nothing loads on my pc until vpn is on

Question

nothing loads on my pc until vpn is on

jerz mlody 20

i havent turned on my pc for a week and now i turn it on my network says connected secure but nothing loads until i turn a vpn on

0 comments

3 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Thomas4-N 21,570 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello jerz mlody,

Before considering a repair install of Windows, I'd first try to determine why enabling the VPN immediately restores connectivity.

When a VPN fixes internet access, it often means traffic is being routed differently or different DNS servers are being used, rather than Windows itself being damaged.

Could you clarify:

Which VPN are you using?
When the VPN is off, do all websites fail to load or only some services such as Steam?
Does the issue also occur if you connect through a mobile hotspot instead of your normal network?
Do you have anything configured under Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy?

Also, please open Command Prompt and run the following with the VPN OFF:

nslookup microsoft.com

Then repeat the same command with the VPN ON and post both results.

Those results should help determine whether this is a DNS, routing, proxy, VPN, or ISP-related issue before attempting more invasive repairs.

jerz mlody 20 Reputation points

2026-09-14T10:09:49.2233333+00:00

hello i was using proton vpn i uninstalled it already and somehow i got it working but my download speed was really slow not how it used to be and now its a new day and its not working again its really slow my sites dont load or take very long but steam is working fine. discord is not loading anything, mobile hotspot works fine too but after connecting to my mobile hotspot the wifi i use disappeared i dont know if its just not reaching my room because everything works fine in my house and my parents are getting mad because everything is working but not in my pc i wanted to do the cmd but my wifi is gone now i will have to restart my pc or something and see also cant even post this comment its very slow
jerz mlody 20 Reputation points

2026-09-14T10:19:36.4933333+00:00

results without vpn if this is what you mean
jerz mlody 20 Reputation points

2026-09-14T10:20:01.53+00:00

with vpn
jerz mlody 20 Reputation points

2026-09-14T11:19:21.13+00:00

i cant even check here to see if anyone replied it just never loads so i have to turn on my vpn and it works

Answer 2

ApexNáV 170

Open the link below, scroll down and find the section "You're connected to Wi-Fi, but no Internet connection is detected (also known as limited connectivity)" and follow the steps mentioned there:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/connectivity-networking/fix-wi-fi-connection-issues-in-windows

If issue remains then Repairing Windows by reinstalling the same version may help. It repairs system files and components while preserving your apps, files, and settings, but I still recommend backing up important data just in case. You can perform the repair using the Microsoft guide below:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/install-upgrade/fix-issues-by-reinstalling-the-current-version-of-windows

jerz mlody 20 Reputation points

2026-09-13T17:58:32.0266667+00:00

everything seems fine in the troubleshooter and if i repair windows will it really keep my settings because thats trouble for me and also my steam download speed is really bad i dont know what happened everything works in my house but not on my pc
jerz mlody 20 Reputation points

2026-09-13T17:59:05.77+00:00

it dropped down to 0
ApexNáV 170 Reputation points

2026-09-14T10:11:57.72+00:00

It will keep files but I suggested to backup because if anything went wrong in the process then that can be troublesome, although chances are very low.

Go to device manager and uninstall your network adaptor and restart your laptop. Now check if if it's starts working
jerz mlody 20 Reputation points

2026-09-14T10:23:49.0166667+00:00

i already did that it seemed to work but slow and now its happening again
ApexNáV 170 Reputation points

2026-09-14T13:43:54.1966667+00:00

Then try repair after backup
jerz mlody 20 Reputation points

2026-09-14T14:13:15.9366667+00:00

it seems like its my router now i dont know what to do anymore

Answer 3

This pattern commonly points to a Windows networking stack problem or interference from VPN software or its network filter/adapter. Since the PC shows Connected, secured but traffic only works after the VPN is enabled, try these steps in order:

If a third-party VPN app is installed, completely uninstall it first, then restart the PC.
- VPN software can keep filter drivers or adapters that interfere with normal internet access even when the VPN is off.
- If internet works normally after uninstalling it, reinstall the latest version only if needed.
Use Network reset as the next step.
- Go to Start > Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset.
- Select Reset now > Yes.
- Wait for the PC to restart.
After the reset, test the connection before reinstalling the VPN.

Important:

Network reset removes network adapters and resets their settings to default. VPN client software or virtual switches might need to be reinstalled or set up again.
After the reset, Windows may set known networks to the Public profile.

If the issue started after a Windows update and the VPN itself also has trouble connecting, reinstalling or updating the VPN client is also a supported step.