Using a VPN offers many advantages. Unfortunately, it often has the disadvantage of greatly reducing throughput. However, it is possible to improve things.
Using a VPN adds a rather effective layer of protection to your Internet connection by encrypting your traffic and routing it via a server located, more often than not, in another country. Unfortunately, the speed of your connection suffers as a result. And there's no real solution to this.
This loss of speed can sometimes be imperceptible, but sometimes it can be very annoying. For video gaming, streaming or video calls, for example. So, if your VPN isn't as "fast" as you need it to be, here's what you can try.
Connect to a server closer to home
Generally speaking, the closer the VPN server is to where you are, the faster the speed should be. Your traffic will have less to travel, so the information will come back faster. This isn't always possible if you need to connect in a particular country, for example, but if you can, don't hesitate to try.
Some VPNs have a throughput test feature in their apps, but you can always use a dedicated site like Ookla Speedtest to perform the test.
Connect to a server that's not overloaded
When too many users use the same VPN server, it becomes overloaded and your connection speed suffers. Some VPNs display the status of their servers in real time. If you choose a server that is not overloaded, you should notice the difference in your throughput. If you don't have this information, try several servers to see which offers you the highest speed.
Try a different VPN protocol
A VPN protocol is a set of instructions between the VPN app on your device and the VPN server that determines how the secure connection should be established. There are a number of them, each with their own advantages and disadvantages in terms of speed and security. If you connect via one protocol rather than another, you can improve speed.
Today, OpenVPN is the most popular, offering a good compromise between speed, stability and security. Many providers also offer more recent protocols such as IKEv2 and WireGuard, which promise to be faster while still being very fast. Some have even developed their own proprietary protocols, such as ExpressVPN's Lightway and NordVPN's NordLynx. Switching to one of these protocols can increase your throughput. Beware, however, that these protocols have not been tested to the same extent as OpenVPN.
If you prefer to use OpenVPN, opt for UDP rather than TCP. While TCP is often more stable, it is slower than UDP. Most VPN apps allow you to change the protocol in their settings. Try switching to see which gives you the fastest speeds.
Enable split-tunneling if available
If your provider offers split-tunneling, try enabling it to see if your throughput increases. This allows you to send only the traffic you want via the VPN connection, with the rest being sent the traditional way by your ISP.
For example, if you use your VPN for streaming, you can send only streaming traffic via the VPN, so as not to slow down your online gaming sessions. This also allows you to optimize your VPN speeds for certain activities. The less data passing through the pipe, the higher the throughput.
Use a wired connection
Using a wired connection often offers higher data rates than Wi-Fi. Chances are you have several devices constantly connected via Wi-Fi. This already uses up a lot of bandwidth. If you have the necessary equipment, try connecting directly to your router via a wired connection and then connecting to your VPN.
Close non-vital apps in the background
If you have apps running in the background that you're not using, they can consume resources and slow down your connection. Take the time to clean up and close what you're not using. You'll get back a better-running computer and, probably, a higher throughput.
Restart your router and other devices
When was the last time you rebooted your devices? Computer, router and other devices also need to be restarted from time to time. When you restart your computer, you free up RAM, close processes that have been open for a long time, and so on. As cliché as it may sound, restarting can affect your throughput. Give it a try.