Improve VPN connection stability on macOS
  • 2 Minutes to read

    Improve VPN connection stability on macOS


      Article Summary

      In this article, you will learn what might be the reason for connectivity issues on your macOS device and how to fix them.

      There are many factors involved in making a VPN connection, e.g., your VPN app settings, network settings, other software, type of network (home, public, mobile data), etc. Therefore, it could be that something on your system might not be compatible with NordLayer default settings and cause connectivity issues.

      If you notice the connection being unstable on your macOS device after connecting to NordLayer service, here is what you should try first:

      Restart your device

      Even though it may sound too simple, resetting your device will give you a fresh start.

      Try a different protocol

      You will find three protocols available on the NordLayer client for macOS. If you have noticed stability issues when connected to the VPN, please try changing the VPN protocol and see if that helps.

      Try other server locations

      For various reasons, like server load or technical issues on the server, one location might provide a more stable connection than others. Connect to a different country to see if that makes a difference.

      Disable potentially interfering apps

      Some apps might have taken over network controls on your device. This can sometimes interfere with NordLayer connection.

      This applies to anti-virus software, other VPNs, firewalls, and file-sharing apps. If you have any of those, try disabling it. Then reboot your device and see if the connection gets any better.

      Switch to a different network

      Connectivity issues might be network-specific. This often happens if the Internet Service Provider applies some kind of restrictions on its network. To see if that is the case, try to check if connectivity issues remain while connected to a different network.

      You can easily do that by sharing a mobile hotspot with your mobile device or try a different Wi-Fi connection.

      Remove parental/security controls on your router

      Some network providers might have enabled network security features on your network. Most often, such features are parental controls or some 'Safe DNS' function.

      Setting custom DNS on your router will do the trick. To do that, you will need to navigate to your router's network settings and change the DNS to:

      • DNS 1: 208.67.222.222
      • DNS 2: 208.67.220.220

      Change the default DNS on your macOS device

      If your PC is using a DNS from your Internet Service Provider, that might be the reason why you experience connectivity issues. Changing your default DNS to Open DNS is worth taking a shot.

      • DNS 1: 208.67.222.222
      • DNS 2: 208.67.220.220

      Disable the IPv6

      IPv6 is a networking system that some internet networks might have. NordLayer does not yet support IPv6, so if you have it on your network, connectivity issues may arise.

      Reset network settings

      As a last resort, we suggest resetting your device's network settings. This clears cached routing, cached DNS records, saved WiFi connections and settings made by networking programs like web browsers, email clients, and VPNs. In order to do that on a Linux device, you can follow our separate guide.

      Note: In case you have any questions or are experiencing any issues, please feel free to contact our 24/7 customer support team.


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