Does your VPN software block & disconnect the Internet or WiFi connection as soon as it is connected? Is the VPN connected, but there is no Internet access on Windows 11/10? If you face this issue, then this post will help fix the problem. This is an odd situation. You want to use VPN software for privacy and security. However, it keeps disconnecting, and you stay connected to the regular network, which is not that secure. It is embarrassing. VPN services are built to work faster and not slow everything down.
Internet gets disconnected when VPN connects
1] Install the latest version of TAP adapter:
All VPNs use a TAP adapter, and it’s mostly from OpenVPN. So, re-download the file and install the TAP adapter driver.
If you do not know what a TAP adapter is, then these are virtual adapters like ethernet adapters. They are completely software-based and do not depend on any hardware. They are designed with low-level kernel support for Ethernet tunneling.
2] Fix Network related problems:
Sometimes, it’s solely a network issue. In that case, you can use one of these built-in Network Troubleshooters to resolve any network issue.
3] Let the Client computer use the Default gateway
The issue could happen when you configure the VPN connection as the default gateway on the remote network. The VPN settings override the default gateway settings (TCP/IP settings).
To resolve this issue, configure the client computers such that
- It uses the default gateway setting on the local network for Internet traffic.
- And a static route on the remote network for VPN-based traffic.
Read: WiFi keeps disconnecting in Windows
4] Change DNS configuration
Flush the Windows DNS cache and see if that helps. If not, then you might want to change your DNS settings and see if that helps.
You may try OpenDNS, Google Public DNS, Cloudflare DNS or any one of your choice. They will make sure that everything gets resolved faster.
5] Check VPN Software Settings:
- Some VPNs have a Killswitch inbuilt. Whenever there is a problem connecting with the VPN server, it doesn’t allow any internet usage. This is why the Internet gets disconnected when the VPN connects
- Change Protocol. All VPNs support multiple protocols. Some protocols might be blocked in a few countries. Switch to a different protocol and see if it works.
Lastly, if nothing works, the last resort is to reinstall the VPN software. After that, try using a VPN with its default settings.
Read: How to increase Internet Speed using VPN
Let us know if these solutions helped you fix the problem. If you are facing such issues with a particular VPN, do share with us here in the comments the name and how you fixed the issue for the benefit of others.
Related read: Fix VPN not working issues on Windows.