How To Fix The Four Biggest Problems With VPN Connections
When they work, VPNs are great. When they don’t, you can go crazy trying to figure out what’s wrong. Here are four of the biggest trouble areas with VPN connections and how you can fix them.
Editor’s note: In the video, Brandon Vigliarolo uses Microsoft Windows Server 2016, and some of the steps and menus are different from the following tutorial by Brien Posey. This tip was first published in May 2003.
VPNs have gone from obscurity to being a common method of linking private networks together across the Internet. Although VPNs initially became popular because they free companies from the expense of connecting networks with dedicated leased lines, part of the reason that VPNs have become so accepted is that they tend to be very reliable. Even so, VPN connections do occasionally experience problems. Here are several techniques you can use to troubleshoot VPN connections.
There are four types of problems that tend to occur with VPN connections. These include:
- The VPN connection being rejected.
- The acceptance of an unauthorized connection.
- The inability to reach locations that lie beyond the VPN server.
- The inability to establish a tunnel.
Update Your VPN Software
If your VPN won’t connect, this could indicate that your app has a bug, or maybe its setup is corrupted. Check this out by removing or uninstalling your VPN, then downloading and reinstalling the latest version.;
Don’t take any shortcuts, especially on Windows – for instance, trying to install the new app over the current version. Do a proper clean reinstall where you uninstall the app, reboot and then install the new one.
How To Test VPN For Leaks
When it comes to VPN tests, what youre looking for are any IP leaks, DNS leaks, or enabled WebRTC.
The good news is that both IP and DNS leaks can often be discovered with a single VPN test. Heres how to do it:
Another important VPN test concerns WebRTC , which is a feature of all the most popular browsers, such as Firefox, Chrome, Brave, and Opera. WebRTC makes voice and video chat possible, but can also be a vulnerability exploited by malicious players to find your location. Safari and Internet Explorer dont use WebRTC, so youre safe there.
To check for WebRTC leaks:
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Restart Your VPN Software:
Our go to method to fix any computer or software related problem is restarting it. What makes restarting very simple and effective tip to get the issue fixed? Well, it allows the software or machine to restore its settings. If your VPN is running its own program, then restarting it can be a very good idea. Do the same if you have a VPN plugin.
James Bratt, ;Content Researcher, Cox CommunicationImage Credit: Flickr / Mike MacKenzie
Try Utilising A Different VPN Protocol:
If youre struggling to connect with VPN, then trying another protocol can be of great help. Protocols are set of rules especially defined to transfer the data securely from one point to another. We all know HTTP is the most common protocol for the transferring of data. It precedes every website you access. If you are facing an issue with your VPN connection, then try switching the protocol. Sometimes these protocols dont let you access some website or service due to the policies and terms. So, playing with protocols can prove to be an effective way of getting your issue resolved.
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Why Is My VPN Not Working
Even though using some VPNs right now seems to be as easy as clicking a button, theres a lot of advanced technology that supports their work under the hood. That is to say, theres a lot that can go wrong when you find your VPN not connecting properly.
For example, here are just some of the reasons that should make you ask yourself Is my VPN working? and do a VPN check accordingly:
- Slow internet speed
- Overly active antivirus software
- Frequently crashing VPN app
The challenge is that whether your VPN is working or not, you might still have internet connection and thus not even notice that something has changed.
A good indicator of a poorly functioning VPN is IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaking. So conducting a VPN leak test is where you should start.
Make Sure You Have Web Access
Seems redundant, we know, but theres always a chance that you might not have Internet access when trying to connect to a VPN server.
The simplest way to check if this is a problem is to just access a random web page on your browser. If you cant connect to it, theres an issue with your Internet connection and that will obviously affect your ability to use a VPN.
If thats the case, try turning off your router for 30 seconds, and turning it back on again. Alternatively, restart it, or try using a different DNS server .
If that doesnt work, get in touch with your ISP.
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Clear Disney Plus Cache:
Disney+ offers stores parts of your data to provide you with improved speeds and performance. However, its cache might corrupt your data and ruin your experience. Therefore, you can clear your cache by:
Check That Streaming Is Allowed With The Local Network Administrator
If the local network admin has blocked Netflix and other streaming services, you may be get a netflix network error unless you use a VPN. In some cases, the network admin may also block all VPN traffic using deep packet inspection. For this reason, you may need to enable VPN cloaking . Check out our guide to accessing Netflix at school & on restricted networks for more information.
