Internet Not Working With VPN Connected? Here’s How to Fix It

If your VPN shows “connected” but websites won’t load, the issue usually comes down to DNS failures, routing misconfigurations, or firewall blocks.

Reset your DNS, adjust your VPN adapter’s gateway settings, and test again before moving to advanced troubleshooting.

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How to Fix Internet Not Working With VPN

1. Connectivity Check & Ping Test

Start with the basics: make sure your underlying internet works without VPN. Disconnect from the VPN and try browsing normally. If that works, reconnect to the VPN and see if the issue returns.

• ping 1.1.1.1
• ping 8.8.8.8

If ping succeeds without VPN but fails when connected, the tunnel is blocking traffic. In such cases, you may encounter the common problem where the VPN is connected but not working properly.

2. Traceroute / Path Inspection

Traceroute shows where packets are failing to pass through.

• Windows: tracert 8.8.8.8
• macOS/Linux: traceroute 8.8.8.8

If the trace stops at the VPN gateway, routing inside the tunnel is broken. If it fails further down, your ISP or the VPN server itself may be blocking traffic. In some rare cases, users experience the reverse — they can only connect to the internet through VPN — which suggests a deeper network configuration problem.

3. DNS Issues & Resets

DNS failures are one of the most common causes of this problem. When VPN tunnels override DNS, incorrect settings can prevent websites from loading. Reset DNS and test again.

• Windows: ipconfig /flushdns and ipconfig /registerdns
• macOS: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache and sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
• Linux: restart your DNS service or NetworkManager

If issues continue even after removing your client, you might face no internet after uninstalling VPN, which usually requires resetting network adapters or manually restoring DNS settings.

4. Routing / Gateway Corrections

Routing errors can stop the internet when VPN is active. On Windows, the “Use default gateway on remote network” setting often causes the problem.

1. Open Network Connections and right-click your VPN adapter.
2. Choose Properties > Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) > Advanced.
3. Uncheck Use default gateway on remote network, save, and reconnect.

This often fixes cases where the VPN hijacks all traffic. However, in corporate environments, restrictions may be intentional. For instance, you might discover that your VPN access at work is blocked, which requires either contacting IT or using protocols designed to bypass restrictive firewalls.

5. Firewall / Security Software Blocking

Antivirus or firewalls can mistakenly block VPN tunnels. To test this, temporarily disable antivirus and firewall software, then re-enable them one by one and add permanent exceptions for your VPN client, DNS traffic, and common VPN ports. Router-level firewalls may also block encrypted connections. In such cases, check whether your VPN is blocked by the router and adjust its settings to allow VPN protocols through.

6. MTU / Fragmentation Troubleshooting

Mismatched Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) values can cause packet drops and make browsing fail only when the VPN is active. Test and lower MTU if needed.

• Windows: ping 8.8.8.8 -f -l 1472 (reduce size until it succeeds)
• Linux/macOS: ping -D -s 1472 8.8.8.8

If it only works at smaller packet sizes, set your VPN client’s MTU to a stable value (often 1400–1472) to avoid fragmentation issues.

7. Router / ISP Diagnostics

Some ISPs and networks block VPN traffic deliberately. Connect your device to a mobile hotspot; if VPN works there, your home ISP or router is the likely culprit. Inspect router settings for NAT, CGNAT, or port forwarding issues, and try switching VPN protocols (e.g., UDP → TCP, or WireGuard). Running the VPN over port 443 (HTTPS) also helps bypass strict firewalls.

8. OS-Specific Fixes

Windows

Reset the adapter with netsh int ip reset, disable IPv6 if unsupported, and verify that the VPN DNS is correctly applied in adapter properties.

macOS

Go to System Settings > Network > VPN > Advanced > DNS. Move reliable DNS servers to the top and disable IPv6 if your VPN does not support it.

Linux

Edit /etc/resolv.conf or restart systemd-resolved. Check routing with ip route show and ensure your firewall (iptables/nftables) is not dropping VPN packets.

Android & iOS

Update or reinstall the VPN app, verify per-app VPN settings (ensure browsers are included), and reset network settings if nothing else works.

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FAQs

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How We Tested / Lab Setup

This guide was tested across Windows 11, macOS Sonoma, and Ubuntu Linux. We also validated on Android and iOS VPN apps. Tests covered different ISPs, including cable, fiber, and mobile LTE. We used multiple VPN clients (OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2) to verify results. Limitations: router-level configurations and enterprise firewall setups vary widely, so additional troubleshooting may be required in those environments.

Conclusion

When your VPN is connected but the internet does not work, it can be frustrating, but the issue usually has a logical cause. By systematically testing connectivity, checking DNS, adjusting routing, and reviewing firewall settings, you can solve the problem in most cases.

If you suspect advanced issues like MTU mismatches or ISP blocks, try running diagnostic commands and switching protocols. These steps often reveal whether the problem lies on your device, your router, or your provider’s network.

In more complex setups, such as corporate environments or ISP-level restrictions, some issues may be outside your control. In those cases, collect logs from the steps above and contact your VPN provider for tailored support. With the right troubleshooting process, you can restore internet access quickly and keep your VPN running reliably.