Ventura 13.3.1 can't find how to disable VPN??? (subtitle: Apple doesn't "it just works" enough)

[Tozovac]

I'm experiencing significant speed slowdowns with my internet provider gonetspeed.
They suggested trying to disable VPN.
I can't find that toggle/setting in Ventura 13.3.1.
Can't find any guidance online for this, or...what I did find did hot help.

Is this user error?

A bug?

Another example of Apple giving you what it thinks you need but missing the mark?

Thanks.

 

[kitKAC]

Is this user error?

Yes.

System Settings, Network, VPN & Filters.... or you could have just searched for VPN in System Settings.

 

[stradify]

Go to Settings>Network>Your Wifi Network and check that 'Limit IP Address Tracking' is disabled.

 

[jezzastern]

VPN isn’t built in to MacOS, so there is no toggle for it. You would have to install a VPN as an external service, which could then be toggled on or off as required. You are most likely not using a VPN - you would know about it if you were. Whilst it is true that using a VPN can slow down throughput, it sounds as though you have been given a generic response by your ISP, which is not appropriate for you. Don’t blame Apple. Get back to your ISP - try to get more appropriate advice from them about your slowdowns.

 

[kitKAC]

VPN isn’t built in to MacOS, so there is no toggle for it. You would have to install a VPN as an external service, which could then be toggled on or off as required. You are most likely not using a VPN - you would know about it if you were. Whilst it is true that using a VPN can slow down throughput, it sounds as though you have been given a generic response by your ISP, which is not appropriate for you. Don’t blame Apple. Get back to your ISP - try to get more appropriate advice from them about your slowdowns.

VPN is 100% built into macOS and has been for YEARS. If you want to use a VPN connection that macOS doesn't support (like OpenVPN), you'd have to install an external service. If you have connection details for L2TP over IPSec, Cisco IPSec or IKEv2, you can manually enter them into macOS to set up your VPN connection.

 

[Tozovac]

Yes.

System Settings, Network, VPN & Filters.... or you could have just searched for VPN in System Settings.

First thing I tried and didn’t work. No vpn option showing. I’ll try rebooting.

 

[Tozovac]

Yes.

System Settings, Network, VPN & Filters.... or you could have just searched for VPN in System Settings.

Go to Settings>Network>Your Wifi Network and check that 'Limit IP Address Tracking' is disabled.

It appears now after a reboot. Thank you !

 

[Tozovac]

Whilst it is true that using a VPN can slow down throughput, it sounds as though you have been given a generic response by your ISP, which is not appropriate for you. Don’t blame Apple. Get back to your ISP - try to get more appropriate advice from them about your slowdowns.

Thank you too. I'm using gonetspeed locally. Speed on every device was abysmally slow for a few days. I put in a request and they suggested performing 3 types of speed tests (wired, 5Ghz, 2.5 Ghz) using their speediest link.

My 3 speed tests returned relatively same results for all 3 configurations:

1.5 Mbps download
~149 Mbps upload

They suggested re-testing after deactivating the VPN.

Trouble is, decent internet speed returned this morning before I could uncheck the box as suggested above...

I ran speedtests just now with and without "Limit IP Address Tracking" selected and got the same results...

I'll just have to retry with & w/o "Limit IP Address Tracking" next time I experience a slowdown.

Thank you everyone.

 

[jezzastern]

VPN is 100% built into macOS and has been for YEARS. If you want to use a VPN connection that macOS doesn't support (like OpenVPN), you'd have to install an external service. If you have connection details for L2TP over IPSec, Cisco IPSec or IKEv2, you can manually enter them into macOS to set up your VPN connection.

That’s correct. I didn’t express myself properly. VPN in MacOS can be set up manually by entering the connection details - however the user has to set this up, and, having set it up, would presumably be aware how to switch it on and off. I assumed that this lack of knowledge suggested that no VPN had been set up. In any case, further contact with tech support supports my conclusion that (1) the generic reply did not solve the slowdown problem, and (2) the problem had nothing to do with Apple.