Last Update: March 1, 2022
Annoying crashes, boringly slow internet speed, and accepting unauthorized connections are some of the problems VPN users occasionally face while using various VPN apps.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are not local apps that only some people use. Millions of people from different nationalities use the application in different packages. Therefore, it is expected that there will be some faults at one point or the other.
Addressing and solving this fault is where we can help. We have highlighted 10 tips that will solve every major VPN issue you're having.
Here are some VPN troubleshooting tips you can check out and do yourself.
Have you ever left previous versions of VPNs on any of your devices or installed various VPN software to choose the best one for the moment?. You are not alone. We have all been there, and it is okay to say most VPN users are culprits in this situation.
However, this behavior can be detrimental to VPN usage and the internet in general. Leaving outdated VPNs on your device or using different types together will make each VPN network attack the other. In the end, you won't be able to enjoy or even manage just one of the numerous VPNs.
Therefore, the first tip you need to consider when your VPN clients and servers are misbehaving or crashing is to remove the outdated ones and leave the best-performing VPN provider on your phones, tablets, or PCs.
At the same time, there is a need to emphasize the need to frequently update your VPN application as this upgrade will deal with any bug that may arise with older app versions.
This tip may be uncommon, but it needs to be stated. If you are using a free version of any VPN service provider, you miss out on various VPN features. Without a doubt, you are also missing out on a blazing fast internet connection.
Like any company out there, VPN service providers always prioritize their paying customers even if they disagree. The payment is used to maintain VPN servers, VPN software, and traffic.
You can get some affordable VPNs that will not only hide your IP address but also improve your overall internet experience.
VPN users commonly use transmission control protocol (TCP) because it comes with error correction. The error correction of these protocols works. Even though the connection is faulty or data is somehow altered, the transmission still becomes successful.
On the other hand, User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is faster. However, if something alters the VPN connection, the transmission of information cannot be successful. The speed of information transmission is remarkable, but the reliability of such processes is lacking.
Knowing which one to choose at each state of internet usage will improve your VPN experience. Therefore, if you want reliability, choose TCP. If you prefer internet speed, choose UDP.
Try changing the VPN protocol when internet speed slows down and changing the IP protocol is not improving.
Like in IP protocol, an open VPN client is reliable and secure compared to other VPN protocols. However, users may not be impressed by how quickly data is processed when this VPN protocol is used. Therefore, they may consider the remaining options.
L2TP or IPSec VPN protocols are reasonable alternatives to the open VPN protocol. They skip by a particular internet filter that open VPNs pass through, thereby cutting down on time needed for data transmission.
Since this filter is an important security measure, we don't recommend using L2TP or IPSec protocols for any users unless they are sure the sites they are visiting are secure for use.
Usually, there is a slight reduction in internet speed when VPN is used. However, if the internet speed is ridiculously slow, you need to consider changing the VPN servers. Although, you may need to confirm your internet speed with a valid speed test.
Sometimes, a server becomes congested when too many users are connected simultaneously, leading to a slow VPN connection. The solution here is to consider changing the server.
For premium users who have exclusive access to many VPN features, changing the servers to a favorable one should not be a problem.
Most VPN providers have multiple VPN servers. Hence, we advise that you choose the one closest to you. The proximity will guarantee a fast internet speed.
Although it comes with considerable DNS leaks and privacy issues, try changing your DNS servers anytime your VPN keeps disconnecting.
Sometimes, when you use DNS servers that are different from those that come with the VPN, it improves the connectivity of your VPN.
Most default DNS servers go a long way to maintain privacy and stop DNS leaks. Invariably, it adversely affects the VPN connection to ISP as well as the internet.
Although it comes with considerable DNS leaks and privacy issues, try changing your DNS servers anytime your VPN keeps disconnecting.
Sometimes, when you use DNS servers that are different from those that come with the VPN, it improves the connectivity of your VPN.
