Troubleshooting

This guide covers common issues and their solutions. Work through the relevant section for your problem. If you can't resolve the issue, contact support with details about what you've tried.

VPN Won't Connect

If Stealth fails to establish a VPN connection, work through these steps:

1. Verify your internet connection. Open a browser and visit any website. If regular browsing doesn't work, the issue is your network, not Stealth.

2. Restart the connection. Disconnect and reconnect to VPN. Stealth will automatically select the optimal server.

3. Check your firewall. Windows Firewall or third-party security software may be blocking Stealth. Add Stealth to your firewall's allowed applications list.

4. Restart Stealth. Close Stealth completely (right-click the system tray icon → Exit) and reopen it. This resets the network stack.

5. Restart your computer. If other steps fail, a full restart clears any stuck network states.

6. Reinstall network drivers. Corrupted network drivers can prevent VPN connections. Use Stealth Drivers or Device Manager to update them.

VPN Connects But Internet Doesn't Work

If VPN shows as connected but websites won't load:

1. Reset DNS settings. Open DNS Settings from the Tools section, then click Reset to System to restore default DNS configuration.

2. Check Split Tunneling. If you've configured split tunneling, ensure your browser isn't accidentally excluded from VPN.

3. Flush DNS cache. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run ipconfig /flushdns. Then restart your browser.

4. Try a different DNS provider. Open DNS Settings from the Tools section and switch between Cloudflare, Google, and Quad9 to find one that works.

5. Disable browser extensions. Some ad blockers or privacy extensions can conflict with VPN. Try disabling them temporarily.

Slow Connection Speeds

VPN adds some overhead, but if speeds are significantly reduced:

Stealth automatically selects the optimal server. The VPN service chooses the best server based on your location and network conditions for optimal performance.

Disable Tor routing. Tor routes traffic through multiple nodes, significantly reducing speed. Use it only when you need maximum anonymity.

Check for bandwidth-heavy applications. Use Network Monitor or Task Manager to see if other apps are consuming bandwidth.

Test at different times. Internet speeds vary throughout the day. Test during off-peak hours to see if congestion is the issue.

Compare with VPN off. Run a speed test with VPN connected and disconnected. If your base speed is slow, the issue is your ISP, not Stealth.

Stealth Block Breaking Websites

If a website doesn't work correctly:

1. Add the site to your allowlist. In Stealth Block settings, add the problematic domain. This lets it bypass all filtering.

2. Check your blocking settings. Stealth Block uses conservative blocking by default. If you've modified blocklists, try resetting to default settings.

3. Temporarily disable blocking. Toggle Stealth Block off, reload the page, and confirm the site works. This verifies blocking is the cause.

4. Clear browser cache. After changing block settings, clear your browser cache to ensure you're loading fresh content.

Access Point Won't Start

If the Wi-Fi hotspot fails to create:

Run as Administrator. Hotspot creation requires elevated permissions. Right-click Stealth and choose "Run as administrator."

Check Wi-Fi adapter support. Not all wireless adapters support hosting. Some older or basic adapters lack this capability.

Disable conflicting features. Windows' built-in Mobile Hotspot can conflict. Disable it in Windows Settings → Network → Mobile hotspot.

Update wireless drivers. Outdated drivers may lack hotspot support. Use Stealth Drivers or Device Manager to update.

License Issues

License shows as invalid: Click Refresh Status in the Account panel. Ensure you're connected to the internet. If it persists, your license may have expired, been deactivated, or your device may need to be reactivated.

Device limit reached: You've activated on the maximum number of devices. Remove Stealth from a device you no longer use, or contact support to reset registrations.

Can't activate: Verify the license key is entered correctly. It's case-sensitive. Copy/paste from your email to avoid typos.

Application Crashes

If Stealth crashes or freezes:

1. Update Stealth. Check for updates. Crashes are often fixed in newer versions.

2. Run as Administrator. Some features require elevated permissions. Running as admin can resolve certain crashes.

3. Check Event Viewer. Windows Event Viewer (search "Event Viewer" in Start) may contain error details that help diagnose the issue.

4. Reinstall Stealth. Uninstall completely, restart your computer, and install a fresh copy. This resolves corrupted installation issues.

5. Submit a bug report. If crashes persist, submit a bug report with as much detail as possible.

Still Having Issues?

If none of these solutions work, open a support ticket. Include:

  1. What you were trying to do
  2. What happened instead
  3. Steps you've already tried
  4. Any error messages you saw
  5. Screenshots if applicable

The more detail you provide, the faster we can help resolve your issue.