If your Network admin claims that it is not restricting access to streaming sites, then this is unlikely to be the reason that you can’t access Netflix.
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Why Is My Expressvpn Not Working With Bbc Iplayer
Even though BBC iPlayer is a free streaming service, it is the UKs largest streaming service. Because of this, BBC iPlayer has deployed powerful geo-blocking technology to prevent users from outside the UK to access BBC iPlayer. As a result, a lot of VPN providers sometimes dont work with BBC iPlayer.
Here are the potential reasons that can block ExpressVPN from unblocking BBC iPlayer:
- The server that youre using is blacklisted by BBC iPlayer.
- Cookies on your device are giving away your actual location to BBC iPlayer.
- Your IP address is leaking.
How To Fix Error Code N8106 154 5008
These error codes are typically caused due to network connectivity issues on the customer’s end. This can be caused by bandwidth limitations on a cellular connection, so if you are using your cellular data, try connecting via WiFi instead. If you are using a VPN and you receive one of these codes, it is worth disconnecting the VPN to see if the problem continues. If it is only occurring with the VPN on, check with your VPN provider to ensure you are using the correct server. If you are using the correct server, you may need to follow the troubleshooting tips above.
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Tunneling Modes: Voluntary And Compulsory
The protocol supports two types of tunneling:
- Voluntary Tunneling: A type of tunneling that is initiated by the client on an existing connection with a server.
- Compulsory Tunneling: A type of tunneling initiated by the PPTP server at the ISP, which requires the remote access server to create the tunnel.
The Inability To Reach Locations Beyond The VPN Server
Another common VPN problem is that a connection is successfully established, but that the remote user is unable to access the network lying beyond the VPN server. By far, the most common cause of this problem is that permission hasn’t been granted for the user to access the entire network. If you have ever worked with Windows NT 4.0, you may recall a setting in RAS that allowed you to control whether a user had access to one computer or to the entire network. This particular setting doesn’t exist in Windows 2000, but there is another setting that does the same thing.
To allow a user to access the entire network, go to the Routing And Remote Access console and right-click on the VPN server that’s having the problem. Select the Properties command from the resulting shortcut menu to display the server’s properties sheet, and then select the properties sheet’s IP tab. At the top of the IP tab is an Enable IP Routing check box. If this check box is enabled, VPN and RAS users will be able to get to the rest of the network. If the check box is not selected, these users will be able to access only the VPN server, but nothing beyond.
SEE: Cybersecurity in an IoT and mobile world |
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VPN Troubleshooting Tips For Slow Speeds
We wont be mentioning tips like upgrading your bandwidth or CPU since thats not really actionable VPN troubleshooting advice. Of course, if none of these tips work for you, and theres no solution, youre going to have to do that.
And in case youd like to learn more about VPN speed before moving on, feel free to check out our guide.
How Do I Stop A VPN From Disconnecting
If your VPN frequently stops working, your traffic can be exposed and you may not get the privacy you expect from your service. The good thing is that there are a few ways to mitigate such VPN problems.
Change your firewall settings
Your firewall inspects and blocks incoming packets, so naturally, it can also slow down your network. If it gets very slow, you can get disconnected from your VPN service. Some firewalls do not work well with VPNs, so ensure that yours does not disrupt your VPN traffic. Add your VPN software to exceptions so that you won’t need to disable your firewall entirely and lose a layer of protection.
Use a different DNS server
Sometimes, your service provider’s DNS server might not work properly, so it is worth changing to a different one. In NordVPNs app, you can easily do that in the preferences section. Just keep in mind that custom DNS servers expose you to higher DNS leak risks. Fortunately, NordVPN offers DNS leak protection to make your experience safer.
Change VPN protocols
Again, that might help in case your system interferes with a protocol. Try shifting from TCP to UDP or choose one of the many protocols offered by NordVPN.
Just note that if you use premium VPN services, the probability of experiencing serious issues with your internet or VPN connection is low. The best VPNs offer both speed and security. So for a smooth and safe online experience.
Want to find out more?
Check out to NordVPN on Youtube
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Use A Fast Premium VPN
If youre on a free VPN, youre almost certain to get pretty slow speeds on your connection. Understandably, VPN providers prioritize their paying customers. Even if they say their free VPN is as fast as their paid option, you might find that you disagree.
