VPN Connection Issues: A Quick Guide to Fix It

Here’s How to Fix VPN Connection Issues Like App Crash or Disconnection

VPN (Virtual Private Network) is gaining immense popularity these days. It’s becoming one of the critical tools for privacy concerns, watching geo-restricted content, or else to stay anonymous from surveillance of the Government or ISP (Internet Service Provider).

To make it better, VPN providers also come with the latest easy to use interface, security features, and other add-ons that make it relatively easier for users. However, it doesn’t mean that it’s perfect and doesn’t have any issues. Similar to other software and applications, they do create some of the issues from time to time. And the reason behind it could be many. Today, here we’ll discuss the same. Here, you’ll get answered to some of the commonly seen VPN issues like why VPN keeps on disconnecting or else why it keeps on crashing.

Let’s dig into details and find out solutions for some of the commonly seen VPN issues:

• Slow VPN Connection
• VPN App That Often Gets Crashed
• Not Able To Connect With VPN Server
• VPN Connection Gets Disconnected

Here’s a Quick Tips to Troubleshoot VPN Connection Issue

Here we have some of the quick fixes on the issues mentioned above that are commonly faced by many users. These fixes will help you resolve issues and help you get back connected with the VPN connection in a few minutes.

1. Quick Fix for Slow VPN Connection

It’s true that whenever you connect to a VPN connection, your internet speed slows down, but it doesn’t mean that you’ll see a considerable drop. If your website is not opening and you think that it’s a slow VPN connection, then some of the things you can try are like:

Get VPN Subscription From Respected Providers

Mostly you might be using a free VPN. Though, VPN providers claim that free VPN offers good speed. But, it’s a fact that they’re also running the business. So, their priority is paid customers and not the free ones. So, it’s quite common to face such issues.
However, you can go for a paid VPN subscription. Many cost-effective VPN subscriptions are available like NordVPN that offers high speed while keeping you safe, secure, and anonymous at the same time.

Change Your VPN Server

The VPN server you use for surfing the internet does make a difference. If you’re using a VPN connection that’s quite far from the destination server of the website you’re trying to visit or the VPN server is overly crowded, it can slow down the speed. Try changing the VPN server. For instance, try connecting with other city’s server of the same country. Most probably, it should increase your speed once you connect to another VPN server, where many users are not active, or else it’s close to the server of the website you’re opening.

Changing IP Protocols

Many VPN solutions allow users to connect through TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) or UDP (User Datagram Protocol). Among these, TCP is seen quite commonly, as it has error correction, which means if any issue arises or comes across any corrupt data, it’ll fix the transmission automatically. And, due to this error connection, sometimes can slow down the speed.
And, UDP is quite faster compared to TCP because it doesn’t have this error correction feature. So, if any issue arises or anything is lost in between the transition, it won’t resend that information. Due to this, speed remains stable. Though it comes with this benefit, it’s less reliable.

However, if you’re not concerned with data loss in between or else you’re casually surfing the net, then you can try changing between these protocols. It can help you fix the slow VPN connection issue.

Changing VPN Tunnelling Protocols

OpenVPN is one of the most popular VPN protocols, and it’s even considered the best and safest one. But, it can slow your slow VPN connection. In such scenarios, you can opt to go with another VPN protocol named as L2TP/IPSec, though it’s not as secure as OpenVPN. Still, it’s good to get work done if you aren’t dealing with any sensitive data and trying to do simple things such as bypassing geo-restricted VPN connection.

Deactivate Security Software

Not recommended, but if you can’t solve the issue, you can give it a try and activate it back once you’re done using a VPN connection. Sometimes, it happens that your installed antivirus software might be scanning all the packets sent by you, which can slow your internet connection. Simply disable it for sometimes till you’re using a VPN connection. It should fix this slow VPN connection issue.

