Crunchyroll not working with VPN: 5 ways to FIX it

Crunchyroll is a popular anime streamer, but it’s locked in some parts of the world. If your VPN isn’t working with Crunchyroll, take a closer look at our list of easy fixes.

If you want to watch anime while travelling, you don’t want to deal with errors. Assuming the VPN you’re using has failed, there’s a chance Crunchyroll has blacklisted your server. Our troubleshooting guide can help.

Which VPNs work with Crunchyroll?

Why you can trust GadgetMouse: Our content is written by a team of humans and we refuse to use AI. Plus, we own (and use) every VPN that we write about. For more details, see our editorial policy.

Why is Crunchyroll not working with my VPN?

If the Crunchyroll website identifies that you’re trying to stream content from outside of America, your connection could be blocked. Other anime sites including Funimation and HIDIVE are the same. However, a trusted VPN can still help you stream anime from anywhere in the world, even if you’re traveling around.

Your current VPN isn’t playing nicely with Crunchyroll and that’s probably because it’s not hiding your real location. The VPN servers you have available to you through your current VPN may be blacklisted by the Crunchyroll website.

Easy Crunchyroll fixes

1. Update your VPN

Don’t bother trying to load up Crunchyroll if your VPN isn’t up-to-date. To update your VPN from a computer, load up the VPN and choose Settings. Search for the Update toggle.

On an Android mobile, navigate to the Play Store, tap your profile and choose Manage apps and device. Select Update. And from an iPhone, open the App Store and tap your profile in the corner of the screen.

2. Swap your VPN server

If Crunchyroll anime isn’t streaming on your device, the issue may lie with your VPN server, so swapping to an alternative could be the answer. Try disconnecting from the server you’re currently using.

3. Message Customer Support

The most popular VPNs employ teams to address technical issues. If you’re having trouble watching anime from a country where Crunchyroll isn’t officially supported, reach out to them for assistance.

Access your VPN provider’s website and head to the Support or Contact Us pages. Some VPNs even provide a 24/7 live chat service for their members, which is great if you’re reaching out late in the day.

4. Reset your VPN

Restart your PC or phone and then launch your VPN again. If that doesn’t work, completely uninstall and reinstall your VPN. Open both your VPN and a Crunchyroll stream to see what the results are.

5. Check your internet connection

To do this, disconnect from your wi-fi entirely and reconnect. Once your connection is back, try your VPN once more and consider restarting your internet router for a full reset – you’ll spot a button on the back.

More Crunchyroll fixes:

Re-enter your VPN username and password. Double-check your details and, If you can’t remember them, choose the ‘Forgot’ option on your VPN provider’s website.

Check to see if you’ve been hit by a DNS leak. This implies your regular IP address and location can be seen by websites and apps, even when using a VPN. Test the effectiveness of your VPN using the IP Address Lookup tool – this way, you can check if your IP address changes when you activate your VPN and visit Crunchyroll. If there’s no change, it shows your VPN is not functioning properly.

Check the VPN servers are online. If you can’t connect to a server, your provider might be experiencing an outage. This will impact your experience using Crunchyroll.

Check that your firewall allows VPN use. If you’re experiencing issues on desktop, make sure your VPN is mentioned in the ‘Allow’ list. On Windows, head to open Windows Security > Allow an app through the firewall. On Mac, try System Settings > Network > Firewall.

➡️ Download our free VPN troubleshooting tips poster ⬅️

Best VPNs for Crunchyroll

ExpressVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.53 per month
• 6-month subscription: £8.12 per month
• 1-year subscription + 3 months free: £5.42 per month (49% off)

🌎 Number of servers	160
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	5
⏱️ Our speed test results	-8.7% download, -5.5% upload (London)

If you want to enjoy anime on Crunchyroll from anywhere in the world, consider creating a membership with ExpressVPN. It’s easy to use, speedy and works well if you’re looking to access Crunchyroll outside the US. To watch anime anywhere, all you need to do is open up ExpressVPN, connect to a server based in America and go from there.

This VPN keeps your real IP address hidden, so Crunchyroll won’t know you’re accessing content from outside of the US. Every ExpressVPN member has access to servers in over 90 countries around the world. ExpressVPN works on a range of different devices including Mac, PC, Android or iOS smartphone.

