How to fix slow internet during VPN on Windows 11

Is the VPN connection slowing down the internet connection? If so, use split tunneling to fix this issue on Windows 11.

Windows 11 VPN default gateway
Windows 11 VPN default gateway

On Windows 11, if you connect to your organization’s network through a VPN (virtual private network) connection, you probably notice a slow internet browsing experience while the connection is active.

The slower internet connection is because when you connect to a VPN server, the system also uses the remote network route for your web traffic. This is not an issue if you’re using a VPN service to bypass region restrictions or for privacy. However, if you only connect through a virtual private network to work from home or another remote location, routing your web traffic through the company’s network is not a good idea, not only because it’ll slow down your connection but also because you may come across web filtering issues.

If you don’t need to route your web traffic through a VPN connection, on Windows 11, you can create a split tunnel, a networking feature that will allow you to maintain connectivity to the private network while ensuring web traffic flows through your internet connection. 

This guide will teach you the steps to create a “split tunneling” to fix a slow internet connection on Windows 11 during an active VPN connection.

Fix slow internet using VPN split tunneling

To prevent a VPN connection from slowing down the internet on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on Network & Internet.

  3. Click the Advanced network settings page.

    Advanced network settings

  4. Under the “Related settings” section, click on More network adapter options.

    More network adapter options

  5. Right-click the VPN connection adapter and select the Properties option.

    VPN properties

  6. Click the Networking tab.

  7. Clear the “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)” option.

  8. Check the “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” option.

    VPN Connection Networking options

  9. Click the Properties button.

  10. Click the Advanced button.

    TPC/IPv4 Advanced settings

  11. Click the IP Settings tab.

  12. Clear the “Use default gateway on remote network” option.

    Stop internet traffic through VPN connection

  13. Click the OK button.

  14. Click the OK  button again.

  15. Click OK one more time.

Once you complete the steps, the system will create a split tunnel staying connected with the remote network but using the local internet connection to browse the web.

The only caveat with these instructions is that the computer can only access the remote network that matches the network ID from the IP address configuration the device has received. As a result, depending on your remote network requirements, it’s a good idea to consult your network administrator to verify that these changes won’t affect your connection.

While for many users changing these settings makes more sense than sending web traffic through a VPN connection, there is a good reason for this default behavior. It’s for security reasons as it allows companies to control the flow of the internet with firewalls, filters, and other security solutions to monitor and meet the organization’s network policies as if employees were physically connected to the network. In addition, in most cases, using the default settings won’t affect VPN users as they usually only engage on one network at a time.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.