How to fix No Internet access when connected to VPN in Windows

Does your Windows 11/10 PC have a VPN connection but no internet access? There is a possibility that your VPN is blocking your internet connection. In this guide, we will help you fix No Internet Connection after connecting to VPN Server.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) help protect your privacy and browse online anonymously. It extends a private network across a public network. Therefore, the users can send and receive information as their systems are directly connected to the private network.

Things always don’t work according to you, so you might have trouble connecting to the Internet after using the VPN provider of your choice.

What Causes Internet Disconnection When VPN connects?

A misbehaving VPN usually results from misconfigured software or browser, so most problems can be solved using an elimination process. There are several reasons for this Internet blockage, which could be:

• Network related issues
• DNS cache
• Incorrect VPN software settings
• False DNS configuration
• Faulty proxy server settings
• Wrong DHCP configuration

Let’s solve these issues by considering the solution.

How to fix No Internet access when connected to VPN

There are several measures by which you can solve the issue:

1. Check for Underlying Connection
2. Set Your IP Address Manually
3. Check for incorrect date and time settings
4. Install the latest version of your VPN
5. Install the latest update
6. Change your VPN protocol
7. Flush Your Windows 10 DNS Cache
8. Adjust your proxy settings
9. Prevent Use Default Gateway on Remote Network
10. Run the Network Troubleshooter

Try these methods one by one to solve your Internet connection problem.

1] Check for underlying connection

The first step is to determine whether the problem is with the VPN connection or the Internet connection. To do this, follow these steps:

• Disconnect from your VPN > Now try to access the Internet.
• Your Internet connection might not be working correctly if you cannot access the Internet. To fix it, you might have to reboot your computer and check its settings.

Now see if your Internet connection is back.

2] Set DNS address manually

A Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) assigns an IP address to each computer when it joins a public network, such as Wi-Fi. A VPN block Internet connection is likely to occur if there is a problem with DHCP.

You can add a DNS IP address manually to your computer to resolve this issue. To do so, follow these steps for Windows 11 and Windows 10.

In Windows 11:

• Go to Settings (Win + I) > Network and Internet
• Click on Wi-Fi or Ethernet, depending on how you are connected
• If on Wi-Fi, then you need to click on the Wi-Fi name and click on Properties Windows
• If on Ethernet, you should be able to see the properties details right-away
• In the section where IP and DNS details are displayed, click on the Edit button
• Switch to Manual and turn on IPv4 or IPv6 (based on your requirement)
• Then enter the parties, and save the changes.

In Windows 10

• Press Windows + X > Click Network Connections from the list.
• Select Status > Choose Change adapter options under Change your network settings.
• Right-click on the network you are using in the Network Connections Window > Click on Properties.

• Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
• Select the radio button, Use the following DNS server addresses, and set

Preferred DNS server to 8.8.8.8 

Alternate DNS server to 8.8.4.4

• Checkmark on Validate settings upon exit > Click OK

Check if your problem is resolved.

You can also use the DNS Switcher to switch between multiple DNS IP addresses. The above one belongs to Google, and if you want to change to Cloudflare without going through so many steps, use DNS Switcher.

3] Check for incorrect date and time settings

In some cases, incorrect date and time settings might cause VPN to block Internet connection. To check for incorrect time and date configuration, follow these steps:

• Start > Settings > Time & Language > Date & Time
• Select Change under Change date and time and update it with the current date and time.
• Click the dialog box under Time zone to check your time zone.

Restart your VPN and check if the issue is solved.

4] Install the latest version of your VPN

Update your VPN software on your computer to the latest version. Otherwise, reinstall the VPN client software again. It’s an excellent fix. Follow these steps to fix it:

• Start > Control Panel > Programs & Features or Settings > System > Apps
• Locate and right-click on your installed VPN client > select Uninstall.
• Visit the official VPN website after you’ve uninstalled it to download the newest version of the software.

Restart your computer and check if this method helps.

5] Install the latest update

In addition to addressing VPN issues, Microsoft releases regular updates to fix bugs and errors. So, make sure you have installed the latest updates.

• Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
• Click Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates button.
• It should allow you to determine if there are any pending updates left to install.

