VPN connection problems are incredibly common, and Award VPN is no exception. Your connection might freeze during startup, drop randomly after a few minutes, or refuse to connect at all. Sometimes you’ll see cryptic error messages that tell you absolutely nothing useful.
Here’s what matters: most VPN issues have simple fixes. You don’t need to be a tech expert to solve them. This guide breaks down exactly why Award VPN stops working and walks you through proven solutions that actually work. By the end, you’ll know how to troubleshoot your connection like a pro.
Understanding Why Your VPN Connection Fails
A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server. That’s it. But for this tunnel to work, everything along that path needs to cooperate. Your device, your internet connection, your router, the VPN app, and the server itself all play a role.
When Award VPN fails, something in this chain breaks down. Maybe your firewall sees the encrypted traffic and panics. Your internet provider might be throttling VPN connections. The server you picked could be overloaded with too many users. Sometimes it’s just a bug in the app that needs fixing.
People often assume their VPN is working when it’s not. You see the icon, you click connect, and you assume everything’s fine. But your real IP address might still be visible. Your data could be traveling without encryption. Websites can still track where you are.
This matters more than you think. If you’re using public Wi-Fi, you’re exposed. If you’re trying to access geo-blocked content, it won’t work. If you need privacy for sensitive work, you don’t have it. A broken VPN is worse than no VPN because you have a false sense of security.
Award VPN Not Working: Common Causes
VPN failures always have a reason. Let’s look at what usually goes wrong so you can pinpoint your specific problem faster.
1. Outdated VPN Software
Old software breaks. That’s just how technology works. Award VPN releases updates constantly to fix bugs, improve security, and keep up with changes in server technology. Skip these updates and you’re running code that might not match what the servers expect.
Your phone or computer updates too. When your operating system upgrades to a new version, your old VPN app might not know how to handle the changes. What worked perfectly last week suddenly fails after a system update.
Check if there’s a newer version available. That alone fixes the problem more often than you’d expect.
2. Internet Connection Problems
Your VPN needs a working internet connection to function. Sounds obvious, but people forget this. If your base connection is unstable, dropping packets, or running slow, the VPN can’t build its encrypted tunnel on that shaky foundation.
Routers cause issues too. They overheat, crash quietly, or struggle with too many connected devices at once. Your normal browsing might work fine because websites are forgiving. But VPN connections need constant, stable data flow. Any hiccup breaks the tunnel.
Disconnect from the VPN and test your internet. Load a few websites. Run a speed test. If things are slow or wonky, your VPN isn’t the problem. Your internet is.
3. Firewall or Antivirus Interference
Security software protects you from threats. That’s good. But sometimes it blocks things it shouldn’t. Firewalls scan all your internet traffic, and encrypted VPN connections look suspicious. The firewall can’t see inside that encryption, so it assumes the worst and blocks it.
Antivirus programs do the same thing. They see VPN processes running and flag them as potentially dangerous. Windows Defender, Norton, McAfee, and others all have different rules. An antivirus update can suddenly start blocking your VPN even though it worked yesterday.
Work and school networks are even stricter. Their IT departments often block VPN traffic on purpose. If Award VPN works at home but not at work, this is why.
4. Wrong Server Selection
Not all VPN servers are created equal. Some get packed with users, especially popular locations. Too many people on one server means slow speeds, connection failures, and rejected login attempts. The server literally can’t handle more users.
Servers go down for maintenance. They experience technical problems. Your internet provider might block specific server IP addresses. If you always connect to the same server automatically, you won’t notice when that particular server has issues.
Distance matters too. Connecting to a server halfway around the planet means your data travels thousands of miles. More distance means more potential failure points along the way. Physics can’t be cheated.
5. Incorrect VPN Protocol Settings
VPN protocols are different methods for creating that encrypted tunnel. OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, L2TP. They each work differently. Some protocols work better on certain networks. Others get blocked by internet providers or public Wi-Fi systems.
Your VPN picks a default protocol when you install it. That default might not work well with your specific setup. Airport Wi-Fi might block OpenVPN but allow IKEv2. Your home internet might work great with WireGuard but hate L2TP.
Most people never look at these settings. They don’t even know which protocol they’re using. That’s fine until the default choice stops working.
