When I Connect to VPN I Lose Internet [Windows 10,11 Fix]

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

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Key notes

  • If your Internet connection drops when you use a VPN, you should take a look at your setup.
  • Possibly, your DNS settings don't match your VPN client, or you are connected to a bad VPN server.
  • Find below how to fix these and other common issues and get back online in just a few minutes.

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! There may be some underlying issues with your setup, we’ll take care of their step by step.

Your VPN is meant to offer you a more private browsing experience. Many folks also use it to increase speed rates for certain platforms and games, so losing connection can be a real headache.

Whatever your reasoning behind using a VPN is, we advise you to take this issue seriously and try to solve it right away.

Now the quickest way to get back online is obviously to browse your local traffic. But that has its risks, and if you use VPN to secure your payments or for work, it’s not really an option.

The good news is that your VPN disconnecting your Internet is for the most part a harmless issue. You just have to tweak some settings and you’ll get back online in no time.

If you cannot access the Internet when connected to VPN, try some of the solutions listed below. We found applicable fixes for multiple scenarios.

Why does my Internet disconnect when I connect to VPN?

There are several reasons why the internet stops working when connected to a VPN, and today, we’re going to take a look at the most frequent ones and how to simply solve them.

➡️ Faulty DNS settings: your DNS setup is not compatible with your VPN client

➡️ Outdated/corrupt VPN software: reinstall or update your VPN app

➡️ Inadequate VPN server: it’s possible you are connected to a server that has problems right now, open your VPN app and try to switch to a different one

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 VPN?

To fix this issue you should check everything that may affect your connection. This includes your VPN app, DNS setting, and even problems caused by your Internet service provider.

Take a look at our step-by-step instructions to make the whole process a lot easier:

  1. Change your VPN
  2. Uninstall and reinstall your VPN
  3. Check your underlying connection
  4. Check for incorrect date and time settings
  5. Install the latest version of your VPN
  6. Connect to a different server location
  7. Change your VPN protocol
  8. Change your DNS server configuration
  9. Adjust your proxy settings

If you still have issues after trying one solution, make sure to give some others a shot. It’s hard to figure out from the first try what will work for you if you don’t know the exact cause.

1. Change your VPN

An inadequate VPN service is actually one of the main reasons this happens. Troublesome servers, slow connections, and sketchy DNS setups can lead to the loss of the Internet.

Get a VPN service that serves your needs. We recommend using a reputable client like Private Internet Access. It’s safe, extremely private, and very responsive.

The VPN is easy to set up, with dedicated apps for all major operating systems. With over 35, 000 servers worldwide, you should have no problems finding a fast and secure connection.

With one PIA subscription, you can connect to up to 10 devices at the same time. The VPN client has private on every server as well as a secure killswitch to prevent data leaks.

If you are already using Private Internet Access, then contact their customer support. They have a great team that is ready to assist you.

Private Internet Access

PIA offers unlimited bandwidth, so you never have to worry about slow speeds and latency
Check price Visit website

2. Uninstall and reinstall your current VPN

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

  1. Right-click Start and select Apps and Featuresvpn no internet
  2. Find your VPN from the list of programs and select Uninstallwhen i connect to vpn i lose internet
  3. Type control panel in the taskbar and open Control Panel
  4. Go to Network and Internet
  5. Open the Network and Sharing Center
  6. Under Network Connections, right-click on the WAN Mini port labeled with your VPN’s name
  7. Select Delete.
Note icon NOTE
On some machines, after you uninstall your VPN, it will automatically be removed from the Network Connections. So in case you don’t find yours in the Network Connections list, you’re all good.

If you still face problems, try a dedicated uninstaller software. When using a built-in software uninstaller or the Windows settings option, your system will still have some residual files of the application you try to remove.

Unwanted folders can prevent you from reinstalling your software, and they also take up unnecessary space and interfere with other programs.

An automatic uninstaller is built to detect and force remove any stubborn file without changing or damaging any other file or application on your PC.

3. Check your underlying connection

Disconnect from your VPN, and try to access the Internet.  If you are able to access the Internet, connect to your VPN, and move to the next step of this guide.

If you cannot access the Internet, the problem has to do with your Internet connection. You may need to reboot your device and check your network settings to fix this.

Here’s how you check if there’s a problem with your network:

  1. Go to Start and then select Settings.
  2. Open Network and Internet.
  3. Select Status from the sidebar.

Tere’s information about your connection status, traffic data usage, available networks, and more.

