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Why Your VPN Keeps Disconnecting & How to Prevent It

Simon Migliano
Simon Migliano

Simon Migliano is a recognized world expert in VPNs. He's tested hundreds of VPN services and his research has featured on the BBC, The New York Times and more. Read full bio

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  3. Why Your VPN Keeps Disconnecting & How to Prevent It

Our Verdict

If your VPN keeps disconnecting, it’s likely due to data packet loss caused by internet connection issues. You can quickly fix this by connecting to a server closer to your location. Using a VPN with obfuscation features can also help if your network is blocking or throttling VPN traffic.

Header image for VPN keeps disconnecting

If you’re a regular VPN user, it can be frustrating if your VPN keeps turning off or randomly disconnecting.

Most premium VPN services have a kill switch that will disconnect your internet when the VPN connection drops. This protects your public IP address from leaking, but it means your WiFi will keep turning off if the VPN connection is unstable.

Summary: Why Your VPN Keeps Disconnecting & How to Fix It

  1. Your connection has too much latency
    • Fix: Switch to the OpenVPN (TCP) protocol and connect to a server closer to your location.
  2. There are general network issues
    • Fix: Update your router’s firmware or simply restart your router.
  3. You’ve reached your VPN’s device limit
    • Fix: Disconnect another device currently using the VPN or upgrade to a VPN that offers unlimited connections, like Surfshark.
  4. Your ISP is blocking VPN traffic
    • Fix: Switch to a VPN that offers obfuscated servers, such as Astrill or ExpressVPN.
  5. Software conflicts are interrupting your VPN
    • Fix: Add your VPN to the list of allowed applications in your security software.

Why Trust Us?

We’re fully independent and have been reviewing VPNs since 2016. Our advice is based on our own testing results and is unaffected by financial incentives. Learn who we are and how we test VPNs.

Keep reading to learn more about VPN connection issues, common disconnection problems and helpful troubleshooting solutions.

7 Reasons Your VPN Keeps Disconnecting & Reconnecting

Not every VPN automatically tells you when the connection drops. If there are optional alerts for when the VPN disconnects in your app settings, enable them.

Here are the most common reasons for why your VPN keeps turning off or disconnecting.

1. Your Internet Connection Is Too Slow

VPN software creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote VPN server.

Every 10 seconds, your device will send a message to the VPN server to maintain a continuous connection. If the server takes more than 120 seconds to respond, the VPN tunnel closes and your client will disconnect.

That means if you have a slow or laggy internet connection, it can cause your VPN to drop. You can test the speed and latency of your internet connection using Ookla’s internet speed test.

Testing baseline internet speed connection using Ookla

You can check your connection speeds using an online speed testing tool.

2. There Are Issues with Your Network

Your VPN connection is reliant on a complex network of devices, and problems with any part of this network can lead to your VPN disconnecting.

Issues with your underlying internet connection, such as issues with your broadband service, WiFi network, or router, can lead to an unstable or dropped VPN connection.

If you have a weak or unreliable internet connection, whether it’s your home WiFi or mobile data, can result in your VPN failing to connect at all.

Additionally, if your network is shared with many other devices, the available bandwidth may not be sufficient to maintain a stable VPN session.

As a result, your VPN connection can appear to randomly disconnect and reconnect as it struggles to stay online.

Chart showing network activity with data on packets in/out and data received/sent

High network activity can lead to VPN disconnections & instability.

This happens because most VPN software is designed to automatically attempt reconnection whenever the internet connection is reestablished.

3. You’ve Reached Your VPN’s Device Limit

VPN services typically allow you to use your subscription on around 7 devices at the same time. If you exceed this, your VPN may disconnect or fail to connect altogether.

ExpressVPN connection limit warning

ExpressVPN has a connection limit of eight devices.

If you need to protect more devices than this, you can sidestep the device limit by installing the VPN on your router or choosing a VPN like Surfshark, which offers unlimited simultaneous connections.

4. Your ISP Blocks VPN Traffic

Some countries impose laws and regulations heavily restricting the use of VPNs. States such as Belarus, Iraq, and North Korea have outlawed VPNs completely, while countries like China and Russia strictly limit their use.