Windows will install available updates. Now restart your computer to check if the problem is solved.

6] Change your VPN Protocol

A VPN Protocol is a set of rules that assist in connecting the VPN client and VPN server. VPNs use different protocols to connect to the server that includes:

• UDP (User Datagram Protocol)
• TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)
• L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol).

UDP is commonly used, although it is sometimes blocked when connected to a network. Follow these steps to fix this:

• Go to your VPNs software settings
• Choose the most suitable protocol.
• Restart your computer.

Now check if the issue is resolved.

7] Flush your Windows DNS Cache

If your computer finds it difficult to reach a particular website or server, the problem may be due to a corrupt local DNS cache. To clear DNS cache, follow these steps:

• Click the Search icon on your taskbar > Type command. 
• Right-click on Command Prompt > Run as Administrator > Yes
• In the Command Prompt Window, type the following commands and press the Enter key.

 ipconfig /flushdns

 ipconfig/renew

The first command removes all the entries and deletes any invalid records, while the second command requests a new IP address.

Exit the Command Prompt and check if the issue is fixed.

8] Adjust your Proxy Settings

A proxy server is an intermediate server that acts as a gateway between the local network of your computer and another server on a large-scale network such as the Internet.

You should either set your browser to detect proxies automatically or not use proxies at all to avoid problems connecting to the Internet. To do so, follow these steps:

Set up a proxy automatically:

• Start > Network & Internet > Proxy
• Set the Automatically detect settings and Use Setup Script toggle to On in the Automatic Proxy Setup section.
• Enter the script address and click Save.

The proxy service provider will provide you with the address of the setup script if you need one.

Set up a proxy manually:

• Start > Network & Internet > Proxy
• Set the Use a Proxy Server toggle to On in the Manual proxy setup section.
• Type the IP Address in the address field
• Type the proxy port number in the Port field
• Click Save.

The proxy service provider will provide you with the network address and port number the proxy requires.

If you are still having trouble, read our in-depth guide on how you can create and configure VPN in Windows.

9] Prevent Use Default Gateway on Remote Network

The network connection issue can also happen when you configure the VPN connection as the default gateway on the remote network.

• Start > Control Panel > Network & Internet > Network & Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings
•  Right-click the VPN connection adapter > click Properties

• Click the Networking tab
• Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) option
• Click the Advanced button > IP Settings Tab
• Uncheck the Use default gateway on the remote network option
• Click OK three times.

Now see if your problem is fixed.

10] Run the network troubleshooter

To fix network and internet connection-related issues, you are required to run a scan. Luckily, Windows 10 has a built-in network troubleshooter. Hence, Windows will resolve the VPN blocks Internet connection issue automatically.

Follow these steps to solve the issue:

• Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot
• Select Internet Connections under Get up and running
• Click the Run the Troubleshooter button.

Windows will find and resolve all Internet connection-related issues. It will solve your Internet disconnection when VPN connects.

Internet disconnection is a very troubling issue. Try out these methods to get back your Internet connection. I hope this post will help you fix the No Internet connection after connecting to the VPN server.

Is VPN Safe for Windows?

It is highly safe to use virtual private networks if they are reputable. You’re in good hands with a reputable paid VPN, but free VPNs have to make money somewhere, so they don’t usually offer as much security as paid VPNs do. The situation is made even worse by the presence of fake VPNs, which are outright scams.

It is essential to use a free VPN you can trust since it often makes money from advertising or selling your data. Another option may be to use a cheap VPN service, but if you only need a VPN for a short time, you can take advantage of a high-quality VPN with a free trial.

Can you still get hacked with a VPN?

Due to your VPN, you will never be hacked if you are using a premium service. However, you are not entirely protected. While the connection is protected by military-grade encryption, it doesn’t apply to people. People are usually the target of hacking attacks.

By using a VPN, you will be protected from:

• Malicious connections and snooping
• Malicious or compromised websites that collect personal information
• Information collected by governments and ISPs

You won’t be protected from these things by a VPN:

• Malware introduced natively to the USB port
• Downloaded malware or spyware
• Your submission of personal information (phishing, catfishing)