Pros: Smartphone app lets you connect in seconds, 'favourite' most-used VPN servers for quick access, performed remarkably well in our chat support speed test

Cons: Rival VPNs are cheaper, can't use many devices at once

Try ExpressVPN today

Ivacy

• 1-month subscription: £8.62 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3 per month (65% off)
• 5-year subscription + FREE password manager: 80p per month (90% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,700
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

Ivacy works well with Crunchyroll and it’s a reliable option if you don’t want to spend loads on a VPN to watch anime. This service is built to support 256-bit encryption, which helps keep cybercriminals away, and on top of that you get public wi-fi security that protects your gadgets against malware if you’re connecting to a hotspot in a public area.

You can use Ivacy to access geo-restricted websites such as Crunchyroll without anybody knowing about it. That’s thanks to Ivacy’s strict no-logs policy, which stops your valuable personal data from being sold to sinister third parties.

Pros: Connection is steady when using multiple devices, notifications mention if Ivacy is disabled, server locations split by country and city

Cons: We think the ExpressVPN mobile app is faster, below-average results in our chat support speed test

Try Ivacy today

NordVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.49 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3.99 per month (40% off)
• 2-year subscription: £2.79 per month (58% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,200+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	6
⏱️ Our speed test results	-14% download, -7% upload (London)

Here’s another VPN that lets you watch anime on Crunchyroll outside of the US. NordVPN has servers across the globe and all of them are protected by military-grade encryption. And with Nord’s enhanced encryption technology, you can even stay safe on public wi-fi networks without speeds being affected.

NordVPN’s servers are mega secure and you can connect without handing over your personal data. This trusted VPN doesn’t keep an eye on how you’re using the service, so privacy is guaranteed. You can also try NordVPN’s CyberSec feature, which blocks suspicious-looking websites and lowers the risk of your device being infected with data-grabbing malware.

Pros: Built-in internet kill switch works well, profile page on app includes 'Security score' with privacy tips, takes less than a minute to reach a live chat agent (based on our tests)

Cons: Other VPNs tested are cheaper, some streaming services require multiple resets to work

Try NordVPN today

PureVPN

• 1-month subscription: $10.95 per month (12% off)
• 1-year subscription: $3.74 per month (70% off)
• 2-year subscription + 4 extra months: $1.96 per month (84% off)

🌎 Number of servers	6,500+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

PureVPN is a great VPN that allows you to bypass geo-locked websites and services so you can enjoy Crunchyroll’s anime shows without a fuss.

Aside from Crunchyroll, PureVPN also works with ITV Hub, Hulu and Amazon Prime. There are over 6,000 super-secure PureVPN servers based in over 70 different countries.

Pros: Surprisingly affordable considering features, lots of UK and US-based servers, generous with simultaneous devices

Cons: Takes a couple of minutes to reach live chat agents (based on our tests), performs better on iOS compared to Android (in our experience)

Try PureVPN today

Watching Crunchyroll with a VPN

How to watch Crunchyroll on Windows

1. Pick one of our suggested VPNs – we’ll use ExpressVPN for this example.
2. Once you’ve created your ExpressVPN account, sign in.
3. From Windows, open ExpressVPN and select a server in the US.
4. Once you’re connected, head to the Crunchyroll website.
5. Log in to your Crunchyroll account.

Crunchyroll on Mac

1. Pick one of our chosen VPNs and create an account – ExpressVPN, for example.
2. After making an ExpressVPN account, sign in with your username and password.
3. From Mac, open ExpressVPN and select a server located in the US.
4. When you’re connected, visit the Crunchyroll website.
5. Log in to your Crunchyroll account.

Watching Crunchyroll on iPhone

1. Head to the Apple App Store from your iPhone.
2. Download the ExpressVPN app to your device.
3. Download the Crunchyroll app to your device – it’s on the Apple App Store.
4. Sign in to your ExpressVPN account, and then connect to a server based in the US.
5. Now that you’re connected to a VPN, open the Crunchyroll app and log in to your account.

Watching Crunchyroll on Android

1. Head to the Google Play Store from your Android tablet or smartphone.
2. Download the ExpressVPN app to your device.
3. Download the Crunchyroll app to your device – it’s on the Google Play Store.
4. Sign in to your ExpressVPN account, and then connect to a server based in the US.
5. Now that you’re connected to a VPN, open the Crunchyroll app and log in to your account.

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