2. VPN App That Often Gets Crashed

Similar to other software, VPN apps can also get crashed. If it’s happening once in a while, then there’s nothing to worry about. But, if it keeps repeating, which can interrupt your internet browsing experience, then you should take some action on it. Some of the common fixes to fix VPN software crash error are like:

Keep Your VPN App Updated With the Latest Available Version

Like any other software, VPN providers also offer regular updates to their software. So, be sure that your VPN software is updated with the latest available version. For instance, if the VPN software is running on an older version, it can create an issue, and it can also crash the app altogether. So, it’s suggested that you always allow upgrading the VPN app to stay updated with the latest available version. Or else if an upgrade is not provided automatically, it’s suggested that you regularly check on your VPN provider’s website if there’s any update available. And, hopefully, it should fix the VPN software crash issue that you’re facing.

Close Other Opened Apps

If you’ve kept too many apps open, then it’s suggested that you close the one you’re not using presently, because it can create an issue, especially if you’re using an old computer.

Restart Your Computer

Not only for the VPN client but for any software you’re using if it keeps frequently crashing without any specific reason, then most of the time, it’s preferred that you restart your computer, and most likely, it solves the issue.

Reinstallation of the VPN Software

If the problem persists, then there’s the possibility that the update might not have been appropriately made, or else during installation, any problem might have occurred. Simply delete the installed VPN client and reinstall it.

3. Not Able to Connect With VPN Server

Sometimes, a situation occurs that you can’t connect with the VPN server you’re trying, no matter what you do. If you’re facing such a situation, go through these below tips that can help you fix the VPN connection issue.

Verify Website Server or Your Internet Connection Is Working

Often the simplest things get overlooked. If you’re not able to connect with the VPN server, then first try opening any website without a VPN connection and make sure that your internet connection is working correctly. If an internet connection is not working, you know what the issue is and try to solve that by restarting your router.

If the internet is working, then it could be possible VPN server might be down. To verify that, simply try opening the VPN provider’s website because, for some time, the VPN server can go down if any maintenance is going on.

User Name & Password

Many times happens that you might have made a typo mistake while entering username or password. So, verify whether it’s correct or not. For example, spelling mistake in password or by mistake entering another email address instead of the one through which you registered for a VPN subscription.

If you cannot connect through the VPN server and getting an authentication error, then it’s quite sure that there’s a mistake while entering login credentials. So, without stressing further, simply reinsert your login details.

Another Network Connection

Sometimes it happens that VPN might be failing to connect with your network. To verify whether it’s happening like that, try connecting through another internet connection, for instance, a nearby public Wi-Fi connection, and see if you can connect with the VPN.

If you’re able to connect with a VPN using another network, then it’s sure that your internet connection might be causing this trouble. For that, it’s suggested to verify your internet connection if you can figure out what’s keeping you away from connecting.

4. VPN Connection Gets Disconnected

Getting connected with VPN is definitely needed, but it’s equally important that you don’t get disconnected until you don’t disconnect yourself. And, certain times, it happens that you repeatedly get disconnected from an on-going VPN connection. Here are the tips you can go through in such scenarios that will help you fix VPN disconnecting error.

Disabling Firewall

When it comes to computing security, Firewall also plays one of the crucial roles. For example, they’re responsible for scanning all the data that goes in and out of your private network, where it further connects to the internet. And, if the Firewall sees something suspicious, it’ll likely stop that transmission. And, many times, VPN traffic doesn’t go well with the Firewall. So, it gets slow, and ultimately VPN connection gets disconnected. So, you can sometimes try disabling your Firewall and try verifying whether VPN connection works.

Connecting Through Ethernet

It is not commonly witnessed, but sometimes it happens that at your router level network could create a connection issue that doesn’t allow a VPN connection. In such a situation, it’s suggested that you try plugging directly to the cable jack using the ethernet cable, and most probably, it may solve the issue.

Changing DNS Server

Many VPN solutions offer their own DNS services for extra privacy, but sometimes it can backfire with your internet connection. Every VPN has different steps for changing the DNS server. So, if the proper steps are not followed, it can cause an issue.
However, using other DNS servers can make you vulnerable to DNS leaks, so it’s up to you. If you face this VPN disconnection issue often and it’s crucial for you, then you can go ahead with this step of changing the DNS server.

Still Problem Persists

If none of the above solutions work and still problem persist with the VPN connection and it interrupts you from surfing your internet smoothly, you can always try to look for the support section on your VPN provider’s website. All the available VPN solutions offer a good customer support team. Also, they’ve separate knowledgebase section through which you can even look through step-by-step guides to solve the error message.