Whether you would like to hide your online identity, shield your sensitive information from malicious actors, or bypass frustrating restrictions to unlock region-specific features, a VPN service has got you covered. For a seamless experience, you can integrate a VPN extension with your Chrome browser to browse the web at the desired pace and convenience.
For whatever reason, if your VPN extension is not working in Chrome on your Windows 11 device, bother not. In this in-depth troubleshooting guide, we’ve discussed a wide range of viable solutions to resolve the VPN issues in the Google Chrome app. Read on…
Fix VPN Extension Not Working in Chrome on Windows 11
What could be preventing your VPN extension from working in the Google Chrome browser? From the corrupted browser cache to incompatibility with Windows to poor internet connection to conflicting rival extensions, there are multiple reasons why your VPN is not getting along with the browser.
1. Check Your Internet Connection
Note that VPN services require a strong and stable internet connection. Therefore, make sure your internet connection is stable and working properly.
- Press the Win+ A to bring up the Action Center on your PC.
- Disable/enable Wi-Fi.
- After that, launch the Chrome browser and head over to a website without activating the VPN.
- Should your internet connection remain unstable, restart your router.
2. Check Compatibility with Chrome and Windows 11
Is your VPN extension optimized to support the latest version of Chrome or Windows 11? If you have doubts, head over to your VPN provider’s website to check whether or not it is compatible with the browser and the latest iteration of Windows.
3. Check for Browser Updates
Another reliable solution that you should try is to update the Chrome browser as there is a high chance that the outdated version might be making life difficult for the VPNs.
- On your device > open Chrome > triple-dot icon at the top right > Help > About Google Chrome.
- Now, the Chrome browser will automatically check for updates. If there is an update available, the browse will install it.
- Once the update is done, relaunch the browser.
4. Ensure the VPN Extension is Enabled
While this VPN solution might sound pretty basic, it’s always recommended to tick off the most essential thing before going on to resolve major issues. Therefore, it would be better to check whether or not your VPN extension is active in Chrome:
- On your PC, launch Chrome and click on the triple-dot menu in the top-right corner > More Tools > Extensions.
- Now, locate your VPN extension and make sure that it’s enabled.
- Just in case the VPN extension is already ON, turn it off > relaunch the Chrome browser > go back to the extension setting, and activate it.
5. Confirm the VPN Subscription is Active
Note that some VPN extensions need to have active subscriptions to work. Therefore, double-check whether or not you have a required subscription plan.
- Launch a browser on your device > navigate to your VPN provider’s website > Sign in using your account and password > check your account status to make sure your plan is active.
6. Restart Your PC
For times when you are up against miscellaneous Windows 11 issues or the ones that tend to show their heads out of nowhere, a simple restart should be one of your go-solutions. The ability to get rid of temporary files enables it to resolve minor glitches in a jiffy.
7. Update the VPN Extension
Are you using the outdated extensions in Chrome browser on your Windows 11 device? If the answer is yes, update those extensions.
- On your Windows 11 device, navigate to chrome://extensions/ in the browser > Developer mode in the menu > Click Update to update all installed extensions.
- After that, relaunch Chrome and check if the VPN has begun to work as expected.
8. Reset Your Network Settings
If your Windows device has run into a network-related problem, resetting the entire network settings may help you resolve the issue.
- On your PC, go to Settings app (Win+I) > Network & Internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset > Reset now and confirm.
9. Troubleshoot Network Related Issues
Windows 11 also features a robust “Network Troubleshooter” that you can use to resolve network-related issues.
- Head into the Settings app on your PC > System > Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters > Hit the Run button next to Network & Internet and confirm the action.
10. Reinstall the VPN Extension
Should the VPN extensions continue to malfunction even after updating, now is the right time to reinstall them all.
- Launch Chrome on your device and go to chrome://extensions/ > locate your VPN extension and hit Remove.
- Then, fire up the Chrome Web Store > search for the VPN in question and install it.
- Next, follow the usual process to set up the extension.
11. Test on Another Browser
To figure out if the problem is specific to Chrome, try installing another browser like Firefox and check if the VPN extension works with that browser. If it’s able to function with that browser, the problem is solely related to Chrome.
12. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
Corrupt/outdated browser data has a long history of interfering with or blocking the path of VPN extensions.
- To get rid of the browser data, launch the Chrome browser > click on the three-dot menu at the upper right corner >
- Now, choose Settings > Privacy and Security > Delete Browsing Data.
- Next, select the “Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data” options > click Clear data and confirm the cleanup of the browsing history.
- After that, restart Chrome and check if the VPNs have come back on track.
13. Verify VPN Permissions
Ensure that you have given the desired license to VPN extensions to run and work efficiently on your PC.
- To verify VPN permissions, launch the Chrome browser and visit chrome://extensions/.
- Now, find your VPN extension and select the “Details” option.
- Next, be sure that the extension has all required permissions including the “Allow access to file URLs,” to function on your Windows device.
14. Disable Antivirus on your PC
Bear in mind that the third-party antivirus software is often at loggerheads with VPN service. Hence, I would suggest you temporarily disable the antivirus package on your device.
- To do so, launch the antivirus program on your PC and temporarily turn off its network protection features.
15. Allow VPN in Windows Firewall
Ensure that you have allowed the VPN to work in Windows Firewall.
- Open the Settings app on your PC > Privacy & Security > Windows Security > Firewall & Network Protection.
- Now, select “Allow an app through the firewall”.
- Find your VPN app/extension and make sure both the Private and Public network access are active.
16. Disable Proxy Settings in Windows 11
A proxy server doesn’t always get along nicely with a VPN service.
- Launch the Settings app > Network & Internet > Proxy.
- Now, disable the switch for “Automatically detect settings”.
- Ensure that no manual proxy is active and configured.
17. Test in Incognito Mode
In some rare cases, extensions may conflict with each other, which often leads to unexpected malfunctioning.
- First off, navigate to chrome://extensions/ > Now, disable all the extensions > quit the browser.
- Launch Chrome and hit the triple-dot menu at the top right > New Incognito Window.
- Head into chrome://extensions/ section > activate an extension and check if it works in incognito mode.
If this VPN extension works, disable it and activate another extension to identify the one that’s causing the problem.
18. Check System Time and Date Settings
If the date and time settings have been incorrectly configured on your PC, they may interfere with VPNs:
- Launch the Settings app > Time & Language > Date & Time.
- Now, turn on the toggles for “Set time automatically” and “Set time zone automatically”.
19. Disable Hardware Acceleration in Chrome
Though Chrome’s hardware acceleration is super handy for enhanced performance, at times, it tends to prevent extensions from working properly.
- To do so, launch the Chrome browser on your PC > hit the triple-dot icon at the top-right > Settings > System.
- Turn off the switch for “Use hardware/graphics acceleration when available” > restart Chrome and check if the issue is gone.
20. Contact VPN Support
If nothing has worked in resolving the VPN problem, it would be the right time to contact your VPN provider’s customer support and explain the problem you are faced with.
Let your VPN provider know the Windows 11 and the Google Chrome version you are using. Besides, show the error messages/codes you are getting and the steps you have already taken to resolve the issue.
Wrapping up…
Hopefully, your VPN extension has returned to normal and so has your private browsing. But before diving into a web story, feel free to shoot your feedback about this guide and the tips that have resolved the issue on your PC.