If you connect to a VPN in a highly-censored country like China, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) may try to identify and block your VPN traffic.

To circumvent these restrictions, you’ll need a VPN with obfuscation technology, which disguises your VPN traffic.

Testing Betternet VPN in China

Your VPN won’t be able to connect if it doesn’t have obfuscated servers.

5. Software Conflicts Are Interrupting Your VPN

Your VPN client might be affected by other software installed on your device. Installing multiple VPNs on a single device frequently causes conflicts, for example.

More commonly, firewalls and antivirus software can prevent your VPN from connecting. You may even find that your VPN kill switch stops working properly. Network firewalls can be set to blacklist certain IP ranges, cut long-running connections to single IP addresses, or even to block all the ports a VPN would use.

If your network’s firewall is running deep packet inspection (DPI), it could be configured to terminate any connection that shows signs of running the OpenVPN or IPsec protocols.

6. Your VPN Server Is Congested

VPNs with small or crowded server networks are often slower and less reliable. If too many users are connected to a single server, your connection may drop unexpectedly.

Our VPN reviews consider the spread and number of servers in a VPN’s network. For fast speeds and a more reliable connection, we recommend choosing a VPN with hundreds of servers in countries all over the world.

ExpressVPN vs Proton free VPN servers

ExpressVPN has servers in 160 locations compared to Proton VPN Free with servers in 3 locations.

The more servers a VPN has in its network, the less likely it is that your chosen VPN server will be congested or overloaded.

7. Your Device’s Power Settings Are Disrupting the VPN

To help preserve power, some battery-powered devices deprioritize applications that don’t appear to be in use.

VPN applications usually run in the background, which means they may be candidates for battery-saving measures.

If your operating system automatically throttles the VPN’s access to the processor, your VPN may disconnect unexpectedly.

How to Stop Your VPN from Disconnecting

If your VPN keeps disconnecting, the fault is usually in one of three places:

  1. The VPN server and the settings you are using to connect to it.
  2. The network connection between your device and the VPN server.
  3. Your device’s settings and the software installed on it.

In this section, you’ll find the most common solutions to each of these VPN connection problems so you can prevent your VPN disconnecting or turning off.

If you’re having difficulties with Norton VPN specifically, read our dedicated Norton VPN troubleshooting guide.

EXPERT ADVICE: To make sure your VPN is working properly, use our VPN leak test tool to verify that your IP address, DNS requests, and WebRTC details are being routed through the encrypted VPN tunnel.

1. Change Your VPN Settings

The first place you should check for problems is in your VPN’s settings. You will find these configuration options in the VPN app on your device.

StrongVPN Protocols on macOS

Almost every VPN allows you to configure its settings.

Simply by switching VPN server or connection protocol, or updating your DNS settings, you can often prevent unexpected disconnections caused by the VPN software.

a. Use a Different VPN Server

Changing your VPN server is the easiest way to improve the reliability of your connection. Frequent disconnections may mean there’s a fault with the server you’re connecting to, or it could just be be overcrowded.

The server closest to your physical location will typically give you the fastest speeds and the most reliable connection.

Try using the “automatic connection” option if your VPN has it, as this will usually connect you to the nearest server with available capacity.

Here’s a video demonstrating how to switch servers using ExpressVPN as an example:

How to change servers using ExpressVPN.

If you need an international server to unblock Netflix, try a different server or city within the target country. Changing servers is often also the most effective solution if your VPN isn’t working with Netflix.

b. Change Your VPN Protocol

VPN protocols are the sets of standards and procedures used to establish an encrypted tunnel between your device and the VPN server.

Some VPN services let you choose from various protocols, while others assign one by default.

If you’re experiencing issues, here’s the recommended order to try:

  1. OpenVPN TCP: Unlike other protocols, TCP is designed to ensure reliable data delivery.
  2. WireGuard: A modern protocol supported by many top VPNs. WireGuard is better than OpenVPN for mobile devices because it can switch networks without breaking the VPN tunnel.
  3. IKEv2/IPSec: Often used on mobile VPN apps, as it handles switching between WiFi and mobile data without disconnecting.
  4. L2TP/IPsec: Based on the UDP protocol.

