The server is not answering connection attempts
The server is not answering connection attempts: what the ForestVPN message net.blocked_at_handshake means, why it appears and what to do about it.
Updated October 11, 2026
The app says: "We're sending connection attempts and the server isn't answering."
What it means
ForestVPN keeps trying to start the connection and gets no answer from the server.
What to do
Turn ForestVPN off and on again. Choosing another location is not the fix for this message. If it keeps happening, try a different network, such as mobile data.
Why it happens
Something between you and the server drops the first packets: a firewall, a sign-in page you have not completed, or a network that blocks VPNs.
Where you see it
The ForestVPN apps show this message on the connection screen, and in a notification when it affects your connection. The code is net.blocked_at_handshake.