Norton VPN keeps disconnecting and connecting

[Randy_Penrod]

My Norton VPN keeps “connecting”

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Detailed description:

Product & version number:

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What is the error message you are seeing?

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[bjm]

@Randy_Penrod

Norton VPN keeps disconnecting and connecting
My Norton VPN keeps “connecting”

Hello @Randy_Penrod
Welcome to the Norton Community!
Are you running Norton 360 for Windows or the standalone Norton VPN app?
Any Message: | Error: ?
Is “Secure VPN Reconnecting" persistent or occasional?
Is your Auto-Connect set to Always or Custom (any parameters)?
Are you Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable?

~ may be related:
https://community.norton.com/t/vpn-connection/529317

Norton VPN stays at “Connecting” and returned to disconnected state

1. Change the VPN Protocol in Norton
   An unstable network protocol can cause the VPN tunnel to repeatedly drop. Switching to a more stable protocol usually stops the looping:

• Open your Norton 360 or Norton Secure VPN app.
• Go to Settings (or the gear icon).
• Look for VPN Protocol Settings.
• Switch it from Automatic to OpenVPN (TCP) or WireGuard. TCP is highly stable and forces a solid connection.

2. Manually Choose a Region (Don’t use “Fastest Location”)
   If Norton is set to “Fastest Location”, it will aggressively drop your connection to switch servers the second it detects a minor speed fluctuation.

• Open the Secure VPN dashboard.
• Click the drop-down menu next to your region.
• Manually select your country or a specific nearby city instead of Fastest Location.

3. Reset the Norton Virtual Network Adapter
   Norton uses a virtual network driver to route your encrypted data. If this driver becomes corrupted, Windows will repeatedly reject it.

• Right-click the Start Menu and select Device Manager.
• Click View at the top menu and check Show hidden devices.
• Expand the Network adapters section.
• Look for WAN Miniport (IP) or any adapter with Norton or TAP in the name.
• Right-click it and select Uninstall device. (Windows will automatically reinstall a clean version upon reboot).
• Restart your PC and try connecting again.

4. Disable Windows Fast Startup
   Windows 10 and 11 use “Fast Startup,” which saves system state to a file instead of fully shutting down. This prevents network drivers from refreshing and frequently causes VPN routing loops:

• Press Windows Key + R, type control, and press Enter to open the Control Panel.
• Go to Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do.
• Click Change settings that are currently unavailable at the top.
• Uncheck Turn on fast startup.
• Click Save changes and restart your computer.

5. Clear the Norton App Cache
   If the application’s configuration files are glitched, clearing the temporary folder will force Norton to rebuild a clean connection profile:

• Close Norton completely (right-click the Norton icon in your bottom-right taskbar tray and exit).
• Press Windows Key + R, type %programdata%, and press Enter.
• Open the Norton folder.
• Look for a folder named SecureVPN or IsolatedStorage and delete it.
• Relaunch Norton and try connecting.

Fix problem accessing the Internet when connected to Norton VPN
Message: “VPN connection error: VPN is having trouble connecting to the server…”
Learn more about Auto Connect and Reconnect after restarting features in Norton VPN

AI sourced content may make mistakes

[bjm]

If your Norton VPN for Windows is frequently disconnecting and reconnecting, it often indicates an issue with the VPN’s ability to maintain a stable connection to its servers. This can be caused by temporary network problems, restrictive network or firewall settings, or an unstable internet connection. Troubleshooting involves checking your network, adjusting VPN settings like the protocol or server location, and ensuring your Norton product is up-to-date.

• Check Your Network Connection
  Ensure your device has a stable internet connection, as temporary network issues can cause Norton VPN to disconnect. If you were previously able to connect to Norton VPN on the same network, wait a short period and try connecting again. Some networks may restrict VPN access through their network or firewall settings, which could be a reason for connection problems.

• Adjust VPN Protocol Settings
  Changing the VPN protocol can often resolve connectivity issues. Norton VPN offers several protocol options, including Automatic, WireGuard, Mimic, OpenVPN (UDP), and OpenVPN (TCP). Experimenting with these different protocols can help find one that is more stable for your network environment.

• Change VPN Server Location or Refresh IP
  If the VPN continues to disconnect, try connecting to a different VPN region or manually refreshing your IP address. If your VPN is set to “Fastest Location,” manually selecting a specific country or city can sometimes improve stability. Manually refreshing your IP address can also help if you’re experiencing issues with streaming, website loading, or frequent CAPTCHAs.

