(Not using a Windows device? Click here.)
Whether you’re connected to Hotspot Shield VPN or any other VPN service, data going to and from your device must travel through VPN servers before reaching their target destination. On one hand, this extra step is the nature of any VPN service and is sometimes the reason people experience a slower connection than usual. In some respect, there’s a necessary tradeoff taking place in favor of privacy and security rather than speed.
If you find your speed is being affected by 50% or more while using Hotspot Shield, try the steps below and/or contact our support team by filling out this form.
Step 1: Try changing virtual locations.
- Try changing your virtual location by choosing from the dropdown on the right-hand side of “Server locations:”. See below:
- Connect, and try browsing or streaming
Step 2: Try rebooting your computer
- Close Hotspot Shield, and any other applications you have running (don’t forget to save your work!)
- Reboot your computer
- Open Hotspot Shield app and turn it on
- Try browsing or streaming again
Step 3: Perform a speed test on your Windows device
- Start Hotspot Shield VPN and connect to any server (whatever country you need most)
- Go https://single.speedtest.net/
- Important: The speed test should be performed in the same location you're connected to in Hotspot Shield. In speedtest.net, click “Change Server” and set the country to the same country that you selected in Hotspot Shield, or the closest possible location to your selected location (i.e. if you chose the U.S. as your server location in Hotspot Shield, choose the U.S. in speedtest.net as well)
- In speedtest.net, ensure that you select “Single” under “Connections” at the bottom of the screen before you start the test
- Wait for the test to finish and take a screenshot of the results
- Go back to Hotspot Shield and change the server location to one that’s on the other side of the world (i.e. if you’re physically located in the U.S., choose India (via Singapore), or Japan as your server location in Hotspot Shield). Turn on Hotspot Shield.
- Go to https://single.speedtest.net/ and run another speed test
- Wait for the test to finish and take a screenshot of the results
- While Hotspot Shield is still on, open a new tab and get your IP address here. Take a screenshot of the IP and location that is displayed
- Turn Hotspot Shield VPN off
- Go to https://single.speedtest.net/ again. Test your speed using the same country you selected in the beginning and take a screenshot of the results.
If something still seems off, take all the information that you've gathered (screenshots) and email it to us with a detailed description of the problem at support.hotspotshield.com