Most default DNS servers go a long way to maintain privacy and stop DNS leaks. Invariably, it adversely affects the VPN connection to ISP as well as the internet.
If you know what you are doing, this troubleshooting tip works well when your VPN is experiencing an inability to access blocked contents. However, with the security and privacy risks involved, we advise that you take the steps with care.
You need a networking port from your device before establishing any form of connection between your device and the VPN server. However, it is not as if you are going to buy the networking port. If your device is very cool, you may have numerous ports already inbuilt with your computer.
However, you can only use one at a time. Why internet connection speed becomes slow on any of these ports is not clear. However, Oo some occasions, internet service providers throttle traffic on any congested ports to reduce service overload.
Rerouting your VPN and internet traffic through another port is the most probable but no easy solution. Sometimes, it even involves changing your device registry files. Hence, we recommend that you try this tip if you're sure you can pull it through.
Even though it is not a common issue, VPN users sometimes complain of some applications gaining access to their VPN without permission.
It takes unauthorized control of their apps. Due to the security and privacy issues related, it needs to be attended to as quickly as possible.
You can remedy this situation by clicking on the user's property under the active directory user. Then, deny remote users access.
There are limits to how far you can personally troubleshoot your device. The same goes for how much advice we can give you in using your VPN. However, you can get straightforward advice and solutions on a live chat or text with customer support.
The customer support knows the ins and out of the VPN app and can provide all the required information.
Any malfunction in your VPN is an issue and should be treated as such. You don't need to wait for the big VPN crashes or total internet disconnection before you raise the alarm.
When you have an issue starting your VPN, connecting to the internet, repetitive crashing, or any deviation from the regular operation of a VPN, it is an issue and requires troubleshooting.
Yes! There is a level of VPN issues that may arise, and you have the clearance level to deal with them. Some VPN service providers answer frequently answered questions on their websites to deal with these issues yourself.
However, you don't have clearance to deal with all VPN issues yourself. If you're not careful, you can make yourself vulnerable to privacy attacks or malware after altering some things on your device.
Therefore, when you notice something more complex than what you can handle, kindly contact support.
No, they don't. Every advice or support you are rendered relating to the VPN provider you contacted is free of charge. There is no hidden cost to contacting customers' support.
Therefore, you should not bother about any extra fees relating to contacting them.
There are a lot of things that may cause a VPN to crash. The first thing to consider when VPN software crashes is to check if the software is up to date.
Sometimes, the existence of many VPNs on a device can cause a crash. On other occasions, it may be because some packets are hidden between your device connections and the VPN server due to filtering or ISP throttling.
However, if a device update doesn't suffice, try changing your server, IP Protocol, VPN protocol, or the VPN.
The most probable reason why your VPN is connected but not working is that you have tampered with the DNS settings of your VPN. Your VPN does not want to leak your information. Therefore, it stopped connecting.
You must reset the settings back to default to fix a DNS issue.
You can also flush your DNS cache after saving these settings.
Like any software, VPN occasionally has some issues that need to be dealt with repeatedly.
The most common issues associated with VPN usage are when the VPN connects without working or when it crashes repeatedly. All of which has been adequately dealt with in the course of this article.
After you have restarted your phone over and over again and the VPN software keeps crashing. Try updating the software or, better still, delete any existing old software of the same app.
Sometimes, it may be a tunneling problem. On other occasions, it may be a DNS problem. Regardless of the type of issue, any anomaly deserves troubleshooting or customer support's attention.
There are some VPN applications that you can navigate only by intuition and stroke of luck. Some VPNs have user interfaces as complex as the knitting of a spider web.
If you use the VPN that falls into the second category, we suggest you do the troubleshooting with caution or, better still, contact customer support.
Suppose any of the settings are altered while carrying out a VPN troubleshooting. In that case, your privacy is compromised, or malware is introduced into your device. It may take a long time before you can recover from the damage.
