Vodafone broadband does not block VPNs outright, but its content filters - enabled by default on all residential connections - can prevent VPN clients from connecting. The fix is usually straightforward: log into your MyVodafone account and adjust the age restriction settings. This affects both long-standing Vodafone customers and, since the Three-Vodafone merger, some former Three broadband users too.
Vodafone applies network-level content filtering to home broadband by default. These filters are designed to block adult content and certain categories of sites, but they can also interfere with VPN traffic. Surfshark's own support documentation calls out Vodafone and BT specifically as networks where content filters cause connection failures for VPN users. The filter doesn't necessarily recognise the VPN as harmful - it just catches the traffic in a broad net.
Proton VPN and Surfshark are among the clients users have reported failing on Vodafone connections. One user on the Three Community forum put it plainly after the merger brought them onto Vodafone infrastructure: "Since Vodafone merger my Proton VPN stopped working. Google suggested logging into myvodafone and adjusting age restriction settings."
The primary fix is to disable or relax the content filters inside your MyVodafone account. Log in at vodafone.co.uk, go to your broadband settings, and look for the content controls or age restriction section. Turning off the default filters removes the network-level interference that blocks VPN traffic.
If you cannot access MyVodafone - which some Three customers experienced during account migration after the merger - calling Vodafone support and asking them to unblock the IP address range used by your VPN provider is a recognised workaround. Surfshark's support documentation lists this as an option when network-level filtering is the cause.
Not everyone will hit this problem. The filters are on by default, so customers who never changed their settings are most likely to be affected. If your VPN worked fine before and stopped after a router swap, an account migration, or a billing change, content filter settings are the first place to check. Business broadband accounts may have different defaults, though Vodafone has not published a clear policy on this as of May 2026.
## Quotations > Since Vodafone merger my Proton VPN stopped working. Google suggested logging into myvodafone and adjusting age restriction settings. > — Anonymous user (Three Community forum) (https://community.three.co.uk/t5/Broadband/since-merger-with-Vodafone-my-vpn-proton-stopped-working/m-p/51275) ## Frequently asked questions ### why is my VPN not working on Vodafone broadband Vodafone's content filters, which are enabled by default on all residential connections, can block VPN traffic and prevent clients like Proton VPN and Surfshark from connecting. The filters are designed to block adult content but catch VPN traffic in a broad net. You can fix this by logging into your MyVodafone account and adjusting the age restriction settings. ### how do I disable Vodafone content filters for VPN Log into your MyVodafone account at vodafone.co.uk and navigate to your broadband settings. Find the age restriction or content filter settings and adjust them to relax or disable the filters. This should allow your VPN client to connect properly. ### did Three VPN stop working after Vodafone merger Yes, some Three broadband customers reported that their VPN connections stopped working after the Three-Vodafone merger brought them onto Vodafone's network infrastructure. This is because Vodafone's default content filters interfere with VPN traffic. The same fix applies: adjust your age restriction settings in MyVodafone. ### does Vodafone block VPN connections Vodafone does not block VPNs outright, but its network-level content filters enabled by default can prevent VPN clients from connecting. Surfshark's support documentation specifically identifies Vodafone and BT as networks where content filters cause VPN connection failures. Disabling these filters in your account settings will restore VPN functionality. ### what VPNs don't work on Vodafone Proton VPN and Surfshark are among the VPN clients users have reported failing on Vodafone connections due to the content filters. However, the issue is not specific to these VPNs-any VPN can be affected by Vodafone's default filters. Adjusting your age restriction settings in MyVodafone should resolve the problem for any VPN service. ## Sources 1. [since merger with Vodafone my vpn (proton) stopped... - Three Community - 51275](https://community.three.co.uk/t5/Broadband/since-merger-with-Vodafone-my-vpn-proton-stopped-working/m-p/51275) (community.three.co.uk) 2. [Vodafone and BT networks – Surfshark Customer Support](https://support.surfshark.com/hc/en-us/articles/360012603719-Vodafone-and-BT-networks) (support.surfshark.com) 3. [Hi, I work remotely and my work uses a vpn. We have sky as our ...](https://www.facebook.com/groups/HHConvo/posts/8419607291388304/) (www.facebook.com)