There are plenty of affordable VPNs with respectively high speeds, and if you havent upgraded to one, we highly recommend it. You may see your speeds increase immediately.
One of the most reliable VPN providers, weve found is NordVPN. You can read our full review of them here.
I Have Paid For My Subscription And Still Cant Use VPN
So youve made your payment, and the VPN doesnt work regardless? Congratulations, your problems solution is probably described here. Well begin with credit card payments. When using them, your payment processor may consider some of the payments suspicious. Either because of unusual volume of payments, or because of a strange amounts, or for any other reasons your processor ties up your money and begins an investigation that can last up to a couple days. To fix this, you can either contact your bank or your VPN provider, or just wait until the processor completes the investigation.
The second reason is a bit similar to the extent that it can also only be solved by contacting the VPN provider. You see, sometimes when paying for iOS/macOS versions of some VPN apps, the market may bug out and forget to inform your VPN provider. So, in this situation the only fix is to inform them yourself. Finally, the problem may reside in a simple fact that the system has not yet completed its whole settlement procedures yet. If thats the case, just wait a bit. And dont forget to restart the app, since they usually update the subscription information only after that.
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Change The Network Port
When your device connects to a VPN server, and communicates with it, it uses a network port. VPN clients will normally allow you to pick which port the connection will use at least for certain VPN protocols.
Theres a chance that the VPN server isnt communicating well with your device through the port youre using. Alternatively, your ISP might slow down any traffic that goes through said port usually because they want to throttle your bandwidth.
So, try switching between different ports to see if you get better speeds.
Get Help From The Help Feature:
All the VPN service providers offer a help feature because at some point you are going to need it. Which is very why they ensure that there is an inbuilt help feature to accommodate the users. We often ignore the help function of software but they are very helpful. If youre really confused about some problem and dont seem to find any solution to it then reporting it to your VPN provider is the best solution. It will not only get the issue resolved but will also prevent it from happening in the future.
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Reinstall Your Current VPN
When to try it: VPN is crashing and has connectivity issues, old software is removed
Works on: Desktop & Mobile
Difficulty: Easy
Risk: Low
If all else fails, its worth checking if your VPN issue is hiding somewhere in the installation process. While youll normally get an error message, its possible that your VPN client is able to boot up but fail to stay on due to an incorrect installation.
Uninstall the VPN software from the control panel and then reinstall it. Its a good idea to download the client again just in case you got a corrupted download and some key files are missing.
Note:This fix applies only to VPNs with native clients. If youve done a manual setup, theres no need to configure everything from scratch, as theres no external VPN software. For manual setups, make sure all details are entered correctly.
Restart The VPN Software
Another reason why you may not be able to connect to your VPN service may be because the software is glitching. Before you make any definite conclusions that you absolutely cant connect to the VPN client, try restarting the VPN software, and give it one more try. Software glitches happen more often than youd think.
If your VPN has its own program, make sure its closed all the way down and its not just minimized. If your VPN is a browser plug-in, close the plug-in, and restart it.
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Ensure You Have An Updated Client Software Version
VPN providers are always competing against each other for the best service delivery. They therefore constantly release new updates or more improved software versions to their users. Older versions may have some bugs, and therefore we encourage you to always update your VPN client software.
You can do this by regularly checking your software version, vis-Ã -vis your providers latest release and download from the official site. Optionally, you can update to the current version from your clients settings.
Faqs Disney Plus Not Working
Why is Disney Plus not working on the black screen?
The black screen may be caused by a glitch or a hard reset. In this case, you should uninstall the app from your device and reinstall it again.
Why is my Disney Plus login button not working?
Use any of the following solutions if your Disney+ login button stops working:
1. Sign up and try to log in.
2. Disable all browser extensions on your device.
3. Try to disable your VPN.
4. Try to access it in incognito mode.
5. Reset your router.
6. Use any other network.
Why cant I get Disney Plus on my Smart TV?
Disney+ is compatible with all popular devices including Smart TVs and Android TVs. However, if the Disney+ app is not available on your device, then you need to upgrade the device you own. You can also use Chromecast, Fire Stick, or Roku as alternate methods to watch Disney+.
Is Disney+ available in Asia?
So far, Disney plus is only available in two Asian countries: Singapore and Indonesia. It has been a complete hit with consumers. If you want to watch Disney+ in Taiwan and other Asian countries, you would need the best VPN to use in Taiwan.
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