In this digital world, a VPN is no less than a blessing for those people who want to protect their data at all costs. A VPN offers a secure tunnel that encrypts our data and lets us bypass geo-restrictions. But, what if our VPNs malfunction? Or what if VPNs fail to connect to our devices?
Well, like most people, I didn’t know what to do in case when the VPN malfunctioned. So, I did a little research and in this article, I share my findings about some common VPN problems and their quick fixes. So, let’s start:
Common Reasons Why VPNs Do Not Connect:
- Internet Issues:
Generally, VPNs slow down our connection speeds because they encrypt our data through a secure VPN tunnel. When connected to a VPN, our incoming or outgoing data passes through an encrypted tunnel before moving to its destination. And for that extra mile our data covers, it may need more bandwidth and consequently, we experience a slowdown in our connection speeds.
So, if your connection speeds are already slow, then a VPN may not get enough bandwidth to pass your data through the encrypted tunnel and hence, may not connect at all.
- Overloaded Servers:
VPN servers have a limited capacity to cater to different networks simultaneously. When the VPN servers are overloaded with traffic, they may fail to connect to new networks trying to access them. In most cases, it happens with free VPN servers, simply because they have limited servers and a high traffic. As a result, our devices may fail to connect to the VPN.
- VPN Software Issues:
A VPN is like any other application installed on our device; it may crash, lag, or glitch sometimes. It may even get bugs that halt its working. Thismay force the VPN to shut down or disconnect it frequently.
- Firewall May Block VPN:
In some cases, firewall settings do not let VPNs connect to our devices. A firewall is responsible for monitoring and controlling our device’s network traffic, which is why it may recognize a VPN as a threat trying to access our IP address. Since a VPN alters our IP address, a firewall may block a VPN altogether.
How to Fix These Issues:
- Fix Your Internet Connection:
On an unstable internet connection, it’s difficult for a VPN to work seamlessly. You may try the following tips to get better connectivity:
- Disconnect your device to WiFi and connect it again after a few minutes.
- Switch off your router and turn it again after a few seconds.
- If you’re using a wired connection, make sure the ethernet cable is not damaged or faulty.
If your connection speeds do not improve after trying these tips, it’s best to upgrade the internet plan or switch to a reliable ISP. With the help of Spectrum customer service, I upgraded my Spectrum internet plan to a high-tiered one that guaranteed smooth connectivity with a VPN.
- Re-Install or Update Your VPN:
As I mentioned above, VPNs may disconnect from devices automatically when they’re infected by a bug. So, to fix this problem, you may check for VPN updates and install them as they may contain vital bug fixes.
That being said, if no updates are available, it’s best to delete the VPN and re-install it. Also, before re-installing the VPN, make sure to clear any cache memory of the deleted VPN in your device to ensure the smooth working of the re-installed app.
- Check Firewall Settings:
To check if a firewall is actually blocking the VPN’s access to your device, disable it once and then try connecting your device to the VPN. If it connects, this means the firewall was blocking the VPN’s access.
However, as the firewall is vital for your device’s security, you may not want to disable it altogether. Here, you may explore the firewall settings and add a VPN client or app as an exception for the firewall.
- Switch to a Different Server:
If you cannot connect to your preferred VPN server, try switching to a different server. As I mentioned before, VPN servers have limited bandwidth to cater to incoming traffic. And when the traffic on a server reaches its threshold, it may not connect to new devices. So, switching to a low-traffic server may help you connect to a VPN seamlessly.
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Bonus Section: How to Choose the Best VPN Connection:
While I have mentioned some common VPN problems and their fixes, I will end this article by sharing some vital factors to look out for while choosing a VPN:
- Always go for a paid VPN over a free one because there may be no guarantee that a free VPN will secure your data. Some free VPNs may steal your data and sell it to third-party advertisers to keep their operations afloat.
- Free VPNs may offer a handful of servers to choose from, but they may always be the ones with high traffic that affect your internet speeds and browsing experience.
- If you’re going for paid VPNs, look out for additional perks and features, for instance, a kill switch, ad blockers, parental controls, and more.
- Always review what security protocols a VPN is using regarding data security. You may find a lot of VPNs using obsolete security protocols that may not protect your data at all.