UDP and TCP are the two most common internet protocols. UDP is faster, but TCP is more reliable due to built-in error-checking. If possible, we recommend switching to TCP to fix an unreliable VPN connection.

c. Change Your DNS Settings

VPN providers may operate their own DNS servers to keep your DNS requests private from your ISP. These servers are responsible for translating website domain names into IP addresses.

Other VPNs may use public DNS servers or, worse, use your ISPs default DNS servers or an unknown third-party provider.

Try changing your DNS server if your VPN gives you the option, as it may improve the stability of your connection.

Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) and Google (8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4) are the best first options to try, although other DNS providers are available.

Be aware that changing your DNS servers may offer weaker security than using your VPN’s default configuration.

d. Enable Obfuscation or Stealth Mode

If you are in a country with a heavily-regulated internet, VPN use may be outlawed. It’s not difficult for authorities to identify and block VPN traffic, which results in disconnections.

We also found that our VPN often disconnected on restricted networks, such as a coffee shop’s public WiFi, where VPN traffic might be throttled or blocked.

To get around these restrictions, some VPNs use obfuscation technology to disguise their traffic. This can sometimes be called “stealth mode” or similar and makes it much harder to detect and block your VPN.

IVPN obfuscation setting

IVPN’s obfuscation feature is found in the connection settings menu.

To stop your VPN disconnecting in China, Russia, or other high-censorship countries, enable your VPN’s obfuscation feature, or upgrade to a VPN that works in China.

e. Disable the Multi-hop Feature

Also known as Double VPN, Multi-hop is an advanced security feature that routes your VPN traffic through two different servers. This can offer some privacy and security benefits, but usually comes at the expense of speed and reliability.

As a result, this feature may be why your VPN keeps disconnecting.

We recommend disabling it unless you are handling highly sensitive information or you face the risk of targeted attacks.

f. Disable Trusted Networks

Some VPNs include a “Trusted Networks” feature that automatically disconnects the VPN when you’re using a network you’ve marked safe.

NordVPN's trusted network feature

Your VPN will disconnect when you are using a trusted network.

If you forget you have this feature enabled and you move within range of a trusted network, your VPN will disconnect unexpectedly.

You can disable Trusted Networks in your VPN settings.

2. Fix Connection Issues With Your Network

Your VPN may disconnect randomly if there are problems with any part of your internet connection.

To determine if the problem lies with your network, try the following:

  • Connect using a different device on the same network. If the VPN also disconnects on the other device, the issue is likely with your network, not the VPN. If one device works but the other doesn’t, your device may be causing the VPN to drop.
  • Try a different network. On a mobile device, switch between WiFi and mobile data. On a laptop, try Ethernet, WiFi, or connecting at a friend’s place. If the VPN works on one network but not another, the network is probably the problem.
  • Use a different Ethernet cable. Faulty cables can cause network connections to drop.
Testing the ExpressVPN Router App

We solved many VPN connection issues by changing our router settings.

If you’ve confirmed the VPN disconnects are due to a network issue, here are some common solutions to fix network problems:

a. Restart Your Router

This may seem like an obvious first step, but restarting your router can help stabilize an unreliable connection.

Turn off your router. Leave it a few minutes, then turn it on again.

b. Update Your Router’s Firmware

Modern routers will often update their internal software (firmware) automatically. These updates can improve the stability of your connection.

If your router does not update automatically, try logging in to its dashboard to see if you can force it to update manually. You can log in to your router by entering its IP address in a web browser window.

c. Change the Port You’re Using

You can try changing the port your device uses to connect to the internet to improve the reliability of your connection.

Not all VPNs allow this, but Private Internet Access and IPVanish are both top-tier VPNs that do.

Here are some port combinations you can try when using the OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols:

VPN Protocol Port Numbers to Try
OpenVPN UDP 53, 80, 443, 1194, 1197, 1198, 2049, 2050, 8080, 9201
OpenVPN TCP 443, 1443, 80, 110
WireGuard UDP 53, 80, 443, 1194, 2049, 2050, 30587, 41893, 48574, 58237

3. Fix Connection Issues With Your Device

If your VPN keeps disconnecting even after reconfiguring the software and network, there may be an issue with your device or the software installed on it.

