If you’ve been watching Aha with a VPN and it’s no longer working, the IP address given to you by your chosen VPN has been blocked by the streaming service.
This has happened because the VPN your using is no longer able to stay one step ahead of Aha’s VPN blocking techniques.
This can be frustrating, especially if it was working and now it’s not. But don’t panic. There’s a number of fixes you can try to resolve this problem.
This article will explain how you can fix Aha not working with VPN and how you can prevent these issues from happening again in the future.
How to fix Aha not working with VPN: Guide
Total Time: 5 minutes
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Check if your VPN works on another device
This is the easiest thing you can do to figure out what you need to do next. If you VPN works with Aha on your smartphone, but not your computer, then you know your VPN isn’t the problem. If your VPN does work on one device, jump to Step 3 below.
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Contact your VPNs live chat service
This is another easy one. Cycle through your VPN’s available servers. If you only have a few options available to you, go to your VPN’s website and find the Live Chat feature (if they have one) and ask for a specific server number that works with Aha.
This is the single most effective way to diagnose if your VPN is the problem or not. If they can’t point you towards a server that works with Aha then you know, without doubt, that the VPN is the problem.
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Delete your cookies
Deleting your cookies can potentially fix VPN issues. Accumulated or corrupted cookies in a browser might interfere with the way websites and online services function, especially when using a VPN.
Clearing these cookies removes any old or problematic data, thereby ensuring a cleaner slate for your VPN connection to operate. This can help in establishing a more stable connection and resolving conflicts between the VPN and certain web services like Aha.
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Connect to a different Indian server
If your VPN has suddenly stopped working with Aha, it might be because the IP address your VPN has given you has been identified and blocked by the streaming service.
Changing to a different Indian server will give you a different Indian IP address, and if that one hasn’t been blocked, your VPN will work with Aha again.
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Reinstall or update your VPN
Think of this as the classic “turn it on and off again” tactic. Removing your VPN, and its settings, from your device and starting again is a good way to get the most up-to-date settings configured on your devices without much effort.
If you don’t want to reinstall the software, you can always check to see if there’s an update available to download any fixes your service may have introduced.
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Switch VPN protocols
VPN protocols are the beating heart of a VPN. They determine how the VPN works. When you use a VPN the protocol is responsible for hiding your data and rerouting it via VPN servers.
If Aha isn’t working with your VPN, it might be because the protocol you’re using is no longer working with the service.
If your VPN allows it, try changing to a different protocol to see if that fixes the issue. Take a look at our VPN protocols article to discover more about which technology might be best for you.
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Upgrade your VPN
If all of the above fails, you should consider upgrading to a high-end VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN ($6.66/month) or PureVPN ($3.78/month) for Aha.
For more information, check out our VPN list below to see which VPN suits your needs and budget.
Aha not working with VPN: Checklist
- Check if Aha works with your VPN on another device
- Connect to an Indian Server with a low user count (if possible)
- Clear Cookies and Cache: Remove old location data from your browser/device
- Verify VPN IP Address: Use whatismyip.com to check you have an Indian IP
- Disable GPS and/or location services on mobile devices
- VPN Software Update: Make sure your VPN software is the latest version. Try uninstalling and reinstalling
- Switch VPN protocols
- Reach out to your VPN’s customer service for Aha-specific recommendations
- Upgrade VPN: If all else fails, consider switching to a known Aha-friendly VPN
- I recommend ExpressVPN ($6.66/month) or PureVPN ($3.78/month) for Aha
Tip: Sometimes, simply restarting your VPN or changing the server can resolve access issues. If consistent problems arise, it may be time to consider a more reliable VPN service.
Why isn’t my VPN working with Aha?
If you’re getting errors when trying to watch Aha, it’s a sign that the streaming service has blocked the IP address your VPN has given you.
Aha blocks VPNs because it doesn’t have the rights to broadcast its content internationally. It’s only available in India.
If you’re using a VPN to watch Aha outside India, it could result in Aha breaching the copyright and licensing agreements it has with its content partners. Breaches like these often result in massive financial repercussions.
