

These ports can sometimes become overloaded, which results in disconnections and poor speed. Your VPN only uses 1 port at any given time to connect to a server. For example, ExpressVPN has a TCP connection for its proprietary Lightway protocol as well as OpenVPN.Ī port is a start and end point for network connections and communication. You’ll usually find TCP as a part of the OpenVPN protocol - you’ll find the option in your VPN’s protocol menu. This will create a more stable connection that results in fewer disconnections. However, if your VPN is frequently disconnecting, I suggest manually choosing the TCP protocol. Your VPN will usually decide which IP protocol is better depending on your internet connection.

TCP is much more stable and secure, but slower.Īll you have to do is open the “Protocol” tab and select a different option. UDP is much faster, cutting down the time it takes for your data to reach its destination. Typically, VPNs operate using 1 of 2 IP protocols: UDP (User Datagram Protocol) or TCP (Transmission Control Protocol). IP protocols are sets of rules that route and address packets of data so that they can arrive at the intended destination. This can improve overall VPN performance and provide a smoother connection. For instance, CyberGhost lets you change the MTU from its default setting to “Auto” or “Small”. By adjusting the size of the MTU to be smaller, you can reduce the delay by sending smaller packets of data more frequently. Some VPNs allow you to customize the MTU of your connection. However, a large MTU can cause congestion if your network is slow - a large packet occupies the connection for a longer time and causes delays to other data packets. Ideally, the MTU should be large enough to send packets of data efficiently without causing any network delays.Ī larger MTU provides a smoother connection as it sends bigger data packets and requires less processing for a big amount of data.

The MTU is the Maximum Transmission Unit, or the size of the largest packet that can be sent in a single layer transaction.
