Virtual private networks enable businesses and internet users to establish a secure connection to a network and access web addresses in different geographical locations. They work using encryption and help you keep your data private.
If your virtual private network (VPN) stops working, you may encounter problems with staying private online and establishing an encrypted connection to the internet. It’s a frustrating problem and fixing it will make it more difficult for a third party or hacker to steal your data.
But how can you re-establish a connection to your VPN? What are the common issues that prevent a VPN from connecting? Find out how to troubleshoot and fix the problem in this article from our team that provides expert IT support in Edmonton.
What Are the Main Reasons Your VPN is Not Connecting?
There are several reasons your VPN service may not connect, and troubleshooting can be complex if you’re unsure what problems to look for. Some of the most frequent factors that may cause the problem include the following points:
Your Internet Connection Isn’t Stable
A VPN connection can break down if your internet connection is not stable. A VPN disconnection can also occur if you frequently change your connection type between the Wi-Fi setting and mobile data. If you’ve troubleshot your VPN disconnection and found that it’s related to an unstable internet connection, try these steps:
- Switch your router off and restart the connection
- Disconnect your device from the network and reconnect
- Reach out to your internet service provider
- Ensure the ethernet cable is connected to your router
Your VPN Server Isn’t Working
One issue that may have caused your VPN to disconnect is the VPN server and infrastructure. Since a few servers may not readily accept a new connection when overloaded, you may experience issues with your VPN.
It’s also possible that traffic overload on the server or maintenance work made your server go offline, leading your VPN to stop working. If you have noticed that the server is the issue, you may consider the two steps below:
- Check the VPN error code
- Use your VPN service to determine the best server option for you
- Try changing your server – top VPN services have a vast number of server options
Your Credentials Are Incorrect or You Receive an ‘Auth Failed’ Error
You may be running VPN software on a router, which requires you to enter your credentials. Since these are not the same as your VPN account, it’s essential to verify that the credentials are correct.
Without the correct credentials, you can’t connect to a VPN server. Our IT support in Edmonton suggests that you complete these steps to solve the issue:
- Check your user control panel to review the credentials
- Ensure you use a complex password to protect your connection
- Change your password
- Check for typos when entering your username
You Don’t Have Access to the Correct Ports
Since providers may block traffic on specific ports for internet security reasons, you may notice that the incorrect port is open for your VPN. Even though this action can increase your network security, it can cause your VPN to disconnect.
Review your default port settings to fix this issue and check which ports are open. You can then change the default port settings.
3 Other Methods to Reconnect Your VPN
If you have tried all the tips above but are still encountering issues with your VPN, our experts in IT support in Edmonton recommend the following three methods:
1. Check that Your VPN is Up-to-Date
It’s important to check whether your VPN software is up-to-date because outdated versions may hold flaws in security. These security flaws can prevent your VPN from functioning as it should, so check when you previously updated it, update the software, and attempt to connect again.
2. Check that Your Browser is Up-to-Date
Browser incompatibility with your VPN may cause your connection to fail, so ensuring your browser is up to date is one way to solve this problem. Ensure that you’re not running old versions of Chrome or Safari; if you are, complete the required updates and then reattempt to connect to the VPN.
3. Check Your DNS Server
From time to time, your DNS server may not function correctly. This issue may occur because of issues on your end as a user or due to misconfigured DNS settings. You may also experience issues with the DNS server due to outdated browsers.
You may fix VPN connection issues in situations like this by changing to a different DNS server. Proceed by navigating to the preferences option and changing your settings. Even though you may risk higher DNS leaks, you may have protection from your service provider.
Fix Your VPN Connection With an IT Support Company in Edmonton
Though fixing a virtual private network connection issue is not easy, there are various solutions to help you. If you’re still encountering problems after attempting the fixes in this article, our IT support team in Edmonton is available to help solve the issue.
Choose Tech Masters Inc for the best IT support in Edmonton.
