(The following is for Android devices. Not on Android? Click here.)
About slow speeds on an Android device
When you’re connected to Hotspot Shield or any VPN service, data travels through the VPN servers first before reaching their target. That's how internet anonymity is achieved and why it's normal to experience speed reduction from 30%-50% when using any VPN service.
Sometimes switching the connection OFF and ON a few times can help the app search for servers that are physically closer to you and potentially faster.
If this doesn't help with speed and you find your speed is being affected by 50% or more while using Hotspot Shield, please run the following test and contact our support team by filling out this form.
For more information on how to take a screenshot, please check this article: How to take a screenshot
To perform a speed test on your Android device:
Install SpeedTest by Ookla from the Play Store
Start Hotspot Shield and connect to a Virtual Location (United States or UK for example)
Go to your browser and enter https://www.hsselite.com/support/session
Copy the encrypted string and paste it into an email to support@hotspotshield.com and send it to us.
Launch Speedtest.
Select Single under Connections
The word "Single" should be white.
Click on “Change Server”
Important: The speed test should be performed in the same country where you're connected to.
Enter a city that is in the same country as the Virtual Location that you selected in Hotspot Shield. Then select a server. Write down the name of the server. (We will need to use this server in another speed test.)
Start the speed test.
Wait for the test to finish.
Open up another tab in your browser.
Go to Google and enter “What is my IP address”
Go back to the SpeedTest tab and click on Results and select the direct link for the last speed test
Select upload
Pick Mail (Gmail)
For the email address enter support@hotspotshield.com
Include the IP address that you collected in the email
Now repeat the test, but first, disconnect Hotspot Shield from the virtual location.
Go back to the SpeedTest site and select “Change Server” and select the same server that was selected in the first test. (If you don’t know it, paste the URL of the first speed test into a browser tab and the name will be visible.)
Run the speed test.
Wait for the test to finish.
Click on Results
Click on upload.
Pick Mail (Gmail)
For the email address enter support@hotspotshield.com
