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Why Your VPN Keeps Disconnecting & How to Stop It
The Short Answer
If your VPN keeps dropping, the cause is almost always an unstable connection between your device and the VPN server, not a broken app. The quickest fix is to switch to a server closer to you. And if your WiFi network is blocking or throttling VPN traffic, turning on obfuscation (a feature that disguises your VPN traffic so networks can’t spot it) usually sorts it.
There are few things more frustrating than a VPN that won’t stay connected. One minute you’re protected, the next you’ve dropped offline, and a few minutes later it happens all over again.
Here’s the good news: it’s almost always a quick fix, and rarely a sign your VPN is broken.
First, one thing that confuses a lot of people. Most premium VPNs run a kill switch that cuts your internet the instant the VPN drops.
That’s deliberate. It stops your real IP address leaking while you’re unprotected.
But it’s also why an unstable VPN can feel like your whole connection keeps cutting out, not just the app.
Summary: Fixes That Solve Most Disconnections
Before anything else, try these three fixes. They solve most disconnections.
- Switch to a closer server. Distant servers drop more often. Pick one in or near your own country.
- Change your protocol to WireGuard, or to OpenVPN TCP if you’re on shaky WiFi. TCP double-checks every packet, so it holds up better on weak connections.
- Restart your router. Turn it off, wait 30 seconds, and switch it back on. That clears most local network issues.
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.
| VPNs Tested | 59 |
| Total Hours of Testing | 30,000+ |
| Combined Years of Experience | 50+ |
Why Your VPN Keeps Disconnecting
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
Your VPN builds an encrypted tunnel between your device and the server.
To keep that tunnel open, your device pings the server every 10 seconds. If the server stays silent for 120 seconds, the tunnel collapses and you’re disconnected. So a slow or patchy connection will keep knocking your VPN offline.
Run a quick speed test first. If your connection is unstable without the VPN, that’s the real problem, and no VPN setting will fix it.
2. There Are Issues with Your Network
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.
A weak or unreliable internet connection, whether it’s your home WiFi or your mobile data signal, can also cause your VPN to fail to connect at all.
What’s more, 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.
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
Most VPN services let you connect a set number of devices at once, often around five to eight. Go over that limit and the service will start booting devices offline, or refuse to connect new ones.
If you need to cover more devices, you’ve got two options. You can install the VPN on your router, which protects every device on your network as one connection. Or choose a service like Surfshark, which allows unlimited simultaneous VPN connections.
4. Your ISP Blocks VPN Traffic
Some countries impose laws and regulations heavily restricting the use of VPNs. Countries such as Belarus, Iraq, and North Korea have outlawed VPNs completely, while 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 get around these restrictions, you’ll need a VPN with obfuscation technology, which disguises your VPN traffic as a typical internet connection.
Using Mullvad’s QUIC obfuscation method.
5. Software Conflicts Are Interrupting Your VPN
Your VPN connection may be affected by other software on your device. The usual suspect is your firewall or antivirus, which can mistake VPN traffic for something malicious and block it.
Your VPN kill switch can also stop working properly because of this.
Network firewalls are sometimes configured to blacklist certain IP ranges, to cut long-running connections to single IP addresses, or to block the ports a VPN uses.
If your network’s firewall is running deep packet inspection (DPI), this can also be blocking your VPN traffic.
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 factor in the breadth and the total number of servers in a service’s network. For faster speeds and more stable connections, we recommend picking a VPN with thousands of servers spread all over the world.
The more servers a VPN service runs, the less likely yours is 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 apps usually run in the background, making them prime candidates for battery-saving measures.
On smartphones especially, the operating system can treat a VPN running quietly in the background as “inactive” and starve it of power, which drops the connection.
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:
- The VPN server and the settings you are using to connect to it.
- The network connection between your device and the VPN server.
- Your device’s settings and the software installed on it.
In the sections below, we’ve explained the most common solutions to each of these VPN connection problems so you can prevent them from happening again.
EXPERT ADVICE: To make sure your VPN is working properly, use our VPN leak test tool to verify that your IP, DNS, and WebRTC data are being routed through the encrypted VPN tunnel.
1. Change Your VPN Settings
Most of the time, you can stop the disconnections from inside the VPN app. Start here before you touch your network or device, because it’s the fastest way to fix an unstable connection.
The Settings menu in the Windscribe Windows app.
By switching VPN server or connection protocol, or updating your DNS settings, you can often prevent unexpected disconnections caused by the VPN software.
Switch VPN Server
This is the single easiest fix, and it works more often than any other.
Frequent drops usually mean the server you’re on is faulty or overcrowded. Pick another one, ideally the closest to you, since nearby servers give the fastest and steadiest connection.
