Why is My Surfshark VPN So Slow? Troubleshooting Tips for Faster Speeds

Struggling with slow internet speeds when you’re connected to Surfshark can be super frustrating, especially when you just want to stream your favorite show or get some work done. I totally get it. there’s nothing worse than that buffering icon popping up when you’re trying to enjoy a smooth online experience. While it’s true that any VPN will naturally slow down your connection a little bit because of the encryption and the extra journey your data has to take, Surfshark is generally known for its pretty solid speeds. In fact, recent tests from 2025 show that Surfshark usually sees about a 17-21% speed loss, which is often barely noticeable in everyday use. So, if your Surfshark VPN feels sluggish, we need to dig a bit deeper.

The good news is that most of the time, a slow Surfshark connection isn’t a permanent problem, and you can often fix it with a few simple tweaks. We’re going to walk through all the common culprits and give you actionable steps to get your speeds back on track. Think of this as your personal guide to making your Surfshark VPN as zippy as it can be!

Understanding Why Your VPN Might Be Slow

Before we jump into fixing things, it helps to know why a VPN can affect your internet speed in the first place. It’s not usually a defect. it’s just how the technology works.

The Basics: How VPNs Affect Speed

When you use a VPN, your internet traffic takes a different path than it normally would. Instead of going directly from your device to the website you’re visiting, it first travels to a VPN server, gets encrypted, then goes to the website, and finally comes back through the VPN server, getting decrypted along the way. This whole process adds a few steps that can introduce delays.

• Encryption Overhead: Your data gets scrambled encrypted to keep it private and secure, and then unscrambled decrypted on the other end. This encryption and decryption takes processing power and time, which can slightly reduce your speed. Stronger encryption might mean a tiny bit more overhead, but it’s crucial for your security.
• Data Routing and Server Distance: When you connect to a VPN server, your internet traffic is rerouted through that server’s location. The further away that server is from your actual physical location, the longer it takes for your data to travel, and the more “latency” you’ll experience. Imagine sending a letter across town versus sending it across the world—the latter just takes longer.
• Server Load and Crowding: VPN servers, just like any other computer server, have a limit to how much traffic they can handle. If a server is packed with too many users, it can get overloaded, leading to slower speeds for everyone connected to it. It’s like a highway with too many cars – traffic slows down.
• Your Baseline Internet Speed: This one might seem obvious, but it’s often overlooked. A VPN can’t magically make your internet faster than your original connection. If your internet service provider ISP is already giving you slow speeds, or if you’re experiencing ISP throttling, your VPN connection will also be slow, even if Surfshark itself is performing well.
• VPN Protocols: VPN protocols are essentially the rules and methods your VPN uses to create that secure connection. Different protocols offer varying balances of security and speed. Some are designed for maximum security but might be a bit slower, while others prioritize speed with robust security.

Common Reasons Your Surfshark VPN is Slow and How to Fix Them

Now that we know the “why,” let’s get into the “how” to fix it. These are the most common reasons people experience slow Surfshark VPN speeds and the steps you can take to troubleshoot them.

Surfshark: What is My VPN and How Do I Know It’s Working?

You’re Connected to a Distant Server

This is probably the most frequent cause of slow VPN speeds. The further your chosen VPN server is from your actual location, the more time your data needs to travel, resulting in higher latency and slower speeds.

Fix: Choose a Closer Server

One of the first things you should try is switching to a VPN server that’s geographically closer to you. If you’re in Europe and connected to a server in Australia, you’re likely to see a significant speed drop. Unless you specifically need an IP address from a far-off country, always aim for a server that’s as close to your real location as possible.

• How to do it: Open your Surfshark app. Look at the list of locations. Surfshark usually shows you the latency ping next to each server, sometimes indicated by a speedometer icon. Lower ping generally means faster speeds. Pick a server in a nearby city or country with the lowest ping. You can also favorite locations for easier access.

Your VPN Protocol Isn’t Optimized for Speed

Surfshark offers several VPN protocols, each with its own strengths. Some prioritize rock-solid security, while others are all about speed. If you’re on a protocol that’s not optimized for performance, you’ll feel the slowdown. Why Won’t My Surfshark VPN Connect? Let’s Get You Back Online!

Fix: Experiment with Different Protocols

Switching your VPN protocol can often make a big difference.

• WireGuard: This is often the fastest and most modern protocol Surfshark offers. In 2025 tests, Surfshark achieved average speeds of 307 Mbps on macOS and 780 Mbps download speed retention 81% retention rate on Windows using WireGuard. It’s usually the go-to for speed.

• OpenVPN UDP: OpenVPN is known for its strong security and versatility. The UDP User Datagram Protocol version is generally faster than TCP because it prioritizes speed over guaranteed delivery, which works well for most internet activities. Some users on Reddit have found switching to OpenVPN UDP to be effective when WireGuard was slow. Surfshark testing in 2025 showed OpenVPN UDP with an average download speed retention of 62%.