Award VPN Not Working: DIY Fixes
Let’s fix this. These solutions handle most Award VPN problems. Start anywhere you like, though the order here makes logical sense.
1. Update Your Award VPN App
Open your app store. Search for Award VPN. If you see an update button, tap it. Let it finish completely before you try connecting again.
On a computer, open the Award VPN app. Check the settings or about section for update notifications. Most apps check automatically and tell you when something new is available. Install it.
Restart your device after updating. A full restart ensures everything loads fresh. Old processes get cleared out. New files take effect properly. Then try your connection again.
2. Restart Your Internet Connection
Unplug your router and modem. Actually unplug them from the wall. Don’t just press the power button. Wait 30 full seconds. This clears their memory and forces a fresh start.
Plug the modem back in first. Wait until all its lights stabilize. Then plug in your router. Let it boot up completely. This simple power cycle fixes more problems than you’d believe.
Test your internet speed once everything’s back online. Use fast.com or speedtest.net. If your speeds are way lower than what you pay for, call your internet provider. If speeds look good, try Award VPN again.
3. Check Your Firewall and Antivirus Settings
Find your firewall settings. On Windows, type “Windows Defender Firewall” in the search box. Look for “Allow an app through firewall.” Make sure Award VPN is listed there. Both private and public boxes should be checked.
Open your antivirus program. Every antivirus looks different, but find the settings menu. Look for “Exclusions,” “Whitelist,” or “Trusted Applications.” Add Award VPN to that list. You might need to add multiple files or processes.
Can’t change these settings? You’re probably on a locked-down work or school network. Try using mobile data instead. If that works, the network firewall is definitely your problem. You’ll need to talk to IT about getting VPN access approved.
4. Switch to a Different Server
Open Award VPN and look at your server list. Pick a different server than usual. If you normally use a US server, try Canada or somewhere in Europe. If you let the app auto-select the fastest server, manually choose a specific location instead.
Start with servers close to you geographically. Closer means faster and more reliable. If you’re in California, try Los Angeles or San Francisco before you try Tokyo or London. Shorter distance means fewer things can break along the way.
Keep trying different servers until one connects. This tells you whether your usual server is the problem or if something else is wrong. Some servers work consistently while others fail regularly. That’s normal with any VPN service.
5. Change Your VPN Protocol
Open Award VPN settings. Find the section labeled “Protocol” or “Connection Type.” You’ll see options like OpenVPN (TCP), OpenVPN (UDP), IKEv2, WireGuard, or L2TP.
Using OpenVPN? Switch to IKEv2 or WireGuard. They often work better on restrictive networks. Still not working? Try OpenVPN TCP instead of UDP. TCP is slower but handles unstable connections better.
Save your changes and test the connection. You might need to try several protocols before finding one that works. Once you find the right one, remember it. You’ll want to use that same protocol if problems come back later.
6. Reinstall the Award VPN App
Uninstall Award VPN completely. On Windows, go to Settings, then Apps, find Award VPN, and uninstall it. On Mac, drag it from Applications to the Trash. On phones, hold the app icon and delete it.
Restart your device. This step matters. It clears leftover files and corrupted settings that might be causing conflicts. Sometimes bad installation files are the entire problem. A clean slate fixes it.
Download Award VPN fresh from the official website or app store. Install it. Log in. Try connecting. New installations solve mysterious problems that other fixes can’t touch.
7. Contact Award VPN Support
Nothing worked? Time to contact the support team. They can see things you can’t. Server outages. Account-specific problems. Issues that need backend fixes. They have tools and access you don’t.
Most VPN companies offer email support, live chat, or ticket systems on their website. Have your account info ready. Tell them what you’ve already tried. This saves time because they won’t suggest fixes you’ve done already. They might have solutions that didn’t exist when this guide was written.
Wrap-Up
VPN problems look scary but they’re usually straightforward. Maybe Award VPN needs an update. Maybe you need a different server. Could be a quick 30-second fix or you might need to try a few things before something works.
Work through these solutions one by one instead of giving up early. Most people find their answer somewhere in this list. You’ll be back to secure browsing quickly. Save this guide for next time because technology loves to surprise us with new problems.