Internet Issues after Uninstalling VPN – How to Fix

Installing the VPN app on your device will make it easy for you to connect to the VPN and access the internet securely. In certain cases, you might have to uninstall your VPN app. When you uninstall the VPN app, your PC might not connect to the internet. While this may not always happen, some users experience this issue when they uninstall their VPN apps. Resetting your network or modifying DNS settings might resolve this issue. Likewise, updating the network adapter is another fix. Let’s learn in detail how to fix internet issues after uninstalling a VPN.

Why Is My Windows PC/Laptop Not Connecting to the Internet After Uninstalling a VPN App?

While this issue is not very common, some users experience the “no internet” problem after uninstalling a VPN. A few of the most common reasons for this issue are as follows.

• Problematic VPN app
• The app left back problematic network settings
• Problem with a network driver
• VPN might have left back its DNS address

Fix “No Internet” After Uninstalling a VPN

1. Verify and Change DNS

• Open Windows Settings by pressing Win+I and go to Network & Internet
• Based on the internet connection you are using, click on WiFi or Ethernet
• After that, click on the Edit option that you see next to the DNS server assignment
• If the DNS settings are set as Automatic, change it to Manual
• If any unknown DNS server is assigned, you can set it to Automatic. Alternatively, you can set IPv4 DNS as 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
• Once you are done, hit Save to save changes.

2. Flush DNS

• Type cmd in the Start Menu and click on enter, after which the Command Prompt will open
• Typeipconfig /flushdns and tap on the enter key to execute the command.

3. Reset the Network

• To reset the network, go to the Settings tab and go to Network & Internet
• Choose the option Advanced network settings and hit Network reset
• On Reset now, you must click Next and then select Yes

4. Troubleshoot Your Internet Connection

• Go to Windows settings and then to the System tab
• Hit Troubleshoot and go to Other troubleshooters
• You will see the Run option next to Internet Connections; click on it
• Select Troubleshoot my connection to the Internet
• It could probably find and fix the issue. Make sure to grant permissions if there is a request

5. Troubleshoot the Network Adapter

• Go to the System tab in Windows settings and click on Troubleshoot
• In Other troubleshooters, click on the Run option that you see next to the Network Adapter
• Choose All network adapters and then hit Next

6. Update the Network Driver

• Open the Windows Device Manager by searching for device manager in the Start menu
• Click on Network adapters to expand the menu and then right-click on the network driver you wish to update.
• Select Update Driver and tap on Search Automatically for drivers
• Windows will automatically install the updated version of the driver if it finds an updated version.

7. Reinstall Network Driver

To reinstall the network driver, you must first uninstall and then install it again.

Steps to Uninstall Network Driver

• Go to the Start menu and search for device manager
• Once you find Windows Device Manager, click on it to open it
• Find and right-click on the network driver
• Select Uninstall device
• Make sure to check the Attempt option to remove the driver for your device
• Now hit Uninstall to uninstall the network driver

Steps to Reinstall Network Driver

• To install the driver automatically, restart your PC.
• If this doesn’t work, download the correct driver on a different device and transfer it to the device from which you just uninstalled the driver. You can use a pen drive to copy and transfer the driver.

8. Remove Leftover Files

When you install a VPN, it might leave back certain files on your desktop or laptop, like registry entries, shortcuts, etc., that might not be visible to you. These files could be the reason why you are facing the no internet issue after uninstalling the VPN. You will need to find and remove all the VPN leftovers to connect back to the internet, but finding the leftovers could be tricky.

In such cases, you can reinstall the VPN app and remove it using CCleaner, IObit Uninstaller, or some other dedicated uninstaller software that will remove the VPN app and the leftovers, as well.