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By , IT support technician

Quick Answer

First, test your internet speed without the VPN connected. If it is fast, try restarting the VPN client, connecting to a server geographically closer to you, or rebooting your home router.

How to Troubleshoot a Slow or Dropping VPN Connection ​

Applies to: GlobalProtect, Cisco AnyConnect, FortiClient, OpenVPN, Windows 11, Windows 10
Article Type: Troubleshooting
Last Updated: 2026-07-10

Summary ​

If your company VPN connects successfully but runs like dial-up — or worse, drops every 10 minutes — it destroys your productivity. This guide helps you identify the bottleneck (your home Wi-Fi, your ISP, or the VPN server itself) and stabilize the connection.

Symptoms ​

  • The VPN connects fine, but files take forever to open or save
  • Teams or Zoom calls freeze, stutter, or drop entirely
  • The VPN client shows "Reconnecting..." frequently throughout the day
  • You have to manually disconnect and reconnect the VPN to get apps to load

Prerequisites ​

  • You are currently connected to (or trying to connect to) your company VPN
  • You know how to access your home Wi-Fi router (physically)

Instructions ​

1. Test Your Base Internet Speed ​

Before blaming the VPN, you need to check if your home internet is struggling.

  1. Disconnect from the VPN.
  2. Open a browser and go to fast.com or speedtest.net.
  3. Run the speed test.
  4. Evaluate the results:
    • Below 15 Mbps download / 5 Mbps upload: Your home internet is too slow to support a stable VPN connection and video calls simultaneously.
    • Above 25 Mbps: Your base speed is fine. The issue is likely Wi-Fi interference or the VPN itself.

2. Switch to a Wired Connection (If Possible) ​

VPNs are highly sensitive to "packet loss" — tiny interruptions in your connection that you wouldn't notice while streaming Netflix, but cause a VPN to drop. Wi-Fi is notorious for packet loss.

  1. Find an Ethernet cable.
  2. Plug one end into your laptop (or docking station) and the other directly into your home router.
  3. Turn off your Wi-Fi (click the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar and toggle it off) to force the computer to use the wired connection.
  4. Reconnect the VPN and monitor it for an hour. If it's perfectly stable, your home Wi-Fi signal was the culprit.

3. Change Your Wi-Fi Band (2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz) ​

If you can't run an Ethernet cable, check which Wi-Fi band you are using.

  • 2.4 GHz: Slower, but reaches further through walls. Very crowded (microwaves, Bluetooth, neighbors).
  • 5 GHz: Much faster and more stable, but shorter range.

How to switch:

  1. Click the Wi-Fi icon in your taskbar.
  2. Look at your available networks. If your router broadcasts two networks (e.g., "HomeNetwork" and "HomeNetwork-5G"), connect to the 5G option.
  3. Ensure you are working in the same room as the router, or only one wall away.
  4. Reconnect the VPN.

4. Restart Your Home Router and Modem ​

Routers need occasional reboots to clear their memory and establish a fresh connection to your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

  1. Disconnect the VPN.
  2. Unplug the power cable from the back of your home router (and modem, if separate).
  3. Wait 60 seconds.
  4. Plug the power back in.
  5. Wait 3–5 minutes for the internet to come back online.
  6. Reconnect the VPN.

5. Try a Different VPN Gateway (If Available) ​

Some companies have multiple VPN servers (gateways) in different regions. If everyone is connecting to the "New York" server, it might be overloaded.

  1. Open your VPN client (e.g., GlobalProtect or Cisco AnyConnect).
  2. Look for a dropdown menu labeled Portal, Gateway, or Server.
  3. If you see multiple options (e.g., us-east.company.com and us-west.company.com), select a different one.
  4. Click Connect.

Troubleshooting ​

WARNING

If your VPN drops exactly on the hour (e.g., every 60 minutes), this is a known issue with certain home router firewalls forcibly expiring VPN security keys. Contact IT and tell them: "My VPN drops at exact intervals, which looks like an IPsec or NAT timeout on my home router." Add your router's make and model — that is the first thing they will ask for.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Speed test is fast, but VPN is crawlingOverloaded company VPN serverTry a different VPN gateway, or report it to IT as a capacity issue
VPN drops when someone else streams NetflixInsufficient home bandwidthUpgrade your ISP plan, or use Quality of Service (QoS) on your router to prioritize your laptop
Connection drops every time you walk to the kitchenWeak Wi-Fi signalWork closer to the router, buy a mesh Wi-Fi system, or use Ethernet
"Reconnecting..." appears randomlyMomentary packet lossSwitch from Wi-Fi to a wired Ethernet connection