VPNs are essential for protecting your privacy and securing your data, but sometimes they can slow down your internet connection. If you've ever experienced lag while streaming, downloading, or browsing while using a VPN, you're not alone. The good news is - there are effective ways to speed things up.

At Octohide VPN, we're committed to delivering fast, secure, and reliable connections. Here are eight proven methods to improve your VPN speed and get the best performance from your connection.

1. Connect to a Nearby Server

The physical distance between you and the VPN server matters. The farther away the server, the longer data takes to travel - resulting in slower speeds.

Solution: Choose a VPN server that’s geographically close to your location. If you're not trying to bypass geo-blocks, this is the most efficient way to reduce latency and improve speed.

2. Try a Different VPN Protocol

VPN protocols determine how your data is encrypted and routed. Some are faster than others, depending on your device and network conditions.

Recommended protocols:

• WireGuard® – Fast and lightweight, ideal for speed.

• VLESS – harder for censorship systems to detect or block. 

Switching protocols in the Octohide VPN settings can have a noticeable impact on performance.

3. Reduce Background Network Usage

Apps running in the background - such as cloud backups, software updates, or streaming services - can consume bandwidth and slow down your VPN connection.

Solution: Close unnecessary applications, limit browser tabs, and pause large downloads or updates while using the VPN.

4. Restart Your Devices

Sometimes, simply restarting your computer, router, or modem can fix temporary network congestion or software glitches that affect VPN speed.

Recommendation: Power-cycle your router and reboot your device before troubleshooting more complex issues.

5. Use Per-App VPN Settings (Split Tunneling)

Not every app needs to be routed through the VPN. Some services, like video streaming or local banking apps, may perform better - or even block access - when used with a VPN.

Solution: Use Octohide’s per-app settings (only on Android) to:

• Exclude apps that don’t require encryption.

• Prioritize critical apps for VPN routing.

• Reduce overall bandwidth usage through the VPN.

This allows you to maximize VPN performance where it matters most, while freeing up resources for less-sensitive tasks.

Example:

• Exclude gaming apps or streaming services to minimize lag and buffering.

Per-app control is available in the Octohide app under Settings > Per App settings.

Clicke here to see a tutorial how to do it

6. Check for ISP Throttling

Some internet service providers throttle bandwidth when they detect VPN usage or certain types of traffic like streaming or torrenting.

How to test:

1. Run a speed test with your VPN turned off.

2. Run another test with the VPN on.

3. If speeds drop dramatically, your ISP may be limiting VPN traffic.

Octohide VPN encrypts your traffic, which can help bypass throttling, but it’s not always a complete solution - especially if your base internet connection is already limited.

7. Keep Your VPN App Updated

Outdated software can result in compatibility issues or reduced performance. Regular updates contain important security patches, bug fixes, and speed optimizations.

Action step: Make sure you're always using the latest version of the Octohide VPN app.

Final Thoughts

A VPN will always introduce some overhead due to encryption, but that doesn’t mean your internet should feel sluggish. By applying the tips above, you can dramatically improve your connection speed while maintaining your privacy and security.

If you're still experiencing performance issues, our support team at Octohide is ready to help troubleshoot further.

Contact here -> https://octohide.com/support