Connects to PIA, but then I don't get an IP address

VPN
1

Having a weird error, first time I’ve had this one happen.

I have a Windows 10 desktop. I tell PIA to connect and the logo turns green, it says connected. But it never assigns me a VPN IP address, so I can’t connect to anything.

My phone can still connect and use PIA, so it seems like it’s a problem with my desktop, but what would cause PIA to not assign me an IP address?

Update:
Found this post, which doesn’t quite describe my issue, but…

https://www.reddit.com/r/PrivateInternetAccess/comments/sdvdbn/more_and_more_websitesprograms_failing_due_to/

…it mentions using the built in DNS resolver and it got me looking in settings.

If you turn on multi-hop, this will hide the fact that you’re using a VPN - something I think google is looking for since VPNs give them less information to harvest and sell. I don’t know why this would help with my problem, but I decided to give it a shot and it worked! I don’t know why, but there you go.

Update 2:
In the interim, troubleshooting this problem, I used Proton VPN. Their free service was about as good as my paid PIA service. PIA, take note, we will leave you for better service.

Update 3:
My thanks to u/Irene74569 below. She had me use ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew and that solved it.

2

try in command line commands one by one:

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

3

what would cause PIA to not assign me an IP address?

PIA’s apps are pretty janky, it might just be confused. Check your network settings instead.

4

That worked, thanks! I can now connect without multi-hop, which is better since it increased latency.

Would mind you mind explaining why that worked? I get the idea from the commands, which is that the system was holding onto an IP address that wasn’t working for me. What caused that to happen in the first place though?

5

What specifically? Some websites warned about built in Windows security but I don’t know where to begin looking at that.

6

i stumble upon such problem with establishing internet connection either w PIA or even simple WiFi when i switch between VPNs or networks.

so i have handy these commands)

7

No idea, haven’t used windows in over 15 years, plus I don’t use PIA’s apps