• IKEv2: This protocol is often favored for mobile devices due to its stability and quick reconnection capabilities, especially when switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data. It’s also quite fast. Decoding Surfshark: Your Ultimate Guide to Online Privacy and Security

• How to do it:

  1. Open your Surfshark app.
  2. Go to Settings.
  3. Find VPN Settings or just Protocol directly depending on your app version.
  4. Change the protocol from “Automatic” to WireGuard first. Test your speed.
  5. If WireGuard doesn’t help, try OpenVPN UDP.
  6. If still no luck, try IKEv2.

High Server Load or Crowding

Even if a server is close to you, it can still be slow if too many people are using it at the same time. Popular locations like New York or London can sometimes experience higher loads.

Fix: Switch to a Less Crowded Server

Surfshark has a massive network of over 3,200 servers in 100 countries, many equipped with 10Gbps ports, which helps manage traffic and provide faster connections even when busy. So, there’s usually another option available.

 1.  Open the Surfshark app and go to the locations tab.
 2.  Next to each server location, Surfshark might show you a visual indicator like a small bubble or bar or a ping/latency number.
 3.  Look for servers that appear less busy or have lower ping.
 4.  Sometimes, just choosing a different city within the same country can make a difference. For example, if New York feels slow, try a server in Chicago or Dallas.

Your Internet Service Provider ISP is Throttling Your Connection

Sometimes, your internet provider deliberately slows down certain types of traffic, like streaming or torrenting, to manage network congestion. This is called ISP throttling. Surfshark VPN: Your Go-To Guide for Online Freedom and Security

Fix: A VPN Should Help, But Check Your Baseline Speed First

One of the great benefits of a VPN is that it encrypts your traffic, making it much harder for your ISP to see what you’re doing and, therefore, harder for them to throttle specific activities. However, if your baseline internet speed without the VPN is already poor, the VPN won’t make it magically faster.

1.  Test without VPN: Disconnect from Surfshark and run a speed test you can use popular online speed test sites.
2.  Test with VPN: Connect to a nearby Surfshark server using a fast protocol like WireGuard and run another speed test.
3.  Compare: If your speed without the VPN is very slow, the problem might be with your ISP or your home network setup, not Surfshark. If your speed without the VPN is good, but it drops significantly with Surfshark, then the problem is likely with your VPN configuration or server choice.

Outdated Surfshark App or Device Software

Software bugs or inefficiencies can sometimes cause performance issues. Using an old version of the Surfshark app or an outdated operating system can lead to compatibility problems and slower speeds.

Fix: Keep Your App and OS Updated

Developers are constantly releasing updates to improve performance, fix bugs, and enhance security. Make sure you’re running the latest version of the Surfshark app and that your device’s operating system Windows, macOS, Android, iOS is also up to date. Ivacy VPN vs. Surfshark: The Ultimate VPN Showdown

 1.  Check your app store Google Play, Apple App Store or the Surfshark website for the latest version of the Surfshark app.
 2.  Check your device's system settings for any pending operating system updates.

Interference from Other Apps or Settings

Sometimes, other software on your device can clash with your VPN, leading to slowdowns or connection issues.

• Firewalls and Antivirus Software: These programs are designed to protect your device, but they sometimes interpret VPN connections as a threat and interfere with them.
  • Fix: Temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus software and test your Surfshark speed. If it improves, you’ll need to add an exception for Surfshark in your security software’s settings. Remember to re-enable your security software once you’ve figured out the issue.
• Other VPNs: Running multiple VPN clients or having remnants of old VPN software on your device can cause conflicts.
  • Fix: Make sure you only have one active VPN client running at a time. If you’ve previously used other VPNs, consider uninstalling them completely, even if they’re not currently active.
• IPv6: While IPv6 is the newer internet protocol, some VPNs or older network setups can have issues with it, leading to leaks or slow connections.
  • Fix: You can try disabling IPv6 on your device’s network settings. This usually won’t negatively impact your general internet use, as most connections still heavily rely on IPv4. Surfshark has articles on how to do this for various devices.
• In-App Features CleanWeb, Kill Switch, Bypasser/Whitelister: While these features are super useful for security and customization, in rare cases, they might introduce a slight overhead or conflict with specific network configurations.
  • Fix: Temporarily disable features like CleanWeb Surfshark’s ad blocker, Kill Switch, and Bypasser/Whitelister one by one within the Surfshark app settings and test your speed. If a particular feature seems to be the culprit, you can decide if the speed gain is worth disabling it.

Network Issues on Your End

Sometimes, the problem isn’t with Surfshark itself, but with your local network setup.

• Restart Your Devices: This classic IT tip works for a reason! Your router, modem, computer, phone, or Firestick can sometimes get bogged down with temporary glitches that a simple reboot can clear.
  • How to do it: Power off your router and modem, wait about 30 seconds, then power them back on. Do the same for your computer, phone, or other device.
• Wired vs. Wireless Connection: Wi-Fi can be prone to interference and signal degradation, especially if you’re far from your router or have many devices connected.
  • Fix: If possible, try connecting your device to your router using an Ethernet cable. A wired connection is almost always more stable and faster than Wi-Fi. If your speed dramatically improves, your Wi-Fi setup might be the bottleneck.
• Test Different Networks: If you’re experiencing slow speeds on one network e.g., your home Wi-Fi, try connecting to Surfshark on a different network, like your mobile data hotspot.
  • How to do it: If your VPN works fine on mobile data but not on your home Wi-Fi, it points to an issue with your home network or ISP.
• Custom DNS Settings: Your internet service provider’s default DNS Domain Name System servers can sometimes be slow or even interfere with VPN connections.
  • Fix: You can configure your device or Surfshark app to use custom DNS servers, like Surfshark’s own DNS, Google DNS, or Cloudflare DNS.
  • How to do it: In the Surfshark app, you might find a setting to use custom DNS. Alternatively, you can change DNS settings directly on your operating system. For example, Surfshark provides specific DNS addresses e.g., 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220 you can manually input.

