iQIYI not working with VPN: EASY fixes

iQIYI is a Baidu-owned streaming service that’s blocked in some countries. If you have a VPN, you can use the website abroad – but what if it fails? On this page, we explain what to do if iQIYI isn’t working with your VPN.

If you want to catch up with your favourite shows on iQIYI while travelling, you don’t want to see error messages. Take a look at our list of VPN fixes to solve the problem.

Which VPNs work with iQIYI?

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 iQIYI not working with my VPN?

If the iQIYI website identifies that you’re trying to stream content from a restricted area, your connection could be blocked. However, a trusted VPN can still help you stream shows and movies from anywhere in the world, even if you’re traveling around.

Your current VPN isn’t working with iQIYI and that’s probably because it’s not hiding your real location.

How does iQIYI detect my VPN?

If your VPN isn’t hiding your real location from iQIYI, the website will interfere with the server you’re using, making your VPN useless. Bad VPNs take an age to replace blacklisted servers, which means you have no way of gaining access to content on the iQIYI website.

In summary, common reasons for iQIYI not working with your VPN:

• Your VPN servers might have been blacklisted
• Cookies stored in your browser are telling iQIYI you’re not based in a support country
• A VPN is leaking your IP address – a reliable service such as ExpressVPN wouldn’t do this

iQIYI fixes

1. Update your VPN

If your VPN doesn’t unlock iQIYI from anywhere in the world, you need to make sure you’re using an up-to-date build.

On Android, open the Play Store. Select your profile icon in the corner and then Manage apps and devices. You’ll find the option to update individual apps or update all of them.

On iPhone, open the App Store. In the top-right corner, tap your user profile. From there, you can check for available updates.

On a computer, launch your VPN and go to Settings. You’ll find an Update button, which redirects you to the VPN provider’s website. Try iQIYI when the update is complete.

2. Ask Customer Support

The VPN services listed further down on this page have customer support teams that are there to lend a hand with technical hiccups. Ask the team about known iQIYI issues or wider problems linked to streaming from Chinese sites.

3. Use a different VPN server

VPN servers can be slow at times, so switch to a different VPN server if you’re experiencing lag on iQIYI.

4. Restart your VPN

To continue troubleshooting, uninstall and reinstall your VPN. Open your VPN and iQIYI to see if the issue has been resolved.

5. Check your internet connection

First, disconnect from your wi-fi, reconnect and then try your VPN again. If that doesn’t help, you can perform a full reset by restarting your router. Sometimes, we’ve found that working through this process can get iQIYI working once again. Even if you’re not currently based in a supported country.

Assess your internet connection using an internet speed tool, such as this one from Ookla. This test will allow you to compare the results with your Internet Service Provider’s ‘minimum guaranteed speed.’

Even more iQIYI fixes:

• Clear cache and cookies. From Google Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. And on Apple’s Safari, go to Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data.
• Make sure you aren’t the victim of a DNS leak. Flawed VPNs don’t disguise your real IP address and location when you visit IQIYI. To check, turn it off and head to the IP Address Lookup tool. Make a note of your typical IP address, activate your VPN, run the test again and see if those details change. If you don’t see a difference, your VPN isn’t working.
• Enter your VPN username and password again. If you can log in now, load up iQIYI once again and try streaming.
• Check your VPN servers. If you can’t connect, your provider might be dealing with an issue. The best providers (we like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Ivacy and PureVPN) are quick to fix blacklisted servers.
• Check your firewall. On Windows, open Windows Security > Allow an app through the firewall. On Mac, try System Settings > Network > Firewall. With your firewall settings adjusted, try streaming from the iQIYI website.
• Are you using the right browser? Ensure that your web browser is compatible with your VPN. If you’ve updated your VPN, don’t forget to update your browser as well. On Chrome, access Settings > About Chrome.

➡️ Download our free VPN troubleshooting tips poster ⬅️

Best VPNs for iQIYI

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 TV shows and movies on iQIYI 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 iQIYI. To watch shows anywhere, all you need to do is open up ExpressVPN, connect to a server and go from there.

This VPN keeps your real IP address hidden, so iQIYI won’t know you’re accessing content from a restricted country. 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 iQIYI and it’s a reliable option if you don’t want to spend loads on a VPN to watch TV shows. 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 iQIYI 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 TV on iQIYI from anywhere in the world. 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.

In just a couple of minutes, you can start watching TV abroad using NordVPN. To access the streaming service, just connect to a VPN server. If you need help at any time, you can call on NordVPN’s 24/7 live chat service. A great pick if iQIYI isn’t working with your VPN.

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 iQIYI’s shows without a fuss.

Aside from iQIYI, 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

Watch iQIYI on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android

How to watch iQIYI 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.
4. Once you’re connected, head to the iQIYI website.
5. Log in to your iQIYI account.

Watch iQIYI on Mac

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

How to watch iQIYI on iPhone

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

Watch iQIYI 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 iQIYI app to your device – it’s on the Google Play Store.
4. Sign in to your ExpressVPN account, and then connect to a server.
5. Now that you’re connected to a VPN, open the iQIYI app and log in to your account.

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