Here’s a step-by-step troubleshooting guide for Norton VPN for Windows:

1. Verify Internet Connection Stability:

   • Ensure your Windows device is connected to a stable internet connection.
   • If you are on a public Wi-Fi network (e.g., hotel, airport), open a browser and complete any required sign-in pages before attempting to connect to the VPN.

2. Change VPN Protocol Settings:

   • For Norton VPN Standard (version 24.x and above):
     • Open the Norton VPN Standard app on your desktop.
     • Click Settings in the left pane.
     • Under the VPN Preferences tab, scroll down to the VPN Protocol Settings section.
     • Choose a different protocol from the options: Automatic (recommended), WireGuard, Mimic, OpenVPN (UDP), or OpenVPN (TCP).
   • For Norton 360:
     • Open Norton 360 on your desktop.
     • Click Privacy in the left pane.
     • Click Open under Secure VPN.
     • Click the Settings tab at the top.
     • Scroll down to the VPN Protocol Settings section and choose a different protocol from the options: Automatic (recommended), WireGuard, Mimic, OpenVPN (UDP), or OpenVPN (TCP).

3. Change VPN Server Location:

   • For Norton VPN Standard:
     • Open Norton VPN on your desktop.
     • On the Norton dashboard, click the down arrow next to the current region (above the Connect button).
     • Select a different country or city from the list. You can also use the search box to find a specific location.
   • For Norton 360:
     • Open Norton 360.
     • Click Privacy on the left side of the window.
     • Click Open under Secure VPN.
     • In the Secure VPN window, under the Connection tab, click the down arrow next to Fastest Location or your current location.
     • Select a different country from the list.

4. Manually Refresh IP Address (if applicable):

   • This feature is available for Norton VPN and Norton 360 on Windows.
   • Ensure your VPN is connected and not paused.
   • For Norton VPN:
     • Open and connect to the VPN.
     • Choose your preferred VPN location.
     • Click Connect and wait until the status shows Connected.
     • Look for the Refresh IP icon (circular arrow) next to the Disconnect icon.
     • Click the Refresh IP icon.
     • If prompted to turn on Kill Switch, you can choose to enable it or click “Continue to refresh IP” without enabling it.
   • For Norton 360: (The source does not explicitly detail the steps for Norton 360 on Windows for manual IP refresh, but it states the feature is available for Norton 360 on Windows. The general process should be similar to Norton VPN.)

5. Enable Auto Connect and Reconnect after Restarting (if not already enabled):

   • For Norton VPN Standard (version 24.x and above):
     • Open the Norton VPN Standard app on your desktop.
     • On the Norton dashboard, under Overview, click the VPN Preferences tab.
     • Look for options related to “Auto Connect” and “Reconnect after restarting” and ensure they are enabled.
   • For Norton 360: (The source does not explicitly detail the steps for Norton 360 on Windows for these features, but it states the “Reconnect after restarting” feature is available only on Windows. The general process should be similar to Norton VPN.)

AI sourced content may make mistakes

[bjm]

Fix Norton VPN disconnecting and reconnecting

Try these steps in order on your Windows PC:

1. Check your internet connection

• Turn Norton VPN off and verify whether your regular internet connection is stable.
• Restart your modem and router.
• If using Wi‑Fi, try Ethernet or a mobile hotspot to determine whether the network is the cause.

2. Reset Windows networking
3. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
4. Run each command separately:

cmd
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh winsock reset

Restart your PC afterward.

3. Change Norton VPN settings

• Select a specific nearby VPN location instead of Auto or Optimized, then test again.
• Temporarily turn off Kill Switch. A brief VPN interruption can otherwise block traffic and trigger repeated reconnections.
• Disable automatic connection rules temporarily.
• If your Norton version offers protocol choices, try another available protocol.

4. Check for conflicts

• Fully exit any other VPNs, proxy tools, or network-monitoring software.
• If another antivirus or firewall is installed, temporarily disable it only for testing, or add Norton VPN as an allowed application.
• In Device Manager > Network adapters, update or reinstall the Norton VPN/TAP adapter, then restart Windows.

5. Update or reinstall Norton

• Open Norton and run LiveUpdate repeatedly until no updates remain, then restart.
• If the issue continues, uninstall Norton VPN and reinstall it using Norton’s official Remove and Reinstall utility.

Contact Norton Support if the VPN disconnects on multiple networks, continues after a clean reinstall, or shows a recurring error code. Avoid running two VPN applications at the same time.

AI sourced content may make mistakes