privacy while you write, browse, or stream.
Finally, stay up to date with the latest Grammarly and VPN developments. As both services evolve, new solutions—like integrated VPN‑aware extensions or Grammarly’s own proxy support—may emerge, further reducing why does grammerly not work with vpn scenarios.
Happy writing, and enjoy a secure, uninterrupted connection wherever you go!
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