Android 13 came with massive changes to the interface, security, and overall user experience. However, it wasn’t all good because many bugs also came with the new update. For instance, android users could not use or even access VPNs on their devices. Fortunately, this article shows how to fix the VPN not working issue on Android 13.
How to Fix VPN Issues on Android 13.
There are many reasons why your VPN may have stopped working after updating to Android 13. However, the biggest reason is the Android 13 OS itself, as it’s still in its beta phase. Luckily, Android users can still fix their VPN issues by following the steps in the guide below.
1. Reboot Your Device.
This solution may seem very simple, but it usually does the trick. The user should simply reboot their device if they face a VPN issue. Interestingly, users can use this step for any issue they face, mainly fixing the problem immediately. Basically, rebooting the device clears any cache files or opened apps that may be causing an interruption for the VPN.
2. Make Sure It Is Turned On.
There is a probability that you may have forgotten to turn on the VPN after updating the Android version. In particular, updating the OS turns off all running apps and restarts the device, which stops the VPN from running. For this reason, the user should check if their VPN app is up and running. To do this, first, they have to open the app. There should be an indicator of whether they are connected to the VPN or not. If there is a disconnected sign, the user should choose their closest server and connect to it. Besides this, ensure the WiFi or mobile data is on, as the VPN needs that to work. Frequently, users forget to turn on these settings which causes problems with the VPN.
3. Update the VPN App.
You can also check if there are updates available for the VPN app in the Google Play Store. Usually, after an OS update, many apps also release updates to work well with the new operating system. For this reason, the user should check if their apps are up to date. To do this, proceed by opening your Google Play Store.
4. Disable Smart Switch.
Smart Switch is a unique option that’s only available on some Android devices. In particular, this option allows the device to switch between WiFi and mobile data without any notice automatically. This kind of disruption can stop the VPN from working properly and also cause other network-related problems. The user can close this setting by going to the Settings menu and choosing the Network option. Next, tap on the WiFi setting and go on the WiFi+ option. Afterward, disable the automatic switching option and restart the device to activate this setting. Hopefully, turning this setting off will allow you to use the VPN like before.
5. Remove VPN App Cache Files.
If you still don’t know how to fix the VPN not working issue on Android 13, this step will help you with the issue. Occasionally, the VPN app can gather many cache or data files that can affect the VPN’s performance. In particular, this often happens after updating the OS. For this reason, you should clear the VPN cache files that lead to issues. The user can easily clear the files by going to their app list through the Settings menu and clicking Apps & Notifications. Besides this, they can also hold down on their VPN app to directly open its settings. Next, simply click on the Clear cache setting to delete any faulty files. In addition, users can also clear their storage files by clicking Clear storage.
6. Reset Network Settings.
Another setting that leads to VPN issues is changing the Network Setting.
7. Uninstall/Reinstall the VPN App.
This is an obvious step that users forget and often stay wondering how to fix VPN not working issue on Android 13. To do this, simply hold down the VPN’s icon and uninstall or use the Google Play Store to delete it. After uninstalling, restart the device. Finally, install the VPN app again through the store.
8. Delete other VPN Apps.
Similar apps often cause disruption in the performance of each other. For this reason, you should delete any other VPN apps on the device. This should prevent other apps from causing conflicts for your primary VPN app. After uninstalling these apps, reboot your device and start your VPN to check if it works.
9. Check VPN Compatibility.
There are many Android devices available on the market, and this confuses users over which apps are compatible with their devices. Besides this, the VPN also may be incompatible with the browser or OS you currently use. To check this, read the developer comments on the download page of the VPN.
10. Turn Off Battery Saver.
There are many instances where the Battery Saver causes problems with the app’s functionality. For this reason, the user should close the Battery Saver while using their VPN app. To do this, go to Settings, click on Battery and switch off the Battery Saver. This should also increase the overall performance of the android device.
11. Disable Battery Optimization.
Like the Battery Saver, optimizing battery usage also causes problems with the performance of many apps. The user can turn this setting off by going to Settings and clicking on Battery. Next, find the VPN app by scrolling down and tap on it. After this, simply disable the Battery Optimization option and launch the app. These are all the steps if you don’t know how to fix VPN not working issue on Android 13. Hopefully, one of these steps will fix your issue and allow you to continue browsing safely. If this guide helped you, please share it. 😊
