Diagnosis and solutions for common ProtonVPN issues
Kill Switch is ProtonVPN's security feature that blocks all network traffic when VPN disconnects. If Kill Switch is misconfigured, it may cause no internet even when VPN is connected. Check Kill Switch status in client settings, try temporarily disabling Kill Switch and test if network recovers. If network works after disabling, Kill Switch configuration needs adjustment or client update.
DNS issues may prevent domain name resolution after VPN connection. Manually specify DNS servers in client settings, such as Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1). Avoid using ISP DNS servers which may have issues. After changing DNS, clear DNS cache (ipconfig /flushdns) and reconnect VPN to test.
Network adapter configuration errors may cause VPN connection abnormalities. In Windows, open Command Prompt (Administrator) and execute these commands in sequence: netsh winsock reset, netsh int ip reset, ipconfig /release, ipconfig /renew, ipconfig /flushdns. After completion, restart computer and reconnect VPN to test network.
Outdated client versions may have known bugs causing network issues. Check if ProtonVPN has available updates, click "Check for updates" in settings menu. Download and install the latest version, restart client and reconnect VPN. If the issue is fixed in the new version, network should recover normally.
Firewall or antivirus software may block VPN network traffic. Temporarily disable Windows Firewall and third-party antivirus, test if VPN connection recovers. If it works after disabling, add ProtonVPN to firewall and antivirus whitelist to allow its network traffic through.
If above steps cannot resolve the issue, contact ProtonVPN technical support. Provide your OS version, client version, network environment description, attempted solution steps and other information. Support may need to review log files for diagnosis, follow instructions to provide relevant information. Support usually responds within 24 hours with solutions.