There are many reasons why someone might use a VPN, but most often, it’s to conceal your real geographic location or prevent websites from tracking your online activity. It can also be a way to get around location-based restrictions that stop you from accessing certain websites or platforms.

When you connect to a VPN server in the United States, websites are supposed to detect that your online traffic is originating from the U.S. That way, you can access online platforms that use IP filters to block non-U.S. traffic or circumvent regional censorship when travelling outside the U.S. But if you connect to a VPN server in the United States while you’re vacationing in Mexico, and a website thinks your IP address is from Brazil, that might not solve your problem and may even add unnecessary complications.

If you’ve encountered something similar with your VPN provider, there are several fixes you can try.…