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How to Stop Router from Blocking VPN
Your router requires OpenVPN protocols to connect successfully
7 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
For all online privacy needs, there is a real necessity for a router to support a VPN connection and protect your personal information.
It is possible thata VPN affects routersin a positive mannerand has many benefits in terms of online security.
There are two ways to set up your VPN on your router: either buy a new router setup for the specific job or install it into your existing router – make sure to check for compatibility in both cases.
As a quick heads-up, other users have mentionedwireless router won’t work through TL-R600VPN, Windows VPN does not work through the router with OpenWRT.
In all this, though, you may encounter a situation when your VPN does not work through the router, and probably restarting the VPN app or even your computer and router doesn’t yield any tangible results.
This article lists some solutions you can try to fix the problem.
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Why is VPN not working through router?
If you can’t connect to your VPN using the router, the problem may arise from both ends. The most probable reason is that your router is not compatible with the VPN software. Other causes for this issue are:
✅ The router doesn’t support your VPN connection
✅ The VPN usage is restricted by the router firewall security
✅ Your router is blocking the VPN connection
In case you discover that your router doesn’t support a VPN connection, there are othereffective VPN routersyou can try.
Do all routers support VPN?
No, on the contrary. There are considerable routers that don’t support VPN connections.
Generally, routers that support OpenVPN open-source protocol can support a VPN client as well, but it is best to check for each particular device.
How do I know if my router is VPN compatible?
Simple enough, you can check the manufacturer’s specifications or search for your specific model on the internet in order to see if it is VPN compatible.
To avoid VPN not working through router issues, it is essential to verify that your router supports VPN usage before buying it or getting a VPN subscription.
How do I set up a VPN through my router
There is VPN software that supports router connection and can efficiently connect with your router. This is the simple method toset up a VPN on your Windows PC:
With native support forWireguard, Lightway proprietary, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPSec protocols, ExpressVPN has a network of 3000 servers spread across 94 countries worldwide to choose from.
It is as versatile, yet powerful as a VPN can getand is compatible with Asus, Linksys, and Netgear routers. For other routers, you can contact ExpressVPN support to get the firmware.
Plus, you have ultra-fast download speeds, unlimited bandwidth, and stable, or reliable connections guaranteed by coupling this world-leading VPN software with your router.
ExpressVPN
What to do if the VPN not working through router?
1. When experiencing slow speeds
If you’re experiencing slow speeds because of the VPN not working through the router, here’s what you can do:
Speaking about speed, you might want to consider aVPN that doesn’t slow down internetspeed, while allowing you to switch between protocols and server locations.
2. Unable to browse
If you cannot browse because your VPN does not work through the router, try the following steps:
3. Loss of connectivity
If you lose your internet connectivity as soon as you couple your VPN to your router, make sure that the router is not working as a modem. You cannot directly configure a VPN on your ISP’s modem/router.
As soon as you will change the modem or router’s WAN settings, you will lose your internet connection.
You have to configure it on an extra one, as you cannot configure two connections on the same router at the same time.
4. Connected, but not getting VPN IP Address
In case your Wi-Fi network has a connected status but the VPN not working through router, you can proceed with this:
5. Check Error Logs on your router
To check error logs, you are suggested to follow the below-mentioned steps:
6. What to do when disconnected:
7. Unable to connect
If you’re unable to connect because the VPN does not work through the router, do the following:
Note:Ensure that the following protocols are supported by the router: PPTP or OpenVPN. Before configuring the VPN on your router, make sure that your router is not working as a modem.
Other steps you can take
Note: Check if the WAN IP is Public or Private. Ports can be opened on Public IP addresses only.
By default, the router’s firewall is configured to drop (delete) ICMP packets sent from outside your network to the WAN port. Your VPN may require the ICMP packets. To accept them do the following:
Has any of the above solutions worked for you? Let us know by leaving a comment in the section below.
More about the topics:Fix VPN,Router guides,VPN
Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.
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Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.
