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There can be many reasons why your VPN won’t connect. Thankfully, most VPN connection issues can be fixed in minutes, and the solutions are all simple!
5 VPN Connection Problems
There are a few key causes for VPN connection issues.
1. Outdated VPN App
Outdated VPN software can become a problem if you go long enough without giving it a much-needed update. It can be annoying to update apps, but this is a necessary inconvenience to ensure that your VPN software isn’t too old to function properly.
2. Faulty Wi-Fi Connection
A poor Wi-Fi connection can cause problems, including difficulty connecting to your VPN. Even with a masked IP and tunneling, you still need a stable internet connection to lay the foundation, and without this, trouble starts to occur.
If you’re using an Ethernet connection, cable, port, and provider issues can also occur, leading to VPN issues.
3. Overloaded Servers
Some VPNs don’t have enough separate servers to provide every user with solid connection speeds. The higher the demand, the more strained each server becomes as bandwidth capacity is reached.
4. Using a Kill Switch
AVPN kill switchdisconnects your internet connection as soon as the VPN connection fails. This automatically prevents you from unknowingly surfing the web with your unprotected IP without your knowledge.
However, a kill switch can prove problematic after it’s turned on, as it will prevent you from reconnecting to your VPN once your Wi-Fi has been turned off.
5. Your VPN Is Blocked
VPN users may encounter website blockswhile connected to a VPN server. Websites monitor connected IP addresses and flag those appearing to be from a VPN server. If the website doesn’t accept traffic from a potentially unknown origin, it may block all IP addresses from known VPN server addresses.
VPNs can also be blocked by public Wi-Fi networks, such as those you’d connect to at a mall, airport, or hotel.
How to Fix Your VPN Connection Issues
Try the following fixes to make your VPN connection issues a thing of the past.
1. Reestablish Your Internet Connection
Sometimes, turning your device’s Wi-Fi connection off and on again can quickly solve your VPN connection issues, so try this before switching providers or server locations. Alternatively, you could turn your router off and on again, though this will take a little longer.
If you’re using an Ethernet connection, try disconnecting the cable from your device or the Ethernet port. Or, again, you can try restarting your router.
You could also run an internet speed test while not connecting to your VPN to see if your network is the issue.
2. Update or Reinstall Your VPN App
A quick fix to your VPN connection issue may be to update, delete, or reinstall your VPN app.
To check if your VPN app needs an update, open the VPN’s settings and check for an update. Alternatively, head into your native app store and search for the VPN app.
If no update is due, try deleting and reinstalling your VPN app.
3. Switch VPN Servers
As discussed above, an overloaded VPN server can make connecting impossible or provide shoddy speeds if you successfully connect. Either way, this isn’t great. In this case, consider switching to another of your provider’s VPN servers.
If you’re using a premium VPN service, you should have plenty of server locations to choose from.
If you’re using a free VPN that only offers one or two server locations, you may not be able to connect to any of the servers available successfully, soconsider upgrading to the provider’s premium versionor switching to a free VPN service with more servers to choose from.
4. Switch VPN Protocols
Most VPN services offervarious VPN protocols, such as OpenVPN, WireGaurd, and IKEv2. VPN protocols encrypt your internet traffic and IP but differ slightly in their processes, speeds, and so on.
If you’re having trouble establishing a solid VPN connection, try switching protocols. Ensure the protocol you choose is reliable, such as those mentioned above.
If you’ve never heard of the VPN protocol available, do a little research first to ensure it can be trusted. Reputable VPN providers won’t offer lackluster or unsecured protocols, but if you’re using a free or lesser-known VPN, there’s always a chance that your connection isn’t secure.
5. Turn Off Your Kill Switch
If you don’t mind spending a few minutes online without a VPN connection, consider turning off your VPN kill switch feature. You can do this by going to your VPN app’s settings or preferences.
Alternatively, opt for a VPN protocol that doesn’t support kill switches to remove the chance of ever accidentally reenabling this feature.
6. Switch VPN Providers
In the second point of this solutions list, we lightly touched upon switching VPN servers, but limited VPN servers aren’t the only issue at play here. Slow speeds across the board, constant connection issues, and lackluster security features can all contribute to a shoddy VPN.
To minimize the risk of running into connection issues, it’s always best to use a well-established and highly-reviewed VPN provider. The best VPN services usually come with a fee, but if you’re highly concerned about your online privacy, this cost is worth it.
Check out our list of thebest VPN servicesif you’re considering switching.