To prevent that from happening, Aha blocks VPNs from accessing its service.
How does Aha block VPNs?
Aha blocks VPNs using three main techniques:
- The most common technique is to do with the IP addresses that your VPN can provide. VPN providers have more customers than the number of IP addresses they can provide; this means that customers can use the same IP addresses. Usually, only a household with a few devices uses the same IP address. When Aha sees hundreds or even thousands of connections coming through on the same IP address, it knows that it is a VPN, and it blocks it.
- Aha monitors for IP, DNS and WebRTC leaks that can tip the service off you are using a VPN.
- Aha teams up with GeoIP databases like Maxmind to identify IP addresses. If the IP address your VPN provides is on one of these databases, Aha will be able to find out where in the world you are connecting to the internet from, and it will block you.
Lesser VPN struggle to get around these blocks, and subsequently, all of their IP addresses get blacklisted by Aha. This is what has most likely happened to your VPN, and it’s why you’re receiving the “You have been disconnected from the network” error.
Does Aha still work with VPNs?
Aha still works with VPNs. However, you need to use a VPN that can stay ahead of Aha’s VPN blocks.
It’s important to know that India has cracked down on VPN use within its borders. The government announced “India’s data laws force VPNs to retain user traffic logs for up to 5 years, giving authorities easy access to all your data.” This goes against the online security and anonymity that a VPN provides. And because of this, a lot of VPNs have stopped supporting Indian servers for customers to connect to.
To get around this issue, some VPNs have opened virtual Indian servers. An Indian virtual server is physically located outside of India, but is configured to provide users with an Indian IP address. This setup allows VPN users to access content and services specifically available in India, despite the actual server being elsewhere.
If you’re trying to watch Aha outside India, you need to use a VPN that has these sorts of virtual servers, see below:
Which VPNs work with Aha?
| ExpressVPN | PureVPN | Surfshark | PIA | |
| Aha | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Download Speed | 79 Mbps | 31 Mbps | 27 Mbps | 41 Mbps |
| Throttling | 79% | 31% | 27% | 41% |
| Stream quality | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️ |
| Price per month | $6.66 | $3.78 | $2.49 | $2.03 |
The VPN services we recommend for Aha
1. ExpressVPN 🥈
The fastest and most reliable VPN of 2024
- ✔Physical servers in 104 countries
- ✔Brilliant for unblocking streaming services
- ✔Very high-speed Lightway protocol
- ✔Available on almost any device
- ✔Very secure
- ❌Pricey
- ❌Only 8 simultaneous devices
- ❌No addons
Streaming: ExpressVPN stands out for Aha streaming due to its fast server speeds and reliable Indian virtual servers, ensuring seamless and buffer-free streaming of Aha’s extensive library of regional Indian content.
Servers: ExpressVPN is ideal for Aha due to its highly optimised Indian servers that provide fast and reliable connections, ensuring a smooth streaming experience of Aha’s diverse Indian content without buffering issues.
Privacy: ExpressVPN’s privacy measures include passing independent audits by cybersecurity firms like Cure53 and F-Secure, ensuring a strong level of security and no significant weaknesses in its macOS, Linux, and Windows apps. More details can be found in the audit reports available online.
Price: ExpressVPN offers three payment plans: a 1-month option at $12.95/month, a 6-month option at $9.99/month, and a 12-month option at $6.67/month. Payment methods include major credit cards, PayPal, Bitcoin, and other systems, accommodating a wide range of users.
Speeds: ExpressVPN maintains high download speeds with minimal drop-off, ensuring efficient performance. Tests showed a slight decrease in upload speeds, but download speeds remained fast across various server locations, including the US, UK, and Vietnam.
| Download Speeds (Mbps) | Upload Speeds (Mbps) | |
| VPN off | 937.07 | 520.93 |
| ExpressVPN US server | 824.62 | 6.96 |
| ExpressVPN UK server | 794.95 | 3.70 |
| ExpressVPN Vietnam server | 761.90 | 3.81 |
Read our full ExpressVPN review.