Maximizing Your Surfshark Speed: Advanced Tips

Once you’ve tried the basics, these tips can help you squeeze even more performance out of your Surfshark VPN.

Surfshark iOS Review: Your iPhone’s Ultimate Privacy Upgrade?

Utilizing Surfshark’s FastTrack Feature

Surfshark has been innovating with features designed specifically to enhance speed. One such feature is FastTrack.

• What it is: Introduced around August 2025, FastTrack is designed to boost your speeds by up to 70%. It uses Surfshark’s Nexus network to optimize the route your internet traffic takes to the VPN server you’re connected to, reducing bottlenecks and latency. It’s similar to other VPN providers’ speed-boosting technologies.
• How to use it: Make sure your Surfshark app is updated to the latest version, as this feature would be part of those updates. Explore your app settings to see if FastTrack is available and enabled. It’s meant to work automatically on certain server locations, so you might just experience the benefits without a manual toggle.

Optimizing Device Performance

Sometimes, the bottleneck isn’t the VPN itself, but your device.

• Close Background Apps: Many apps running in the background can consume bandwidth and CPU resources, leaving less for your VPN connection.
  • How to do it: Close any unnecessary applications, especially those that actively use the internet or require significant processing power, like large downloads, streaming services you’re not actively watching, or cloud storage syncs.
• Consider Device Hardware Limitations: Older devices, especially those with slower processors like some older Android TV boxes, might struggle with the encryption and decryption demands of a VPN, leading to noticeably slower speeds.
  • How to do it: If you’re using an older device and consistently experience slow speeds even after trying all other tips, the device itself might be the limiting factor. There’s not much you can do here beyond upgrading your hardware, but it’s good to be aware of.

When to Contact Surfshark Support

If you’ve gone through all these troubleshooting steps and your Surfshark VPN is still painfully slow, don’t hesitate to reach out to their customer support. Surfshark offers 24/7 support, and their team can provide personalized assistance, check for server-side issues, or offer more advanced diagnostics. They can look into specific network configurations or regional issues that might be affecting your connection.

NordVPN vs. Surfshark: The Ultimate VPN Face-Off

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Surfshark generally a fast VPN?

Yes, Surfshark is widely considered a fast VPN. Recent tests in 2025 show that it maintains consistently good speeds, with an average speed loss of around 17-21% compared to a non-VPN connection, which is often imperceptible during normal use. It’s highly capable for demanding activities like 4K streaming, gaming, and torrenting.

Does using a VPN always slow down my internet?

Yes, using any VPN will inherently slow down your internet connection to some extent. This is because your data needs to be encrypted and routed through an additional server, which adds a few extra steps and processing time. However, a premium VPN like Surfshark aims to minimize this speed loss, often making it negligible.

Which Surfshark protocol is fastest?

Based on recent testing, WireGuard is generally the fastest VPN protocol offered by Surfshark. It’s designed for efficiency and speed without compromising security. OpenVPN UDP and IKEv2 are also good options that provide a strong balance of speed and security. You might find that one works better than another depending on your specific network and location. IPTV Not Working with Surfshark VPN? Here’s How to Fix It!

How do I check my Surfshark VPN speed?

You can check your Surfshark VPN speed by running a speed test. First, disconnect from Surfshark and run a speed test on an external website like Speedtest.net to get your baseline speed. Then, connect to a Surfshark server and run the speed test again. Compare the download and upload speeds and latency. The Surfshark Windows app also has a built-in speed test feature that lets you check server speeds directly within the app.

Why is my Surfshark VPN not connecting at all?

If your Surfshark VPN isn’t connecting, it could be due to several reasons, including network restrictions, an unstable internet connection, an outdated app, conflicting firewall or antivirus software, or an incorrect VPN protocol setting. Troubleshooting steps include restarting your device and router, trying different servers and protocols, updating the Surfshark app, disabling interfering applications, and checking your network settings like IPv6.

Can my ISP detect I’m using a VPN if my speed is slow?

While your ISP can detect that you’re using a VPN they see encrypted traffic to a known VPN server, a slow speed doesn’t inherently reveal what you’re doing. The slowdown is usually a result of the VPN’s encryption and routing processes, or other factors we’ve discussed, rather than your ISP actively identifying and slowing down your specific VPN usage. However, a very consistent and noticeable speed drop only when the VPN is active can be an indicator to you that the VPN is the source of the speed change.

Surfshark VPN in China: Does It Actually Work? (2025 Guide)