FIX: VPN blocked by Telstra (6 foolproof solutions)
- Telstra is an Australian telecom provider that also provides Internet services. Unfortunately, many users report that their VPN connections don't work on Telstra routers.
- If you're one of these users, connect to obfuscated VPN servers, change your DNS settings, or set the router firewall to low. Discover more solutions in this article.
- To find out what else you can unblock with a VPN, join our Unblocking section.
- Visit our VPN Troubleshooting Hub if you're experiencing any other VPN issues.
Telstra is an Australian telecom provider that offers Broadband Internet, NBN, 5G, TV, and mobile phone services.
Unfortunately, many Telstra users report that their VPN connections don’t work. If you’re one of them, here’s everything you need to know to fix this problem with this ISP.
What can I do if Telstra VPN is not working?
Connect to obfuscated VPN servers
Obfuscation mode is a technique you can use to reach websites that restrict VPN access using Deep Packet Inspection.
Also known as stealth mode, it makes your VPN traffic undetectable, disguising it as a normal HTTPS connection.
Few VPN services support obfuscated servers. And we can’t think of a better provider than NordVPN. It has more than 5,100 VPN servers in 59 countries.
NordVPN supports the OpenVPN protocol and obfuscation mode, making it the perfect candidate for helping you bypass Telstra VPN blocks.
More about NordVPN:
- 6 simultaneous connections
- Supports Windows, iOS, Mac, Android, Linux, and routers
- No logs or leaks
- 24/7 live chat support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- No free trial
NordVPN
Connect to the obfuscated servers of this reliable VPN service to circumvent Telstra VPN blocks.Connect to a different VPN server
Telstra may be the kind of ISP that blocks known VPN IP addresses. If you’re using a free VPN, you’ll likely face this issue.
Instead, you should switch to a premium VPN service like NordVPN (buy here). It supports numerous VPN servers which you can explore to find a VPN IP address that doesn’t get blocked by Telstra.
Use a different VPN protocol
Telstra could be blocking the ports used by known VPN protocols. If you’re trying to remotely connect to the workplace using PPTP, then Telstra could be restricting access to port 1723 over TCP.
If that’s the case, you can switch to different protocols such as OpenVPN, SSTP, or WireGuard.
Set up port forwarding
An alternative to changing the VPN protocol is to redirect all network traffic from one port to another. It’s known as port forwarding or port mapping, and you can change settings at the router level.
Or, if you don’t want to go through the trouble of customizing router options, check out the best port forwarding software tools.
Change DNS settings
If your VPN is using the default DNS settings provided by the ISP, it might be the reason by Telstra is blocking your VPN connection.
To fix it, change the DNS settings on your device. Most VPN clients run exclusive DNS servers to speed up your Internet connection and bypass firewalls, such as NordVPN (buy here).
Alternatively, try using the public and secure DNS servers provided by Google Public DNS, Cloudflare, or OpenDNS.
Set the Telstra firewall mode to low (not recommended)
Several Telstra users have reported that setting the Telstra firewall mode to low solved their VPN connectivity issue. This settings can be found in the Admin section of the router admin panel.
However, we can’t 100% recommend this workaround because it means lowering the security of your router and exposing your home network to a wide range of web-enabled vulnerabilities, such as DDoS attacks.
A safer alternative is to find and whitelist your VPN in the Telstra modem settings.
Conclusion
To recap, if your VPN isn’t working on Telstra, you can fix this issue by connecting to obfuscated servers, another VPN server, or another VPN protocol.
However, you can also set up port forwarding and change your DNS settings. You can also try setting the router firewall mode to low, but we don’t recommend this for security reasons.
FAQ: Learn more about Telstra and VPN
- Does Telstra block VPN?
No, there hasn’t been any evidence to support that Telstra actively blocks VPN.
- Does a Telstra smart modem support VPN?
Yes, a Telstra smart modem should allow VPN connections.
- How do I setup a VPN on my Telstra router?
Access the Telstra admin panel by entering 10.0. 0.138 in your web browser’s address bar. Once logged in, go to the Advanced section on the top-right part of the screen, open the WAN services section, and look for the VPN details.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in December 2018 and was revamped and updated in December 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
How do I connect NordVPN to my Telstra modem? or at least to my TV