Here are some common device-level issues you can solve to prevent your VPN from disconnecting:

  1. Delete old VPN apps. Multiple installed VPN apps can conflict and prevent a stable connection.
  2. Check for conflicts with your firewall and antivirus. Review your security software’s logs to make sure it’s not blocking your VPN — add it to the list of permitted apps if needed.
  3. Check for data-hungry software. OS updates or other bandwidth-intensive activity can cause network congestion and VPN drops.
  4. Install a VPN on your router. If the device-specific tips below don’t work, setting up a VPN at the router level can protect all connected devices and avoid software-related issues.
Windscribe Free's Canada Servers

Ensure your VPN app is updated to the latest version.

Here are more detailed instructions for fixing VPN connection issues on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.

iOS

If you have tried changing your VPN settings and checked your connection, try the steps below to stop your VPN disconnecting on iOS devices.

a. Update Your VPN App

Here’s how to update your iOS VPN app:

  1. Open the App Store.
  2. Tap your account icon.
  3. Find your VPN app in the list, and tap Update. If your VPN app is not in the list, you’re already running the latest version.
  4. Test your VPN to see whether the issue is resolved.
b. Reinstall Your VPN App

Here’s how you reinstall your VPN iOS app:

  1. Tap and hold your VPN app’s icon.
  2. Select Remove App.
  3. Open the App Store, search for your VPN app and reinstall it.
  4. Reinstalling the app will reset its settings. You will need to log in again.
  5. Check the settings to make sure the kill switch is enabled.
  6. Test your VPN to see whether the issue is resolved.
c. Disable Power Saving Settings

Some power saving features can interfere with VPN connections. Try disabling them, but remember that your battery charge will not last as long.

Here’s how to disable power saving settings on your VPN’s iOS app:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Select Battery.
  3. Turn off Low Power Mode.
  4. Go back to Settings by tapping in the top left.
  5. Select General > Background App Refresh and turn it off.
  6. Test your VPN to see whether the issue is resolved.
d. Reset Your Device’s Network Settings

Resetting your network settings means you will have to re-enter your passwords and set up your connections again.

However, if nothing else works, it might help stop your iOS VPN from constantly dropping out.

Here’s how to reset your iOS device’s network settings

  1. Go to Settings. > General
  2. Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone/iPad.
  3. Select Reset > Reset Network Settings.
  4. Enter your passcode
  5. Tap Reset Network Settings.
  6. Once you re-enter your settings, your internet connection will be refreshed, which can help improve your VPN stability.

Android

Try the steps below to prevent your VPN turning on and off on Android devices. You may need to adapt some of the steps depending on your specific Android device.

a. Update Your VPN App

Here’s how to update your VPN Android app:

  1. Open the Google Play Store app.
  2. Tap your profile icon.
  3. Tap Manage apps and devices.
  4. Find your VPN app. If it can be updated, it will be labeled “Update available”. Tap Update.
  5. Test your VPN to see whether the issue is resolved.
b. Reinstall Your VPN App

Here’s how to reinstall your Android VPN app:

  1. Open the Google Play Store app.
  2. Tap your profile icon.
  3. Tap Manage apps and devices > Manage
  4. Tap your VPN app then Uninstall.
  5. In the Google Play Store, search for your VPN app then reinstall it.
  6. Reinstalling the app will reset its settings. You will need to log in again.
  7. Check the settings to make sure the kill switch is enabled.
  8. Test your VPN to see whether the issue is resolved.
c. Disable Power Saving Settings

The power saving feature in Android could cause your VPN to disconnect, so try disabling it.

How to disable power saving settings on Android:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap on Apps and tap the three dots in the top right corner.
  3. Select Special app access.
  4. Tap on Optimize battery usage.
  5. Select All Apps at the top.
  6. Find your VPN app, select and toggle it off.
  7. Test your VPN to see whether the issue is resolved.
d. Clear the VPN App's Cache

Here’s how to clear the cache of your Android VPN app:

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > All.
  2. Find your VPN app and select it.
  3. Select Storage > Cache > Clear Cache.
  4. Test your VPN to see whether the issue is resolved.
e. Reset Your Device’s Network Settings

Resetting your network settings means you will have to re-enter your passwords and set up your connections again. However, if nothing else works, it might help you stop your Android VPN disconnecting.

