Let’s face it, using a virtual private network slows down your internet—often by 50% or more. It’s the nature of how VPNs work, and there really is no getting around it. However, there are a few things you can try to give your VPN connection a significant speed boost.
VPNs add a layer of encryption to your internet connection while routing your traffic through a server in a remote location. This is the process that is mainly responsible for the loss of speed. It takes time to encrypt and decrypt your traffic and transmit your data to the VPN server and back. Other factors such as the VPN protocol used or the load on the VPN server you are connecting through can also negatively impact your connection speed.
The drop in speed can be almost imperceptible for normal internet use when using a fast VPN, but you want all the speeds you can get for data-intensive activities like gaming, streaming, or video conferencing. A delay of just a few milliseconds can mean the difference between glory and failure in your online game, and slow VPN speeds can result in a ruined video streaming experience spoiled by constant buffering and a heaping dose of pixelation. And if you’re using a VPN during a Zoom call, you should do everything you can to maximize your VPN speeds to ensure the call goes smoothly and doesn’t drop.
If your VPN isn’t as fast as you need it to be, here’s what you can do to speed up your VPN connection.
Read more: The Best VPNs in 2022