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When I Connect to VPN, I Lose Internet - How to Fix It [Windows 11]

Fix your VPN setup and try our recommendation for a stable connection

7 min. read

Updated onAugust 1, 2024

updated onAugust 1, 2024

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If you wonder what can you do if when you connect to the VPN you lose your Internet connection, you’re in the right place!

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Why does my Internet disconnect when I connect to VPN?

Why does my Internet disconnect when I connect to VPN?

The main reasons why you lose Internet when connecting to VPN include:

In the following guide, we will show you what you can do to fix these issues. So if when you connect to VPN you lose Internet in Windows 11 or in Windows 10, make sure to try the upcoming solutions.

What can I do if the Internet disconnects when connected to a VPN?

What can I do if the Internet disconnects when connected to a VPN?

1. Check your Internet

First, let’s see if there are any issues that are caused by your network, and not your VPN. ❗Disconnect from your VPN and follow the steps below:

If you’re still having issues,run a speed testand finally contact your ISP. But if your internet looks like it’s up and running, only ruined by VPN, keep reading:

2. Connect to a different server location

Select a different VPN server location and connect to it.  If you can access the Internet now, , there may be a temporary issue with the server location you originally selected.

3. Change your VPN protocol

Open your VPN’s options or settings and select the Protocol from the list and pick a different one.

VPN protocols are the methods by which your device connects to a VPN server.  Some protocols are blocked in different countries or by certain Internet Service Providers.

This may be the reason why when you connect to the VPN you lose your Internet connection. For optimal performance, choose the protocols below in the following order:

4. Reinstall your VPN

You can uninstall the app, find the latest version install it, and connect again.

5. Check for incorrect date and time settings

6. Install the latest version of your VPN

If you can’t edit your Windows 10’s registry, read thishandy guideand find the quickest solutions to the issue.

If you see that the VPN is still listed as an available VPN connection after uninstalling:

7. Change your DNS server configuration

DNS server is not responding in Windows 10? Take a look atthis guideand fix the issue in no time.

8. Adjust your proxy settings

If you’re having trouble connecting to the Internet, it’s possible that it has been set to use aproxy server.This could interfere with your VPN.

To disable proxy in Internet Explorer:

9. Change your VPN

If your VPN still kills your internet, even after trying to troubleshoot, switch to a better one.

Opt for a premium option – with VPNs,you get what you pay for. If you don’t invest in a quality service, you risk poor connections, data issues, or no connection at all.

Considering this, we recommendExpressVPN.Ourtests revealed it’s one of the best options for Windows 11: speed, performance, lots of servers in 100+ countries, and great customer support.

ExpressVPN

Why do I lose internet when I disconnect from VPN?

It’s either a configuration problem or your connection is very slow. Make sure your settings match your Wi-Fi and VPN setup.

Also, if you are concerned about privacy, use a VPN with a killswitch option.This feature will block all traffic data even if you disconnect.

This means that the risk of getting any type of data leaked or stolen is very small even when you don’t use a VPN connection.

Wrapping up

These have been our suggestions on what you can do when connecting to VPN disconnects the Internet. Let us know which one works best for you.

If you have any more questions or suggestions, please leave them in the comments below.

More about the topics:internet connection errors,VPN

Milan Stanojevic

Windows Toubleshooting Expert

Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.

Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.

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Milan Stanojevic

Windows Toubleshooting Expert

Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.