Having trouble getting Freedom to work on your desktop? Follow these troubleshooting steps to get Freedom running smoothly on your Windows computer.
1. Ensure Freedom is Installed and You're Logged In
Steps:
Install Freedom:
Make sure the Freedom app is installed on your computer. If it's not installed, you can download it from our Freedom downloads page.
Log In:
Open the app and log in using your Freedom account email address and password.
Check Device on the Dashboard:
Visit freedom.to/dashboard and log in. You should see your device listed under My Devices with a green circle next to it. If this appears, you’re all set!
Need Help?
For detailed installation and login instructions, refer to this guide: How to install Freedom for Windows.
Tip: if Freedom is still not working, try quitting and restarting the app or restarting your computer to resolve any temporary issues.
2. Make sure the app is running in the background
For Freedom to work, it needs to be running in the background. Here’s how to check:
Look for the Butterfly Icon: You should see the butterfly icon in your taskbar.
Note: It may be hidden behind the ^ symbol in your system tray.
If you can’t find it, try relaunching the app. This should make the icon appear, and blocks will activate!
3. Make sure you are running the latest version of the app
To check if you’re using the latest version of Freedom:
Bring up the Freedom app menu from the butterfly outline icon
Click “Check for Updates”.
If you’re not on the latest version, follow the prompts to update.
4. Make sure your security software isn't blocking Freedom
Sometimes, security software can block Freedom from running. To fix this, add Freedom to your security software’s allowed list.
Here’s how to do that for common security software:
ℹ️ Tip: If you're using different security software not listed here, a quick Google search will guide you on how to add a program to the allow list.
5. Check for VPN interference
If you’re using a VPN, it may conflict with Freedom. The following VPNs are known to sometimes cause issues:
NordVPN
ExpressVPN
ProtonVPN
Surfshark
TunnelBear
CyberGhost
Private Internet Access
Corporate/Work VPN (Cisco, etc.)
Run Freedom with a VPN
ℹ️ If you want to use Freedom while connected to a VPN, try running Freedom in non-proxy mode. Here’s how to do that: Non-Proxy Mode for Windows.
6. Ensure Freedom is active on the device
If your sessions don’t seem to be starting automatically, please see Ensuring Freedom is active on Windows
7. Check your session details
Ensure that your session settings are correct. Confirm the following on your dashboard:
The session is active.
The right devices are included in the session.
The correct blocklist(s) are applied.
The blocklist has the appropriate domains/filters
If blocking desktop apps, make sure 'Desktop Apps' is added to the session
ℹ️ Tip: after adding a new device to your account, remember to include the device in your session for blocks to take effect.
8. Browser-Specific Troubleshooting
Non-Proxy Mode or Website Exceptions:
Some browsers are not supported when using Non-Proxy Mode or Website Exceptions. For more details, see: Supported browsers for Website Exceptions and Non-proxy Mode on Windows.
9. Still having trouble?
If none of the troubleshooting steps above help, please contact us for further assistance.
How to Contact Us:
Include the following in your message:
Your Freedom account email address
A detailed description of the issue
The device you're using
A video demonstration of the problem (if possible). Use your device’s built-in screen recording tool or a free service like Loom.
Tell us the steps you've taken to resolve the issue and when the problem started.
For more instructions on how to get in touch with us, see How to Contact Support.