A VPN reroutes the Internet connection through a secure server. This masks your identity online and provides a higher level of privacy. This tool plays a very important role if you care about protecting your information from prying eyes. However, if the VPN does not connect or work, you will lose all of its benefits and protection. Here are some ways to fix the VPN not connecting problem.
What to do when you can't connect to VPN?
Check out the basics
Is your regular Internet connection running? Are the login information correct? These two things may sound obvious, but make sure this is not the cause of the problem. Check your Internet connection regularly to see if it is working. You cannot connect to a VPN without first connecting to the Internet.
Also, check that the login information, such as username, password, VPN address, connection protocol, etc., is correct. People often ignore simple problems.
Additionally, if you recently updated your computer's operating system, restart your computer before attempting to connect to the VPN.
Check the router specifications to see if it is supported
You've just logged into a VPN service and found that your VPN connection isn't working. In this situation, you should look at the router's specifications. Some routers do not support VPN passthrough. This is a feature that allows Internet traffic to operate while you are connected to the VPN. In other cases, you may have to enable this feature. Check the user manual of your router and see if it supports VPN passthrough. If so, you can enable it.
If not, you still have some options. You really only need VPN passthrough if the VPN uses IPsec or PPTP protocols. You can change the protocol that the VPN uses to establish the connection. Protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPsec don't even require you to have VPN passthrough. If your VPN doesn't allow you to change to one of these protocols, you may want to consider another option.
UDP connection over port 1194 may be the problem
UDP is the standard protocol that VPN providers use to send data packets. Typically, these packets are sent over port 1194. Many VPN providers also use the OpenVPN protocol by default. This is all fine, except that traffic transferred using this setup is easily detected. That's why trying to route traffic through a VPN server that uses OpenVPN and UDP protocols over port 1194 may fail. An administrator on the network you're connected to might block this port. You may also experience problems if you have an unreliable connection. You can check the connection method by checking the settings of the VPN software. This check will vary depending on the VPN you use.
TCP is another protocol that Internet software uses to send data packets. The HTTPS protocol, used to secure websites, uses TCP over port 443. VPNs can also create connections over TCP over port 443. You can configure this from the VPN software settings. Using the OpenVPN protocol with TCP above 443 is difficult to detect, as this type of traffic is extremely common, meaning it is more difficult to block a VPN using this configuration. Practically every website uses HTTPS today. TCP over port 443 also works better with unreliable connections.
Try connecting to another VPN server
You may need to connect to a VPN server in a specific country. However, the server you connected to might have too many users connected to it, be down, or have some other problem. Luckily, VPN providers usually offer a few server options for every country. Try another server, and see if it can solve the problem.
In most cases, as long as you can connect to the Internet, you should have no problems connecting to a VPN. Learn how to spot a bad VPN. If you need to change settings in your VPN software, consult your VPN provider on how to do so. You can find this information on the support page or try contacting the company directly.
Restart the VPN software or browser plug-in
If changing the VPN server doesn't work, restart the VPN software or browser plug-in. Don't just disconnect from the VPN server, exit and restart the software. In the case of browser plug-ins, completely close and reopen the browser. You may need to clear your browser cache to get the plugin working again.
Check if the VPN software is up to date
VPN software is regularly updated. To eliminate the possibility of errors and maximize performance, ensure that you are running the latest software available. In most cases, you can check for updates in the VPN menu to get the latest update. You can also set your VPN to update automatically in your VPN settings.
Check if the browser is updated or not
To eliminate common browser-based issues, use a browser that is supported and endorsed by your VPN provider. Also, make sure you have the latest browser updates installed. Refer to the following articles for more details:
Reinstall the latest VPN software package
If nothing else has worked so far, reinstall the VPN software. To get the latest package, visit your VPN provider's website to find and reinstall the latest software package for your operating system or device.
You may want to uninstall any old packages first to ensure that you start with a completely “clean” version.
Change VPN tunneling protocol
If you're still having difficulty connecting, the problem may be with the VPN tunneling protocol. Go into VPN or network settings and try using different protocols: such as OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec or IKeV2/IPSec.
The location of these settings varies by VPN product, device, or operating system. If you have questions, contact your VPN provider. Whenever possible, avoid using the PPTP protocol as it is not considered secure.
Turn off the kill switch
If you don't mind spending a few minutes online without a VPN connection, consider turning off your VPN. You can do this by going to the VPN app's settings or preferences.
Additionally, choose a VPN protocol that does not support the kill switch feature to eliminate the possibility of accidentally re-enabling the feature.
Contact your VPN provider
If the VPN still doesn't connect, contact the VPN provider. The technician may ask you what workarounds you've tried, what type of setup you have – router type, Internet connection and operating system – and any error messages you received. As a VPN expert, the provider should be able to help you.
Switch VPN provider
Earlier in this solution list, the article briefly mentioned switching VPN servers, but restricted VPN servers aren't the only issue at play here. Slow speeds across the board, constant connection issues, and lackluster security features can all contribute to a poor quality VPN.
To minimize the risk of experiencing connection problems, it's best to use a reputable and highly rated VPN provider. The best VPN services often come with a fee, but if you really care about your online privacy, it's worth the cost.
Check out our list of the best VPN services that Quantrimang.com recommends if you're considering switching.
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