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2. PureVPN 🥉
A mid-range VPN that balances performance and price
- ✔Affordable
- ✔Unblocks major streaming services
- ✔Use on up to 10 devices simultaneously
- ✔Streamlined user interface
- ✔No log audit verified by KPMG
- ✔Several free add-ons
- ❌Buffering on BBC iPlayer at peak times
- ❌Past concerns with “no log” policy
Streaming: PureVPN is a great choice for Aha thanks to its dedicated Indian virtual servers that optimize speed and connectivity, enhancing the streaming experience of Aha’s diverse Indian programming.
Servers: PureVPN is well-suited for Aha as it offers specialised Indian virtual servers that are optimised for streaming, providing fast and uninterrupted access to Aha’s rich catalogue of Indian entertainment.
Privacy: PureVPN has faced criticism in the past for its privacy policies. However, it has recently undergone a no-log audit verified by KPMG in the past 12 months, aiming to reassure users about its commitment to privacy.
Price: PureVPN offers three payment options: a 1-month plan at $10.95/month, a 1-year plan at $3.74/month, and a 2-year plan at $1.96/month. PureVPN accepts all major credit cards, PayPal, and a variety of other digital payment options.
Speeds: Below is a table that gives you an idea of the speed performance you can expect when using PureVPN. The VPN has shown variable download speeds across different streaming servers, with some experiencing significant drop-offs during peak times.
| Download Speeds (Mbps) | Upload Speeds (Mbps) | |
| No VPN | 189.44 | 139.82 |
| PureVPN UK Server | 24.31 | 98.99 |
| PureVPN US Server | 49.83 | 106.52 |
Read our full PureVPN review.
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3. Surfshark
Affordable and secure VPN with unlimited device policy of 2024
- ✔Attractive pricing for long-term subscriptions
- ✔Supports unlimited simultaneous connections
- ✔Robust security and privacy
- ✔24/7 responsive chat support
- ✔Extensive server network in 100 countries
- ❌Has trouble with services like Hulu
- ❌Lacks a unique proprietary protocol
- ❌App can be overwhelming
- ❌Not the fastest among competitors
Streaming: Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections, making it an excellent option for families or groups looking to stream Aha’s regional Indian content on multiple devices without compromising on speed or quality.
Servers: Surfshark’s advantage for Aha viewers lies in its ability to bypass geo-restrictions with its reliable Indian servers, ensuring seamless access to Aha’s unique collection of regional Indian content across multiple devices.
Privacy: Surfshark emphasizes its commitment to privacy with successful DNS leak tests and independent security audits by Cure53, ensuring robust online security and privacy. You can find more about their security audits here.
Price: Surfshark offers a 1-month option costing $12.95/month, a 12-month option at $3.99/month, and a 24-month option at $2.49/month. It accepts major credit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, and various cryptocurrencies.
Speeds: Below is a table that gives you an idea of the speed performance when using Surfshark. From our tests, we observed decent speeds, suitable for general use, but not the fastest compared to some rivals.
| Download Speeds (Mbps) | Upload Speeds (Mbps) | |
| No VPN (New Zealand) | 940.55 | 520.24 |
| Surfshark US server | 775.9 | 6.15 |
| Surfshark UK server | 587.79 | 3.79 |
Read our full Surfshark review.
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4. Private Internet Access
Affordable and secure VPN with wide device compatibility
- ✔Affordable pricing plans
- ✔Unlimited simultaneous devices
- ✔Extra features like ad blocker and email protection
- ✔Verified no-log policy
- ✔Compatible with streaming services like Netflix and Hulu
- ❌High use of virtual servers
- ❌Not as fast as top-tier VPNs
- ❌Lacks proprietary protocol options
Streaming: Private Internet Access (PIA) is well-suited for Aha users, offering robust encryption and privacy features that ensure secure access to Aha’s unique Indian entertainment content, even on public Wi-Fi networks.
Servers: Private Internet Access (PIA) stands out for Aha streaming with its strong encryption and privacy-focused Indian servers, ensuring secure and private access to Aha’s variety of Indian shows and movies.
