Why Does My VPN Keep Disconnecting

In this day and age, VPN’s are one of the best tools you can have on your computer.
Virtual Private Networks or VPNs are programs that construct a network that gives users a connection to a remote address. In simpler terms, it gives you a connection to an internet address from anywhere in the world. With modern VPN programs, you can connect to a variety of networks from different places that give you more security and can also give you access to content that wouldn’t usually be available under your regular network.

These programs have been steadily rising in popularity in recent years, as people are becoming more conscious of their internet security as well as wanting to access some programs that aren’t available on their regular streaming server. But while these programs usually work smoothly, sometimes the VPN disconnects and you have to figure out ways to reconnect it.
I’ve found myself asking why my VPN keeps disconnecting a lot, and if you’re like me you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we take a look at why VPN’s usually disconnect and how you can fix it all by yourself.

Why Do VPN’s Disconnect?

Anyone who has tried VPN services has probably encountered this problem. You’re scrolling the internet as you usually, only this time with more security because of your VPN. You can finally access those Netflix and Hulu shows that aren’t available in your country, but then all of a sudden your VPN gets disconnected and you lose all the security.
The most common reason this happens is when the client software and the server don’t receive the right signals. VPN’s stay connected when the program (client software) sends cryptographic signals to the server in which you are connected to every 10 seconds. This is to verify that you are still active on the server. If the client doesn’t receive any signal from the server in 120 seconds, it will assume that the server is no longer available and will disconnect from the server.
This can be caused by a variety of reasons, both from software or hardware. The signals being sent between the server and the client are called ping packets, and they can sometimes be lost or blocked as they are being sent. You may have software or hardware that’s filtering the packets and causing you to lose the connection, or an unreliable internet connection may also be the reason behind the packet loss.

While this may happen and it can be a hassle when it does, it isn’t the end of the world. There are actually a couple of solutions to this, and we get into these solutions one by one in the next section.
8 Ways To Fix An Intermittent VPN Connection

1. Increase Your Internet Speed

   The most common reason you can get disconnected from your VPN is because of faulty internet. Don’t worry, we all know the feeling of a frustratingly slow or inconsistent internet connection. Not only does this make browsing a tough task, but it also means you can’t exactly rely on a VPN to keep you safe. To avoid this, you can try increasing your internet speed by either upgrading your services or changing service providers. It usually does the trick.

2. Open Necessary Ports In Your Router

   Opening ports on your router can also result in a more stable VPN connection. But understand that this does come with some risks, especially if not done right. To open ports on your router, simply open your browser and type in your IP address, log-in to the page (the default username and password is usually “admin”), click on forwarding->virtual servers, then click the “add new” button. From there you can type the port you want to open, change the status to “enabled”, then save the settings.

3. Choose A Closer Server Location

   Your device or connection may be having a hard time sending data and receiving data that far out into the world. This happens a lot, especially when you choose a VPN server that’s very far from your actual location. To fix this, you can simply fire up the VPN program and select a closer server.

4. Change DNS Settings To Google

   Changing your DNS can result in better data transfer and result in a more stable connection. To do this, simply open the control panel, click on Network and Internet -> Network And Sharing Center -> Change Adapter Settings. From there, right-click on the connection you want to configure, select the Networking tab, go to the “This connection uses the following items” select Internet Protocol Version 4 (or version 6), click Properties -> Advanced -> DNS. From there you can change the DNS to the Google DNS servers which you can find online.

5. Make Sure VPN Firmware Is Up To Date

Sometimes, the program that is being used to establish your VPN is out of date which causes a faulty connection. Simply check online see if your version is the most up to date version and if it isn’t, simply update it and you should be good to go.

6. Check For VPN Outages

   Just like power outages, VPN outages can result in people all of a sudden losing their connection. These outages can sometimes happen randomly, so make sure to check on your own before doing unnecessary things to fix the problem.

7. Uninstall The VPN App Then Reinstall

   Sometimes, the cache can clog up the workflow of your computer, especially with VPN’s. That’s why sometimes all you need is a proper restart of your computer to get things working again. You can take things a step further if your VPN has been inconsistent and been constantly disconnecting. By reinstalling your VPN App then reinstalling it, you are clearing all the cache and unnecessary data that are slowing things down for you.

8. Purchase A New VPN

   While there are a lot of fixes one can do to establish a better VPN connection, sometimes, it’s not your fault at all and it’s the VPN program that you’re using. Let’s face it, some programs are better than others. Some work better in certain places but fall short in others. That’s why there are so many VPN services to choose from. If you think it’s your VPN program that’s the problem, it might be time to switch VPN programs. Don’t worry, there are a lot of great ones out there to choose from!
   Conclusion
   So there you have it, the reason why your VPN keeps disconnecting and a couple of things you can do to fix it. With all the information laid out for you, the only thing left to do is figure out which of these solutions will work for you and you’ll be connected in no time!