ExpressVPN users in the UK are currently unable to disconnect from the EU server location.
An unfortunate glitch means that when a UK user tries to exit the EU location, the user is left in a perpetual “disconnecting” hang state.
To further compound the issue, it seems that roughly half of UK users didn’t actually want to leave the EU server location, though they are still affected by the tiresome “disconnecting” state.
Hard app exit
There is great confusion regarding whether UK users had intended to close the app entirely, for a hard exit, or were hoping it would run in the background (without any input) for a softer exit.
At this juncture, it’s fair to say that no one has the slightest clue as to what’s going on. But users should be comforted that there has been endless discussion of the issue, at the very highest levels. And while we expect there to be more aimless convening, debating, and voting on the disconnect, there is no plan to ask the UK users if they have changed their minds.
Removing the EU location from the UK app
It’s thought that ExpressVPN will remove the EU server location from UK apps on April 12. Though almost everyone expects this to be delayed. Frankly, we’re not even sure why the date was mentioned in the first place.
Complicating the matter is that our users in Ireland currently use the same app as those in the UK. Until now, Irish users have been able to connect to the UK or the EU locations anytime they choose, and they would very much like to continue to do just that.
One possible solution would be some form of backstop on the app, that allows Irish users to connect to both the UK and EU locations simultaneously. However, no one can agree on how this might be possible. The best bet at this point is probably to just keep voting on it.
What’s next for UK users?
Frankly, we have no idea.
As UK users will likely face a depleted service, there has been some vague talk of installing another U.S. server location to make up for the lack of an EU one. But no one knows how this would work, either.
At this point, your guess is as good as ours. There’s another vote shortly, in which we will vote on what to vote on next. But this is not expected to advance anything.
Please bookmark this page for absolutely no further updates on the matter.