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The use of VPN (Virtual Private Network) benefits online security, gives access to geo-restricted content, but compromises internet speed. Above this, VPN speed issues are very common. So, you may wonder if VPN speed can be increased.
Suppose you’ve to upload a document file or video within time. But, due to slow internet speed, you lost minutes or hours. Such a thing might hamper your work or business.
Also, you may face other issues like – constant buffering during online video streaming, slow download speeds, the problem of connection lost to websites, inability to load web pages, etc., resulting from a slow VPN speed internet connection.
I will describe simple troubleshooting strategies for slow VPN speed before you tear out your hair to increase VPN speed. The given methods are in chronological order; try them out if the first one doesn’t work. 90% of the time, one strategy among all will work.
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Two Important Components of VPN Speed Connection
In the beginning, you have to understand the two essential and primary components of VPN speed before exploring the issues that affect these components.
✅ Throughput: Throughput is the amount of data transferred in a specific time.
✅ Latency: Latency is the time taken to send a request to the server and receive a response from that server.
Some of the strategies described in the given article regarding any one or both of the components will help the user troubleshoot slow VPN speed.
How to Troubleshoot Slow VPN Speeds?
Here I’m telling some strategies in chronological order to troubleshoot slow VPN speed. If the issue gets solved in the first step, then it’s too simple to change. Otherwise, you need to walk through all steps one by one to troubleshoot the problem. The most important in each case is to keep patience.
1) Pick the Right Server Location
The most important thing about a VPN connection is picking up the right server for high speed. You have to keep in mind this and also the working principle of VPNs.
You’re using VPN to change the route of the data across the internet. It bypasses some routing-related issues like intermediary network outages, which reduces latency in online games.
Let’s take an example. Suppose you’re in Mexico City and playing an online game that belongs to Mexico City’s server. So, your data travels through the fastest path and returns to you from the server. Latency will be more or less 20 milliseconds (ms).
But, in the same case, if you’re connected to a VPN server in New York, then your data first travels to New York, after that to the server in Mexico City, returns to New York and finally reaches your device. Just see how many different paths data need to travel. Thus latency increases up to 250 milliseconds.
If latency matters, then pick the VPN location closest to you for high VPN speed. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter for latency-independent works like browsing the web. For browsing an overseas Netflix library, VPN works smartly. But, in the case of online gaming, you check the server list before starting the game. So you can connect to a nearby VPN server.
2) Update Your VPN Client
The client might be one of the reasons for your slow VPN speed than your expectation. The installed software manages VPN speed connection to the server on PCs, smartphones, tablets, and TV boxes. It also looks at the encryption of the internet connection.
With time, minor bugs and other issues can create problems, including slow VPN speed. As soon as the problems get identified, the VPN provider provides an update to fix them. When any update is available, then the client informs you to download and install it.
3) Instead of Wi-Fi, use Ethernet to Improve VPN Speed
Internet speed issues are a common problem in all domestic uses due to wireless networks. So, the use of Ethernet is the simple solution for it. But, Ethernet isn’t applicable in many cases. Many Laptops, PCs, and smartphones don’t have an Ethernet port.
However, the devices like TV boxes, PCs, Laptops, games consoles, Smart TVs, etc., which have Ethernet ports, can be hooked up directly to the router through a good quality Ethernet cable. Thus, it will improve internet VPN speed. You can consider power line adaptors if your computer isn’t near your router to route data through the home’s electric wiring.
4) Don’t Set Up a VPN on Your Router
There are two options for setting up a VPN. The first one is setting up the VPN on the router. And the second one is setting up a VPN on each device, i.e., PCs, Laptops, smartphones, tablets, etc., that you used. As a VPN user, I’ll suggest you always go with the second option.
Routers don’t need new generation CPUs; that’s why routers are so affordable. But, the drawback of the router is that it’s slower than your latest smartphone. This will slow down your VPN speed for encryption.
A standard router might face difficulty in handling a VPN network while serving multiple devices like Laptops, smartphones, etc. You have to buy a dedicated VPN router to set up a VPN on a router.
5) Try Both TCP and UDP Protocols
TCP establishes a connection between the user and website and confirms whether all data is received successfully at the destination. Whereas UDP only sends data across the internet and doesn’t provide any confirmation. Hence, UDP is much faster compared to TCP.
You can use VPN over UDP for faster internet. In sending data between the user and destination, the TCP overhead is an extra bit slower. As a result, the VPN is slowing down your internet. Also, the process may differ from service to service. Check the VPN setting and whether the manual switching is supported or not.
