How to Prevent a VPN from Being Turned Off on Your iPhone

Maintaining an active VPN connection on your iPhone is crucial for consistent online privacy and unrestricted access to geo-restricted content. However, unexpected VPN disconnections can be a common annoyance, leaving your personal data exposed and disrupting your streaming sessions. 

If you want to avoid the potential risks of these interruptions, it is important to have strategies in place to ensure your VPN connection remains active, especially when it is most needed. Fret not, we have got your back! Below, we will show you how to prevent a VPN from being turned off on your iPhone.

5 Ways to Prevent Your iPhone VPN from Turning Off

Here are five effective methods to keep your VPN constantly active on your iPhone:

Method #1: Activate Reconnect on Disconnect

Activating the Reconnect on Disconnect feature in the PureVPN iOS app enables your VPN to automatically re-establish a connection if it ever gets disrupted. Here is how to do it:

1. Tap the Hamburger button on the top left corner.

2. Tap Settings.

3. In the General tab, you will find the Reconnect on Disconnect option.

4. Toggle the switch to turn it on.

Method #2: Switch to IKEv2 Protocol

The IKEv2 protocol can contribute to ensuring that your VPN connection remains stable and consistently on, especially when it comes to mobile devices like an iPhone. It is known for its ability to quickly re-establish a VPN connection if it is dropped, for example, when switching between Wi-Fi and cellular networks. 

Here is how you can switch to IKEv2 in the PureVPN iOS app:

1. Tap the hamburger button in the top left corner.

2. Tap Settings.

3. In the Advanced tab, you will find the Connection Protocol option.

4. Toggle the switch next to Automatic to turn it off.

5. A pop-up will appear. Tap Yes to proceed.

6. Choose IKEv2 from the list of available protocols.

Method #3: Enable Background App Refresh

By enabling Background App Refresh for your VPN app, you allow it to stay active and maintain its connection even when you are not using it directly. Here is how to do it:

1. Tap the Settings icon on your iPhone’s home screen. 

2. Tap General. 

3. Find and tap Background App Refresh.

4. Scroll through the list of apps until you find PureVPN.

5. Toggle the switch to enable it.

Method #4: Turn off Low Power Mode

Low Power Mode is a feature that could potentially lead to your VPN getting turned off. It impacts 5G (apart from video streaming) and background app refresh, both of which are critical for maintaining a stable VPN connection. Here is how to turn it off: 

1. Go to Settings.

2. Scroll down and tap Battery.

3. Toggle the switch next to Low Power Mode to disable it. 

Method #5: Disable Low Data Mode

Low Data Mode is a feature that helps reduce mobile data consumption, but it also limits background services relying on data (including VPN apps). Here is how to disable it:

1. Go to Settings and tap Mobile Data.

2. Toggle the switch next to Low Data Mode to turn it off. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I keep my VPN on all the time?

Yes, keeping your VPN active continuously is a good practice. It consistently protects your online privacy, secures your internet connection, especially on public Wi-Fi, and ensures uninterrupted access to geo-restricted content. 

Related Read: Should I Always Use a VPN? Yes! Here’s Why

How do I stop my VPN from turning off?

To prevent your VPN from turning off on iPhone, you should disable Low Power and Low Data Modes, enable Background App Refresh for the VPN, and use features like Reconnect on Disconnect within the VPN app settings.