Published on: October 3, 2024
ExpressVPN has introduced a set of new features aimed at improving the troubleshooting experience for users, focusing on resolving common connection issues quickly and efficiently. Available on iOS, Android, and Windows, these updates are designed to help users maintain a smoother and more secure internet connection.
One of the key additions is a refresh button, which allows users to reset their VPN connection without disconnecting. This new feature, accessible next to the VPN IP address on the home screen, helps resolve minor connectivity problems in real-time.
“We say ‘jiggle’ because that’s the best way to put it,” an ExpressVPN spokesperson explained. “You know how sometimes there seems to be something wrong with your router or phone charger and you give the plug a jiggle? That’s essentially what this new button does when your VPN connection seems to not be running as smoothly as you’d expect.”
The refresh button is particularly useful when users experience slowdowns, such as during video calls. By pressing the button, the connection is reset without interrupting VPN protection, potentially resolving the issue instantly.
In addition to the refresh feature, ExpressVPN has expanded its Lightway protocol settings, allowing users to select between two encryption ciphers—AES-256 and ChaCha20. While the app typically chooses the best cipher based on the user’s device, this new customization option offers flexibility for troubleshooting slow connections, particularly on older or less powerful devices.
“AES-256-GCM is the current standard for symmetric encryption and can be accelerated by special hardware found in modern processors,” ExpressVPN noted. “However, with lower-cost devices, AES-256 can actually be very slow. For devices with this problem, ChaCha20 is able to provide high performance and high security encryption, as it is optimized to run in-software.”
Lastly, ExpressVPN has introduced the NAT heartbeats feature to address delays in receiving push notifications on devices that have been temporarily inactive. This feature sends small data packets at regular intervals through the VPN tunnel, ensuring that notifications like emails or chat messages arrive without delay. However, users should note that enabling NAT heartbeats may lead to a slight increase in battery consumption.