If everything seems fine, but you still can’t connect to the Internet, scroll down to the Network troubleshooter and see if Windows can detect any irregularities.

4. Check for incorrect date and time settings

  1. Double-click the Date and Time display on the taskbar
  2. Click Change date and time settings
  3. In the Date and Time tab, click Change date and time….
    change date and time When VPN connects, Internet is disconnected
  4. In the Date and Time Settings dialog box, update your time to the current date and time, then click OK
  5. If you need to change the time zone, click Change time zone… , select your current time zone in the drop-down list, then click OK
  6. Restart your VPN and connect to a server location
  7. If you cannot connect to a server location after restarting your VPN, re-install the VPN. You do not need to uninstall the app first, just run the installation program again

5. Install the latest version of your VPN

  1. Right-click Start and select Run
  2. Type regedit and press Enter
    regedit run window When VPN connects, Internet is disconnected
  3. You will now see the User Account Control dialog box. Click Yes
  4. In the Registry Editor, under Computer, double-click on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
  5. Under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, double-click on SOFTWARE and then [your]VPN
  6. If you cannot find [your]VPN directly beneath SOFTWARE, go to SOFTWARE Classes[your]VPN
  7. Right-click on [your]VPN and then click Delete. After deletion, you should no longer see your VPN under Wow6432Node

If you can’t edit your Windows 10’s registry, read this handy guide and find the quickest solutions to the issue.

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

  1. Type Control Panel in the taskbar to open Control Panel
  2. Go to Network and Internet and click on Network and Sharing Center
  3. On your Network Connections window, right-click on the WAN Miniport labeled [your]VPN
  4. Click Delete

6. Connect to a different server location

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

Most VPN apps have an automatic server connection feature. If you have that, we recommend you give it a go.

They check your current configuration and use parameters like distance, download speed, and latency to find the best server for you.

If you do not have that option, try to connect to a server location that is closer to your actual location.

7. Change your VPN protocol

VPN protocols are the methods by which your device connects to a VPN server.  If your VPN uses the UDP protocol by default, this may be blocked in some countries.

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:

  • OpenVPN TCP
  • L2TP
  • PPTP

Open your VPN’s options or settings and select the Protocol from the list.

Note:  PPTP offers only minimal security so only use it when absolutely necessary.

8. Change your DNS server configuration

Manually configuring your Windows computer with other DNS server addresses can help you access blocked sites and enjoy faster speeds. To configure your Windows 10 PC, please follow the instructions below.

Open Network Connections settings

  1. Right-click Start and select Run
  2. Type ncpa.cpl and click OK
  3. In Network connections window, find your usual connection, either LAN or Wireless network connection.
  4. Right click the connection and select Properties

Set the DNS server addresses

  1. Double click Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) or just Internet Protocol
  2. Select Use the following DNS server addresses
  3. Type these Google DNS server addresses: Preferred DNS server 8.8.8.8 and Alternate DNS server 8.8.4.4
    internet protocol version 4 window When VPN connects, Internet is disconnected
  4. If Google DNS is blocked, try the following:  Neustar DNS Advantage (154.70.1 and 156.154.71.1) enter and press OK; Level3 DNS (4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2) enter and press OK. Once you’re done, set your VPN’s DNS settings, and flush old DNS entries as described in the next solution.

DNS server is not responding in Windows 10? Take a look at this guide and fix the issue in no time.

9. Adjust your proxy settings

A proxy server is an intermediary between your computer and the Internet, often used to hide your real location and allow you to access websites that would otherwise be blocked.

If you’re having trouble connecting to the Internet, it’s possible that it has been set to use a proxy server.

Make sure that your browser is set to auto-detect proxy or to no proxy. Here’s how to disable proxy server in Internet Explorer:

Note: The steps below will not help you access online streaming services. If you’re unable to access a service because a VPN or proxy is detected, please contact your VPN’s support team for immediate assistance.

To disable proxy in Internet Explorer:

  1. From the Tools or gear menu, select Internet options.
  2. In the Connections tab, click LAN settings.
    lan settings Internet properties When VPN connects, Internet is disconnected
  3. Uncheck all of the displayed options except automatically detect settings.
  4. Click OK
  5. Close your browser and then open it again.

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.Private Internet Access is a good example. 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.

Proxy server issues are pretty annoying. Make them a thing of the past with the help of this guide. Did any of these solutions help? Let us know in the comments section below.

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

In case your issues are unrelated to the VPN, see our articles from the Internet Connection Errors area. Find out more about VPNs in our VPN Guides section found on this website.

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

More about the topics: internet connection errors, VPN