FIXED: VPN is Not Connecting on WiFi Problem

Gone are the days when only tech-savvy individuals use a virtual private network or VPN. Given the number of cases involving hackers and other prying eyes online, it is important to take the necessary steps to protect your data. 

So how does it work? A VPN can hide your IP address. it makes you appear as if you’re using the internet from another location. In addition to this, VPNs also use encryption to keep your information safe. 

But just like any modern tool, expect glitches every now and then. For starters, it’s a common problem among users that their VPN doesn’t work on a WiFi network. 

So what could be causing the problem? There is a chance that there’s something wrong with the VPN itself. If not, it could be the network that is somehow stopping the VPN from working. 

If you’ve encountered this type of problem, here are some of the most common solutions that you might want to try. 

How to Solve VPN That’s Not Connecting on a WiFi Network?

1: Check Your Internet Connection

Let’s go with the simplest solution first. The first thing that you want to do is to check your internet connection. 

Unstable internet could cause your VPN to not work properly. You want to go online and check sites such as SpeedTest. Here, you’ll have an idea about your download and upload speeds as well as your ping. 

If you don’t have a good internet connection, you can do a couple of things. One, you can call your internet provider. However, before calling your internet provider, you can unplug and plug in the router. This resets the router which could sometimes make the internet work again. Also, check if the ethernet cable is connected properly to your router. If these tricks didn’t bring back your internet connection, perhaps it might require a visit from the internet provider’s technician. 

2: Check Possible VPN Software Issues

Just like anything, VPNs are not perfect. Some bugs could stop the software from working properly. To minimize these situations, you want to keep your software updated. Good thing that top VPNs constantly test and fix glitches. 

You might also want to consider cleaning disk space and closing some programs that could be causing issues on the VPN. And if all these things didn’t work, reinstall the software.

Now, if you feel that issues are coming from your VPN settings, you can always get the VPN back to its default setting. 

3: Determine if the VPN Credentials Are Correct

Let’s say that you’re running your VPN on your router. Be sure that you’ve entered the right credentials. Keep in mind that these credentials are separate from your VPN account. If you made a mistake, you won’t be able to connect to a VPN server. 

Depending on the VPN that you’re using, most have a user control panel. Here, you can check the username and password. 

4: Determine If the VPN Server is Working Properly

There are instances when the problem can be traced to the VPN and not to your WiFi network. It is common that servers tend to prevent new connections if it is already overloaded. A good VPN allows you to have different service options. In most cases, just disconnect and reconnect and you’ll be given a different VPN server. 

To be sure, check if your VPN is working. To check, turn off your VPN and search “what is my IP address” using Google. Take note of the IP address. Next, connect using your VPN and check your IP address again with your VPN turned on. If the IP addresses are the same, then your VPN isn’t working.

5: Double-Check the Firewall

Another common reason why you can’t connect to your VPN is that the firewall prevents the software from connecting. To fix this problem, you can include the VPN on the list of exceptions in your firewall. 

6: Check Access of Your Mobile Device

If your VPN is working on one device but isn’t working on another, there is a chance that you may have to grant access to the mobile device via the VPN app. 

7: Ask for Help From Customer Support

Let’s say that you’ve exhausted all these solutions but you still can’t seem to make it work. Now is the time to contact customer service. Normally, VPNs have customer support available 24/7. This way, there’s always someone who can help solve your issues anywhere you may be. 

Conclusion

Having a VPN is a great way to keep your information private and secure. But just like any other software, you also have to anticipate problems along the way. In some cases, it isn’t going to work on some networks. But sometimes, the problem is caused by the VPN itself. Using these solutions, you can isolate the problem.  If all the simple fixes didn’t work, call the VPN customer support.