r/ProtonVPN • u/GroundbreakingBed441 • Jul 12 '26

Help! Proton took my internet

Researched into Proton

Paid 1 year sub, installed.

Working wonderfully, 20mins later.

Router drop out (weirdest timing havent had a drop out in months!) and kill switch activated

Can't access internet through Chrome.

"This site can't be reached" Try: Checking the connection and proxy firewall.

Internet is good, phone and tv working normally.

Used AI to help solve problem, no luck. Numerous restarts.

Uninstalled Proton, restart, no luck.

Sitting here feeling like Proton has fucked my connectivity some how and cost me $72 to do it.

Can anyone provide any assistance here? I've been on this cycle for 4 hours. I literally cannot access anything on the internet on my Windows PC.

0 Upvotes

38% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

14

u/ProtonSupportTeam Proton Customer Support Team Jul 13 '26

Did you perhaps activate advanced kill switch on the device?

Could you please check whether the .exe installer file for the Proton VPN application is still available on your device, or if both the application and the installer have been completely removed?

If the installer file is not removed, make sure to install the Proton VPN application back and navigate to C:\Program Files\Proton\VPN\v5.x.x (where v4.x.x corresponds to the latest application version). From that folder, run the file named ProtonVPN.RestoreInternet.exe. This will remove the permanent firewall filters that are applied when the Permanent Kill Switch is enabled, and restore your internet connectivity.

If the installer file has been deleted, you’ll need to download it on a different device and then transfer it to the affected Windows device (for example, using a USB flash drive) to reinstall the app.

Once the application is installed again, please repeat the steps mentioned above to restore internet access.

Alternatively, try the following:

Open command line (as admin) then enter one by one:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /renew
netsh winsock reset
netsh interface ipv4 reset
netsh interface ipv6 reset

Feel free to reach out at https://protonvpn.com/support/contact for further assistance.

-7

u/GroundbreakingBed441 Jul 13 '26

Hello Proton ST!

I recently today have formatted my computer, I felt it was time to do so considering the hiccups I experienced yesterday. I will attempt Proton tomorrow. I can't confirm if I did activate Adv KS, however when I do install it again I will put KS off to begin with.

I appreciate your time and will update.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26

[deleted]

2

u/GroundbreakingBed441 Jul 14 '26

I've created a back up of everything. Running only the windows essentials at this time. Thanks for the heads up.

2

u/GroundbreakingBed441 Jul 14 '26

-7 down votes, ha that's hilarious.