VPN won't connect

If your VPN won't connect, please follow the steps below:

Step 1: Close Active PC Matic Processes

1. Close the PC Matic application.
2. Press CTRL + ALT + DEL on your keyboard and select Task Manager.
3. In the search bar at the top, type pcmatic    (no spaces).

4. Right-click any PC Matic services that appear and select End Task.

   
   

Step 2: Update VPN Protocol Settings

1. Relaunch PC Matic.
2. Select the VPN tab, then click the Settings tab at the top of the page.
3. Locate the VPN Protocol dropdown menu.
4. Select a different protocol than the one currently in use (e.g., if it is on WireGuard, switch to OpenVPN).
5. Return to the Dashboard tab and click Quick Connect.

6. Once the VPN establishes a connection, close the PC Matic window using the X in the top-right corner.

   
   

Step 3: Verify Auto-Connect

1. Restart your computer.
2. Once the system reboots, click the hidden icons arrow (white up-arrow) in the bottom-right system tray.
3. Hover your mouse over the VPN icon.
4. If the status displays "Connected," the VPN is now successfully running as a background service without needing the main application open.

💡 Pro-Tip: Why change the VPN Protocol?

Different VPN protocols (like WireGuard or OpenVPN) use different "paths" to send your data. Sometimes, a specific protocol can get "stuck" due to a recent Windows update or a change in your network's firewall.

Switching the protocol forces the PC Matic service to create a fresh handshake with the server, which often clears out connection hangs and allows the Auto-Connect feature to trigger properly on startup.