If your app has an “automatic” or “quick connect” option, use it: it finds the nearest server with spare capacity for you.
Change 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:
- 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.
- OpenVPN TCP: Unlike other protocols, TCP is designed to ensure reliable data delivery.
- IKEv2/IPSec: Often used on mobile VPN apps, as it handles switching between WiFi and mobile data without disconnecting.
WireGuard is the best all-rounder and the fastest option for most people.
But if your connection is genuinely unstable, switch to OpenVPN TCP: it double-checks that every packet of data arrives, which makes it more reliable on a weak connection, even if it’s slightly slower.
Change 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 ISP’s 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.
Enable Obfuscation or Stealth Mode
If you are in a country with a heavily-regulated internet, authorities are likely identifying and blocking VPN traffic, which results in disconnections.
We also found that VPNs can disconnect on restricted networks, such as a coffee shop’s public WiFi, where VPN traffic can 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.
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.
Multi-hop offers some privacy and security benefits, but usually comes at the expense of speed and reliability and it 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.
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.
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’s settings.
2. Fix Your Network's Connection Issues
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.
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:
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.
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 doesn’t 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.
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 Your Device's Connection Issues
If you’ve sorted your settings and your network and the VPN still drops, the problem is on your device.
Four fixes clear up almost all of these. The steps are the same idea on every platform. Only the menus differ.
- Update the app. An outdated client is a common cause of instability.
- Reinstall the app. This wipes any corrupted settings. You’ll need to log back in, so check your kill switch is on afterward.
- Turn off battery saving. Power-saving modes throttle background apps, including your VPN.
- Reset your network settings. A last resort, but it refreshes a misbehaving connection. You’ll need to re-enter your WiFi passwords.
Here are more detailed instructions for fixing VPN connection issues on iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS.
iOS
- Update the app: Open the App Store, tap your account icon (top right), and scroll to your VPN app. If there’s an update, tap Update.
- Reinstall the app: Press and hold the app’s icon, tap Remove App, then Delete App. Reinstall it from the App Store and log back in. Check your kill switch is on afterward.
- Turn off battery saving: Go to Settings > Battery and switch off Low Power Mode.
- Reset network settings: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. You’ll need to re-enter your WiFi passwords afterward.
Android
Android menus vary by manufacturer (Samsung, Pixel, and others label things differently), so these are the typical paths.
- Update the app: Open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon > Manage apps & devices. If your VPN shows under “Updates available,” tap Update.
- Reinstall the app: In the Play Store, search for your VPN app, tap Uninstall, then Install again. Log back in and confirm your kill switch is on.
- Turn off battery saving: Go to Settings > Apps > your VPN app > Battery, and set it to Unrestricted. This stops Android starving the app of power in the background.
- Clear the app’s cache: Still in the app’s settings, tap Storage > Clear cache. This is an Android-specific fix that clears out corrupted temporary data without deleting your login.
- Reset network settings: Go to Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth (on Samsung, look under General Management > Reset).
Windows
- Update the app: Most Windows VPN apps update themselves or via the provider’s website, not the Microsoft Store. Open your VPN app and check its settings for an update option, or download the latest version from the provider’s site.
- Reinstall the app: Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find your VPN, and click Uninstall. Reinstall it from the provider’s website and re-enter your details. Check your kill switch is on.
- Turn off battery saving: Go to Settings > System > Power & battery > Battery saver, and set it to turn on only at a low charge (or never).
- Update your VPN’s network driver: This is a more advanced fix, but worth trying if nothing else works. Your VPN uses a small network driver (called a TAP or TUN adapter) to route your traffic, and an outdated one can cause drops. Open Device Manager > Network adapters, right-click your VPN’s TAP or TUN adapter, and select Update driver.
macOS
- Update the app: Open the App Store and check Updates. If you downloaded your VPN straight from the provider’s website, updates won’t show here, so check the provider’s site instead.
- Reinstall the app: Drag the app to the Trash, then empty it. Reinstall from the App Store or the provider’s website and re-enter your details. Confirm your kill switch is on.
- Turn off battery saving: Go to System Settings > Battery, switch off Low Power Mode, then set the Power Adapter energy mode to High Power.
4. Still Having Issues? It Could Be Your VPN
If you’ve worked through everything above and your VPN still won’t hold a connection, the service may simply not be good enough.
We’ll be straight with you: a lot of cheap and free VPNs run on overloaded servers and threadbare infrastructure, and a stable connection is the first thing to suffer.
In 30,000+ hours of testing, the best services rarely drop at all. If yours can’t stay connected, it’s worth switching to one that can, like ExpressVPN or NordVPN.
