If your VPN keeps disconnecting and reconnecting, it's likely that data packets between your device and the VPN server are being lost or blocked. This could be due to problems with the VPN client, router, or network connection. VPN connection drops can often be a sign of general network issues, rather than a problem with the device or VPN. To check this, try connecting to the VPN through other networks (a friend's house, a public Wi-Fi network) and look for changes. It's also worth noting that changing the VPN protocol from the default one can significantly reduce the speed of your connection.
Free services are always tempting, and there are some good free VPNs available, but most of these “freemium” services are extremely limited to tempt you to upgrade. If you're having occasional problems with your VPN connection, and while it's usually an easy solution, VPNs aren't good at telling you why connection problems occur. If all else fails, contact your VPN provider, explain what the problem is, tell them everything you've tried, and ask for more advice. PrivateVPN's StealthVPN protocol is designed to bypass firewalls in restrictive networks and countries. Sometimes, your VPN's TAP adapter has problems that prevent you from creating a stable server connection.
So, why does your VPN disconnect frequently and what steps can you take to fix the issue? Whether the problem comes from the server or the ISP, changing the protocol and reconnecting the VPN is always the first recommended solution. For example, if you're trying to connect to a VPN in a country with strict Internet firewalls (such as China), it might be the VPN itself that isn't working. Pause your antivirus and check if your VPN works. If so, you need to add your VPN to the safe list of your antiviruses. If you realize that you can connect to an alternative device or network, you'll know that the problem isn't related to your VPN service.
Several times, your VPN is simply disconnected because the protocol or network port used by the VPN provider is blocked on the ISP's network. ExpressVPN makes it especially easy to change protocols, and offers several protocols (found in the protocols tab), including its own patented Lightway protocol for the best speeds and stability. A VPN protocol is a set of instructions that determines how data will travel from your device to the VPN server. I would recommend OpenVPN as it's newer and more secure, which means there's less chance of connectivity problems.