Many people use VPNs for online video streaming and torrenting, so ISP might detect and control TCP traffic over VPN speed connection. Both of them use TCP. Switching to UDP might increase the internet speed, but it could result in more unstable connections.
6) Split Tunneling
Split Tunneling ensures a specified app can get connected through a VPN. The use of a VPN client encrypts every bit of data leaving the system. So, it takes too much time.
At the same time, Split Tunneling sends the data to the destination without encryption. It reduces encryption load and improves the speed. For example, you can’t access a network drive simultaneously while circumventing geoblocking and censorship.
There are a lot of VPN services that support Split Tunneling. So, check the settings page of the features list of the provider to enable Split Tunneling.
7) Upgrade Your ISP or VPN Plans
The speed of the internet can’t be increased by a VPN. In case your base internet speed is slow, then your VPN speed will also slow. So, there is no choice except up-gradation of internet plan for a faster speed.
Also, keep an eye out for the new VPN technologies. Rather than using Wi-Fi, switching to a wired connection might help to increase the speed. Moreover, VPN providers can decrease the speed if you’re using a free VPN service.
8) Switch from your Slow VPN
Most of the time, a slow internet connection can be responsible for a slow VPN. But, sometimes, it can be because of actual VPN service, and not the fault of the ISP. The result will be the same whether you connect to the server or tweaks. However, a good and fast VPN is also slower by 2Mbps compared to the unencrypted connection.
Less than 2Mbps for an extended period is due to slow VPN speed. You have to confirm the speed by comparing the VPN client of your mobile and your desktop/computer. Switch the VPN if you find slow speed across the board.
9) Don’t Use a Free VPN
Using a VPN service without paying any charges is great. But, you are counted as a commodity and not a customer by free VPN providers. Free VPN providers provide careless, unorganized, and arrogant service to their users.
The importance of using a VPN will go in vain as a free VPN doesn’t secure your data and activity and gives a low priority to your traffic.
A free VPN can slow your internet. They tempt the user with their free service and encourage them to take a subscription. You should avoid the use of free VPN and choose an affordable paid and fast VPN solution.
Final Thoughts on Increase the VPN Speed Connection
Throughput and Latency are two crucial components of a VPN speed connection. Resolving issues related to Latency and Throughput can increase your VPN speed connection. At first, you should try the given two strategies.
✅ Firstly, change the connection of your server.
✅ After that, change the protocol of your connection.
If those two strategies fail, then try the rest of them given below.
✅ Check the internet connection.
✅ Use a different VPN service
✅ Reboot your device.
That’s all for now! Hopefully, you have gained knowledge on how to increase VPN speed while browsing the internet. If you enjoy reading the article, please share it. Also, you can suggest some methods or strategies increase VPN speed in the comment section. Also, explore Enchantrixto Tech for more valuable information.
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Increase VPN Speed While Browsing Internet – FAQs
1) What is VPN?
VPN stands for the virtual private network which provides Internet security service to the users connected to a private network. VPNs are used to encrypt the conversation and keep the activities of the user anonymous over the internet.
VPNs are creating an extra layer of security and privacy on the internet. That’s why VPNs are very popular among the companies where workforces are globally distributed or remote-controlled. Creating latency is the only drawback of VPNs.
2) What is Latency?
In the world of the internet, latency is the amount of time taken by the user to act on and a giving response, for instance. It is the delay between clicking a link to open the image and the several seconds are taken by the browser depending upon your internet speed to display that image. In such a case, the user experienced significant latency.
3) How do VPNs increase latency?
VPN can increases its latency by three methods given below.
a) Increased Travel Time
b) Server Load
c) Encryption
4) Why is the VPN server getting slow?
A VPN is an encrypted tunnel starting from your device to a VPN server using the internet. All the traffic on the website or service you used passes through it. VPNs hides your IP address to prevent snooping on users online activity from the outside observers like internet provider, employer, nosy hacker and keep you safe. The user might face some slow speed from time to time as the data travels through the VPN server.
5) Can a VPN improve internet speed?
Depending upon specific configurations, VPNs can increase the internet speed for the server. Internet Service Providers (ISP) sometimes halt and slow down the internet speed in case of specific traffic.
For example, several ISPs slow down their internet speed during online streaming on entertainment apps like Netflix. VPN can increase the speed for a particular service if an ISP halt the communication speeds for that service as the VPN encryption prevent the ISP from knowing the communication service.
Somnath is an Entrepreneur by his passion and love to write content related technology tips and tricks. He starts his day from turning on Laptop and offs his night by pressing “shut down” of his laptop.