Privacy: PIA’s app is open-source, inviting third-party scrutiny and verification. It has also passed an independent no-log policy audit conducted by Deloitte, affirming its commitment to privacy.
Price: PIA offers three subscription options: 1-month at $11.95/month, 1-year at $3.33/month (upfront cost $39.95), and 3-year at $2.03/month (upfront fee $79). Payment methods include credit cards, PayPal, cryptocurrencies, and Amazon payments.
Speeds: Speed tests for PIA showed significant drops in download speeds across various servers. While using WireGuard protocol, speeds were faster than OpenVPN but still slower compared to top-tier VPNs like ExpressVPN.
| OpenVPN Download Speeds (Mbps) | OpenVPN Upload Speeds (Mbps) | WireGuard Download Speeds (Mbps) | WireGuard Upload Speeds (Mbps) | |
| VPN off (New Zealand) | 930 | 516 | ||
| PIA US server | 238.52 | 7.17 | 300.65 | 8.65 |
| PIA UK server | 245 | 3.77 | 315.78 | 7.23 |
| PIA Vietnam server | 445 | 6.55 | 489 | 8.24 |
Read our full Private Internet Access review.
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(30-day money-back guarantee)
Is watching Aha with a VPN legal?
Yes, streaming Aha with a VPN is legal, so long as you aren’t in a country where using a VPN is prohibited. Currently, China, Russia, Iran, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, North Korea, Iraq, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Egypt, Eritrea, Seychelles, Suriname, Namibia, Slovenia, Nicaragua and Tajikistan are the countries that heavily restrict or outright prohibit VPNs.
So long as you aren’t in one of these countries using a VPN with Aha is legal, however you should know that using a VPN does go against Aha’s terms and conditions.
When you sign up to Aha you automatically agree to the terms and conditions. This is a contractual agreement that outlines the conditions and rights you have when using Aha. In here it says “Thus, Arha may use technologies and methods to verify Your geographic location in order to effectively render the Services to You. You will not use any technology, technique (including impersonation), or other methods to change, obscure, disguise, or mislead Your location to Arha.”
What this means is, if you’re using a VPN to watch Aha outside India, you’re going against the terms of service and Aha is within its rights to ban your account for doing so.
However, given the wide-spread use of VPNs, plus the many legitimate and legal use cases for VPNs, it’s fair to suggest that banning customers for using a VPN would be an extremely costly policy for Aha to enforce.
In theory, if you’re trying to watch Aha outside India, you risk having your account banned. However, as the best VPNs use military-grade encryption, it’s impossible for Aha to trace where you’re physically accessing its content from.
There’s also one final thing to note on the subject: Aha has never banned anyone for using a VPN to access its service.
For more information you can check out our article answering Is streaming with a VPN legal?
Aha not working with VPN: FAQs
Q: Why is Aha not working with my VPN?
Answer: Aha may not work with your VPN if the service detects and blocks the VPN’s IP addresses. To resolve this, try switching to a different server provided by your VPN, preferably one that’s optimised for streaming services and less likely to be detected.
Q: Can I use a free VPN to stream on Aha?
Answer: While some free VPNs might allow you to access Aha, they often have limited servers and slower speeds, leading to poor streaming quality. It’s recommended to use a reputable paid VPN service that offers dedicated servers for streaming and better privacy features.
Q: How do I choose the best VPN for Aha?
Answer: When selecting a VPN for Aha, look for one with a strong presence of Indian servers, high-speed connections for streaming, and a track record of bypassing geo-restrictions effectively. Services like ExpressVPN, PureVPN, and Surfshark are often recommended for streaming.
Q: What do I do if Aha keeps buffering with my VPN?
Answer: If Aha is buffering, check your internet speed first. If speeds are adequate, try connecting to a different Indian server on your VPN, as this can often resolve speed and connectivity issues related to specific servers.
Q: Will using a VPN affect the video quality on Aha?
Answer: Using a VPN shouldn’t significantly affect the video quality on Aha as long as you choose a high-quality VPN with fast servers. In fact, a good VPN can prevent bandwidth throttling by ISPs, potentially improving your streaming experience.