When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Why Does My VPN Keep Disconnecting? Here’s How to Stop It

Last updated December 11, 2023
Written by:
Novak Bozovic
Novak Bozovic
Senior VPN Editor

It can be frustrating when your VPN keeps disconnecting while watching a movie, gaming, or during other Internet activities. More importantly, if a VPN disconnects suddenly, your sensitive data can leak on the Web. This can happen due to many reasons, which aren’t always apparent. 

Issues like a bad Internet connection are easy to recognize. However, other less apparent reasons can take hours of troubleshooting if you don’t know what to look for. But don’t worry because we’re here to help you out. 

In this article, we will discuss all the major reasons why your VPN keeps turning off. After that, we will touch on some general troubleshooting methods. In the end, you will learn how to stop your VPN from disconnecting on your iPhone, Android, and Windows before we finish with answers to the most common questions on the topic.

Reasons Why Your VPN Keeps Disconnecting

There can be many reasons why your VPN keeps turning off. You might have network issues, high latency, or an outdated VPN app/client. Sometimes, a VPN constantly disconnects if too many devices are using it or if your ISP is blocking VPNs. 

Other possible reasons are software conflicts, overcrowded VPN servers, and your device’s power settings. In this section, we will discuss each of these reasons.

Network Connection Issues

If your VPN disconnects every few minutes, your network may be fluctuating. Unstable or weak Internet connection can cause your VPN to lose connection repeatedly

This is common in areas with poor Wi-Fi or cellular signals. You may also experience this when connected to a network prone to congestion, such as public Wi-Fi in a busy cafeteria.

Reaching Your VPN’s Device Limit

Many VPN services set a limit on the number of devices that can be connected simultaneously under one subscription. If you exceed this limit, the VPN might start disconnecting from one or more devices. 

This is a common scenario in households or workplaces where multiple devices are connected to the same VPN account. Hence, the VPN disconnects one or more devices to comply with its usage policy.

High Latency in Your Connection

High latency in your Internet connection can also be why your VPN keeps disconnecting. Latency refers to the delay before data transfer begins following an instruction. When latency is high, it can disrupt the stable connection required by VPN services, leading to frequent disconnections. 

Possible fixes for a high latency are using an ethernet cable, closing background apps, and disconnecting unused devices from your WiFi. If these methods don’t work, contact your ISP for further assistance.  

Your ISP Blocks VPN Connections

Sometimes, the issue might stem from your Internet Service Provider (ISP). ISPs can detect and sometimes interfere with VPN connections. This interference can range from throttling your connection to outright blocking VPNs. 

In such cases, we recommend NordVPN due to its advanced obfuscation technology that prevents ISPs from detecting your VPN. This ensures a more stable and uninterrupted VPN connection.

Other Software Conflicts

Conflicts with other software installed on your device can also lead to a situation where your VPN constantly disconnects. This is often the case with firewall or antivirus programs, which might perceive the VPN as a threat and consequently block or restrict its connection. 

Regularly updating all software and ensuring compatibility between your VPN and other applications can mitigate these conflicts.

Server Overcrowding

When too many users connect to the same VPN server, it can become overloaded, leading to reduced performance and stability. This overcrowding of servers often results in the VPN disconnecting as it struggles to maintain a stable connection amidst the heavy traffic. 

Changing the VPN server or using a VPN service that dynamically manages server loads can help avoid these disconnections.

Your Device’s Power Settings

Many devices have power-saving modes that limit background activities to conserve battery life. These settings can affect the operation of VPN applications, causing them to turn off unexpectedly. 

To prevent the VPN from turning off, ensure your device’s power settings are configured to allow the VPN to run uninterrupted, especially when in battery saver mode.

Your VPN Software is Out of Date

Using outdated VPN software can cause frequent disconnections. Software updates often include improvements in stability and security. Failing to update your VPN can result in compatibility issues with your device’s operating system. 

Regularly updating your VPN software ensures that you have the latest fixes, resulting in a more reliable and secure connection.

How to Stop Your VPN from Disconnecting

You can stop your VPN from disconnecting by changing your VPN settings and fixing your network and device issues. In this section, we will discuss the steps you can take if your VPN disconnects again and again.

Change Your VPN Settings

Adjusting your VPN settings is often the first step if your VPN keeps turning off. Here are some methods that you can try. 

Fix Your Network Issues

Fixing network issues does not always require technical knowledge. Sometimes, simple steps can resolve them. If you still have problems, contact your ISP for more assistance, but make sure to try the following first:

Fix Your Device Issues

Device-specific issues can also be the reason why your VPN keeps disconnecting. Here are some troubleshooting steps that you can follow:

VPN Keeps Disconnecting on Your Devices?

If you're experiencing issues where your VPN keeps disconnecting, turns off unexpectedly, or frequently drops the connection, it can be frustrating and counterproductive. Let’s look at some practical steps to troubleshoot and prevent the VPN from turning off.

How to Stop VPN from Disconnecting on iPhone

If your iPhone VPN keeps turning off or disconnecting, follow these steps to prevent your VPN from turning off:

How to Stop VPN from Disconnecting on Android

If your VPN keeps disconnecting on Android, you can stop the disconnection by updating and reinstalling your VPN, disabling power settings, clearing the device cache, and resetting network settings. Let’s look at these steps in more detail.

How to Stop VPN from Disconnecting on Windows

To stop the VPN from disconnecting on Windows, reinstall the VPN app, turn off power settings, and check your firewall/antivirus settings. Still, if your VPN keeps disconnecting on Windows, contact the VPN’s customer support for help.

Final Thoughts 

A VPN that keeps turning off may be faulty or incapable. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes, there are other reasons why your VPN keeps disconnecting and reconnecting. Some common reasons include slow Internet connection, conflicting software/firewall, ISP restrictions, and more. 

If you are using a capable VPN, you are less likely to run into issues. Based on this, we recommend NordVPN, as it has stable and fast servers with military-grade security. More importantly, it comes with a kill switch, protecting your data if something unexpected happens. It also has 24/7 customer support to help resolve your queries.

FAQ

Why Does My VPN Keep Disconnecting?

Your VPN may keep disconnecting for various reasons, including network connection issues, reaching your VPN's device limit, high latency in your connection, or interference from your ISP or other installed software.

Why Does My VPN Keep Disconnecting and Reconnecting?

Your VPN repeatedly disconnects and reconnects, possibly because of network instability, overcrowded servers, or issues with your device's power settings.

What Happens If VPN Disconnects?

When your VPN disconnects, your Internet traffic is no longer encrypted and becomes visible to your ISP and potentially others, compromising your online privacy and security.

Why Does My VPN Keep Turning Itself Off?

Your VPN may turn itself off due to power-saving settings, outdated VPN software, or conflicts with other applications on your device.

Why Does ExpressVPN Keep Disconnecting?

ExpressVPN keeps disconnecting possibly due to network issues, server overcrowding, or outdated VPN software. 

Why Does NordVPN Keep Disconnecting?

NordVPN may disconnect due to network problems, high latency, or outdated VPN software. Ensure you have the latest version of NordVPN installed and check your network connection for stability to prevent these interruptions.

We hope that this article helped you troubleshoot problems with your VPN connection. If you want to add something, don’t hesitate to comment below.



For a better user experience we recommend using a more modern browser. We support the latest version of the following browsers: For a better user experience we recommend using the latest version of the following browsers: