A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an essential online tool for your online privacy and security. However, like any other piece of technology, it can also have their malfunction. If you are currently experiencing problems with your VPN, we are here to help you out. In this guide, you will find the most common problem with VPN and their fixes that will help you resolve your problem.
Here are some most common VPN Problems with VPN:
- VPN Doesn’t Connect
- Slow VPN Speed
- VPN Keeps Disconnecting
- VPN Crashes
Here are the solutions on how to fix the most common problems:
1. Fixing VPN Doesn’t Connect
Check your Login Credentials
Many times VPN doesn’t connect due to a very simple problem: you typed incorrect username or password. If you are getting an authentication problem, most probably it is due to incorrect username and password.
Try to enter the correct username and password. If you forgot your password then reset your password and login again.
Check the Firewall/Antivirus
Sometimes Firewalls also interrupt the functioning of the VPN. A firewall scans your incoming and outgoing traffic, and if it sees anything inappropriate, it can stop your data transmission. Disable it to see if it can fix your connection. Most probably the issue will be solved instantly. However, do not forget to turn it on after you are done with the VPN.
Make sure you and the Server are Online
Make sure that you are connected to the internet without the VPN, and that the server you are trying to connect to is online. You can do this by first disconnecting from your VPN, then try to access the web page on your web browser. If it still does not connect, the problem could be with your ISP.
Also check your VPN provider’s website by logging in, then try to connect the server to confirm if it is online. Occasionally, a VPN server could be down, for maintenance or due to heavy load. If the server is offline, connect to another server.
2. Fixing Slow VPN Speed
Use Premium VPN
If you are using a free VPN, most probably you will get pretty slow speeds on your connection. Of course, VPN providers prioritize their paying customers. There are a lot of affordable VPNs with high speeds, you can buy one of them according to your budget
Change VPN Servers
The most common reason for slow VPN connection is VPN server. There are several reasons why this could be the case.
- Server becomes overloaded
- Server gets Down
- Geographical distance
- Blacklisted by the service you are trying to use
Due to these reasons, all the VPN services provide the option of switching between different servers. VPN providers give a list of servers all over the world, choose one that is geographically closest to you. If you are already using the closest server, If your VPN provider provides you multitudes of servers within the same country then choose another server or choose other available servers (in order of closest to farthest).
Change IP Protocol
Most VPNs allow you to connect via TCP or UDP. TCP is more commonly used for online connections due to its error correction features, as it includes error correction, so if there’s a connection problem or some of the data is corrupted, the transmission is still successful, and the sending computer knows to resend anything that didn’t arrive correctly, so it tends to be slower than UDP.
Since UDP doesn’t include error correction, so if something is lost in transit, it won’t resend the information to any data that goes through the protocol, so it takes less time to arrive at its destination.
Change VPN Tunneling Protocol
A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the VPN server. To create this secure tunnel, VPN providers use different protocols and encryption standards. Most VPN providers use the OpenVPN protocol. It is open-source and provides good speed and security. But sometimes when you may want to use a different option that works better. The popular alternatives are L2TP/IPSec, PPTP.
Change Port Numbers
The connection between Your computer and the VPN server is established via a networking port on your computer. Prot helps keep traffic from various sources separated. While you might think that every port is working the same, you might be surprised to find out that sometimes changing the port your VPN is connected to will be faster than before. Some ISPs or networks slow traffic on specific ports, and sometimes you’ll find that some ports are faster than others.
3. Fixing VPN Keeps Disconnecting
Disable your Firewall
Sometimes Firewalls also interrupt the functioning of the VPN. A firewall scans your incoming and outgoing traffic, and if it sees anything inappropriate, it can slow down your data transmission. If it gets slow enough, the VPN connection may shut down. Disable it to see if it can fix your connection. Most probably the issue will be solved instantly.
Connect to Nearest Server
Sometimes the problem that causes you to disconnect is with your VPN provider. Sometimes the VPN server doesn’t work normally so you can get disconnected. Try connecting to another server that is close to you.
4. Fixing VPN Crashes
Regularly Update the VPN
Updates are extremely important for the function of the software. They are released to fix the bugs or to modify the software to make it stable and effective. In order to keep your VPN working well make sure to keep your VPN updated at all times. You can manually update your software or you can set your VPN to update automatically.
Reinstall your Current VPN
When nothing works for you, simply reinstall the VPN software. Uninstall currently installed VPN software and go to your VPN provider’s site and download the latest software and reinstall it. Also, make sure you install this time with a clean slate.
Restart your Computer
Sometimes turning your computer off and back on can solve the problem. Over time many devices experience fatigue due to running out of memory and resources. Restart your computer to make sure all updates have been applied and that erroneous processes have been killed off.
Clear your Device of Old VPN Software
To choose the right VPN service you may have installed several VPN software to try out. They may be stopping your new chosen software from working correctly. Make sure you disable, or even better, uninstall all previous VPN software that you might have used.