I Am Experiencing Slow Speeds. What Can I Do?

Slow speeds while connected to Private Internet Access (PIA) can be caused by your connection settings, the VPN server you are using, your ISP, or the VPN protocol. Follow the steps below to identify and fix the issue.

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Before You Begin: Test Your Baseline Speed

Step 1: Try a Different VPN Server

Step 2: Change Your Connection Settings

Step 3: Enable Use Small Packets

Step 4 (Windows Only): Check for a TAP Adapter Issue

Step 5: Contact Customer Support

Before You Begin: Test Your Baseline Speed

First, check whether the issue is with your internet connection or the VPN.

  1. Disconnect from PIA by clicking the power button.
  2. Run a speed test on a site like Speedtest by Ookla.
  • If your speed is already slow without the VPN: The issue is with your internet connection and not PIA. Contact your ISP for assistance.
  • If your speed is normal without the VPN: Continue to the next steps.

Step 1: Try a Different VPN Server

A distant or overloaded server can significantly reduce your speeds. Try connecting to a server closer to your physical location.  

  1. Open the PIA app and select a VPN server close to your physical location. The Choose automatically option is a good starting point.

    PIA app showing the automatic server selection highlighted.
  2. Connect to the server and test your speed again.

Step 2: Change Your Connection Settings

If you are using OpenVPN, switching to WireGuard is the first thing to try, as it is generally faster and more efficient.

  1. Open the PIA app and click the three-dot icon (⋮) in the top-right corner and select Settings.

    PIA app showing the "Settings" option highlighted.

  2. Go to the Protocols and change the protocol to WireGuard.

    PIA app showing the "Protocols" option and the "WireGuard" protocol highlighted.

  3. Reconnect to PIA and test your speed again.

If you need to stay on OpenVPN: Switch the transport to UDP if it is not already set, as it generally performs better than TCP. You can also try different port options in the Protocols tab.

The Protocols tab in the PIA app for desktop, with a highlighted "Transport" and "Remote Port" sections in the OpenVPN settings.

Step 3: Enable Use Small Packets

If you are on a mobile network, connecting through a router, or experiencing packet loss, Use Small Packets may help by reducing the IP packet size to improve compatibility with networks that have strict size limits.

  1. Go to the Protocols tab in settings and enable Use Small Packets.

    PIA app showing the "Small Packets" option highlighted in the "MTU" section.

  2. Reconnect to PIA and test your speed again.

Step 4 (Windows Only): Check for a TAP Adapter Issue

If slow speeds only occur when using OpenVPN on Windows, a faulty TAP adapter may be the cause. Reinstalling it can resolve this.

1. Disconnect and Quit the PIA App

  1. Click the power button in the PIA app to disconnect.

    The PIA app with a highlighted power buton.

  2. Click the three-dot icon (⋮) and select Quit.

    The three-dot menu option highlighted, alongside the "Quit" option.

2. Uninstall the TAP Adapter

  1. Look Device Manager in the Start Menu.

    Start Menu showing the "Device Manager" option highlighted.

  2. Expand Network adapters.
  3. Look for one or more of the following adapters:
    • Private Internet Access Network Adapter.
    • TAP-Windows Adapter V9.
    • TAP-Windows Adapter V9 #2.
    • Any other adapter with TAP in the name.

  4. Right-click the adapter and select Uninstall device.

    Device Manager showing the "Network adapters" option and the "Uninstall device" option highlighted for the PIA adapters.

  5. If available, check Delete the driver software for this device.
  6. Select Uninstall.

If you do not see a TAP adapter:  Check Other devices or Unknown devices. If an unknown device is a TAP device, uninstall it the same way.

Reinstall the PIA App

After you remove the adapter, uninstall and reinstall the PIA app following these instructions. Next, open the PIA app, connect, and test your speeds.

Step 5: Contact Customer Support

If your speeds are still slow, contact our Support Team and include the following details:

  • Where you notice the slow speeds, such as browsing, downloads, streaming, or torrents.
  • Your speed test results with PIA disconnected.
  • Your speed test results with PIA connected.
  • The VPN server you are using.
  • The country or state you are connecting from.
  • Your OS version.
  • Any firewall, antivirus, or security software on your device.
  • Whether you use public Wi-Fi, a private router, or an ISP modem.
  • Whether you connect through the PIA app, a manual setup, or another VPN app.
  • Whether you are on a public or private network.

Customer support can use this information to help identify the cause and recommend the best settings for your connection.

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