Here’s how reset your Android device’s network settings:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Find General Management > Reset
  3. Tap Reset network settings.
  4. Tap Reset Settings.
  5. When your device restarts, your internet connection will be refreshed, which can help improve your VPN stability.

Windows

Follow these steps to prevent your VPN disconnecting on a Windows desktop or laptop:

a. Reinstall Your VPN Software

Here’s how to reinstall your VPN’s Windows software:

  1. Select Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
  2. Search for your VPN app, click on it and select Uninstall.
  3. Alternatively, simply press the Windows key and type the name of your VPN. Right-click the relevant result and select Uninstall.
  4. Visit your VPN provider’s website to download the app again and reinstall the VPN on Windows. You’ll need to re-enter your account details. Make sure the kill switch is enabled.
  5. Test your VPN to see whether the issue is resolved.
b. Disable Power Saving Settings

Here’s how to disable power saving settings on Windows:

  1. Right-click the battery icon in the taskbar.
  2. Select Power and sleep settings > Battery saver.
  3. Find the Turn battery saver on automatically… option and select Never.
  4. Test your VPN to see whether the issue is resolved.
c. Manually Update Your VPN’s Network Driver

TAP/TUN adapters are your VPN’s network drivers, and sometimes problems with them can cause stability issues with your VPN connection.

You may have either or both these drivers installed, depending on which VPN service you’re using.

Here’s how to manually update your VPN’s network driver:

  1. Open your Windows Search and search for Device Manager.
  2. Select and expand Network Adapters.
  3. Find your VPN’s TAP adapter, and right-click it.
  4. Select Update Driver Software.
  5. Repeat the process for the TUN adapter, if necessary.
  6. Test your VPN to see whether the issue is resolved.

macOS

If your VPN keeps disconnecting on a MacBook or iMac, try these troubleshooting tips:

a. Update Your VPN Software

Here’s how to update your VPN software in macOS:

  1. Open the App Store.
  2. Click Updates in the sidebar.
  3. Find your VPN app in the list, and tap Update. If your VPN app is not in the list, you’re already running the latest version.
  4. Test your VPN to see whether the connection issue is resolved.

Note: If you downloaded your VPN directly from the provider’s website, updates won’t appear in the App Store. Visit the provider’s website to check and install the latest version.

b. Reinstall Your VPN Software

Here’s how to reinstall your VPN software:

  1. Use Spotlight to find your VPN app.
  2. Press and hold the command key while you double-click the app in Spotlight.
  3. Select the app and choose File & Move to Trash.
  4. Delete the app using Finder & Empty Trash.
  5. Go to the App Store or your VPN provider’s website to download the app and reinstall it. You’ll need to re-enter your account details.
  6. Make sure the kill switch is enabled.
  7. Test your VPN to see whether the issue is resolved.
c. Disable Power Saving Settings

Here’s how to disable power saving settings on Mac:

  1. Open the Apple menu.
  2. Select System Settings > Battery or Energy Saver.
  3. Select Battery in the sidebar.
  4. Disable Low power mode.
  5. Select Power Adapter in the sidebar.
  6. Set the Energy Mode to High Power.
  7. Test your VPN to see whether the issue is resolved.

4. Contact Support or Change Your VPN Service

If you can’t resolve the problem by yourself, contact your VPN’s support team and ask if the service is experiencing any known issues. Most top-tier VPN services offer customer support via live chat or email, so don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Using NordVPN Customer Support

Contacting your VPN’s customer support can be a useful last resort if you’re still encountering issues.

It’s also possible that your VPN service is simply unreliable. Many cheap or free VPNs operate with limited resources, which means you can’t always rely on them for a spotless connection.

If you can’t get your VPN to connect consistently, we recommend switching to a premium VPN service like ExpressVPN or Private Internet Access, which have a long history of reliable performance.

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