5 common VPN issues and how to fix them
VPNs, or virtual private networks, are typically set and forget services that don’t require a lot of troubleshooting. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean there aren’t problems with VPNs you might have to address from time to time.
A VPN is still the best privacy protection you can get online. Tap or click here to see why you shouldn’t be in the 85% of people that don’t use a VPN.
Whether you don’t know how to get started or you suddenly can’t access the content you want, several things can go wrong behind the scenes. Fortunately, most of these issues are simple and equally easy to address. Read on for five common VPN issues and their fixes.
1. I don’t know how to set up my VPN
Our sponsor, ExpressVPN, is a super easy service to set up. It only takes a few clicks to get started browsing the web privately. There are a few key things you have to remember when using any VPN, though:
- Servers: What server you pick will largely be responsible for what speed you get. It’s important to pick servers that aren’t full or nearly full and be sure to keep capacity in mind if you’re using your VPN at normal peak usage hours, like after work or on the weekends.
- Location: Pick the server closest to your geographical location if you want the fastest connection possible. However, if you’re looking to connect to a server in a specific location, like a major international hub like Tokyo, you may want to pick servers near your desired location instead, like somewhere in the Tokyo metro area.
Just turn it on, select your location and server, and you’re all done! If it seems complicated, something has gone wrong because ExpressVPN is built from the ground up to be intuitive. Tap or click here for our guide to setting up ExpressVPN.
2. My connection is slow
Advertised speeds for VPNs will always be approximations because your actual speed will depend on your device, location and server you’re trying to connect to, along with its current workload. Here’s what you can try if your connection is slow:
- Select a new server: Generally speaking, servers that are closer to you geographically will be faster, depending on workload. Congestion will always slow a server down.
- Try another device: Sometimes older devices, especially older Android phones and tablets, have trouble connecting over a VPN. Test your VPN on a different device before you decide your connection is actually the problem.
- Temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus: Antivirus and firewall software can conflict with VPN software. Try turning it off temporarily to see if your speeds improve.
It’s important to find the fastest VPN you can, which is why Kim recommends ExpressVPN. With ExpressVPN, you get great privacy benefits without sacrificing speed.