How to Fix Bitdefender VPN Error Codes 2, 4, 9, 10, 12, 99, 182 on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS

Are you experiencing frustration with Bitdefender VPN error codes popping up and interrupting your secure browsing experience?

Whether you’re dealing with errors 2, 4, 9, 10, 12, 99, or 182, these issues can be a real thorn in your side, especially when you’re looking for a reliable and uninterrupted connection.

Encountering these errors with your VPN can not only be an inconvenience but also a barrier to maintaining your online privacy. 

In this blog post, causes behind these errors and provide you with practical advice to fix them, ensuring that your online activities remain safe and uninterrupted.

Why the Bitdefender VPN Error Codes 2, 4, 9, 10, 12, 99, 182 on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS

Bitdefender VPN error codes can occur due to a variety of reasons across different platforms such as Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. Here are some possible causes for these errors:

Common Error Codes and Their Meanings

• Error 2: Often indicates a network change or a minor connectivity issue.
• Error 4: This may pop up when there’s a problem with the VPN client’s registration.
• Error 9: Usually related to a license key issue.
• Error 10: Reflects a problem verifying the subscription status.
• Error 12: Signals a connection timeout, usually caused by slow or unstable internet.
• Error 99: Points to an unidentified error; a catch-all when no specific issue is found.
• Error 182: Typically suggests an issue with the VPN server’s response.

Primary Causes of Connection Issues

1. No Internet Connection: Before a VPN can work, your device needs to be connected to the Internet. If your internet connection is down or unstable, you might encounter these errors.

2. Outdated Bitdefender VPN: Not having the latest version of Bitdefender VPN can cause compatibility issues leading to error messages.

3. Software Conflicts: Running other VPN applications or security software alongside Bitdefender VPN can lead to conflicts causing errors.

4. Firewall or Antivirus Interference: Sometimes, the firewall or antivirus settings on your device may block the VPN connection, resulting in these error codes.

5. Corrupted Installation Files: If the Bitdefender VPN files are corrupted or improperly installed, it may cause these errors to appear.

6. Server Issues: Problems with the VPN server, such as high traffic or maintenance, can result in error messages.

7. Incorrect Login Credentials: Errors can also occur if you’ve entered the wrong login credentials for your Bitdefender VPN.

8. Network Restrictions: Certain networks, especially in workplaces or schools, may have restrictions that prevent VPN connections, leading to these errors.

9. Operating System Compatibility: If your device’s operating system is not compatible with Bitdefender VPN, or if it’s outdated, you might see error codes.

10. VPN Protocol Issues: Sometimes, the VPN protocol being used may not be supported or could be incorrectly configured, causing errors.

11. Port Accessibility: The port used by Bitdefender VPN might be closed on your network, which can prevent the VPN from connecting and result in error codes.

12. Interference from Security Software: Firewalls or antivirus programs might block VPN connections. If these security applications are not configured to allow Bitdefender VPN, they could be causing an Error.

13. Subscription Status: Errors may occur if there are problems verifying active VPN subscriptions due to license or account issues.

14. Conflicts with Other VPN Services: Running multiple VPN services simultaneously can lead to conflicts and cause Error codes like 12, 9 and 4.

How to Fix Bitdefender VPN Error Codes 2, 4, 9, 10, 12, 99, 182 on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS

To Bitdefender VPN Error Codes 2, 4, 9, 10, 12, 99, 182, first you need to clear the cache files and check your network connections. If it doesn’t help then you need to reinstall the Bitdefender VPN from the official website.

In addressing Bitdefender VPN errors such as 2, 4, 9, 10, 12, 99, and 182, users should follow a series of methodical and precise steps. These will effectively isolate the issue and apply the appropriate fixes.

1. Checking Internet Connectivity

One should first verify their internet connection to ensure that it is stable and active. Bitdefender VPN errors might occur simply because the device is not connected to the internet.

To check internet connectivity on various operating systems, follow these steps for each:

Whatever the device may be, open YouTube and stream any video. If it is streaming fine without any buffering then you have a good internet connection.

If not, reset your Network Connection or try connecting with the other network providers or WiFi if you have one.

Mac:

For macOS, there isn’t a one-click button to reset all network settings like on iOS, but you can remove network configurations and create a new network location:

1. Go to the “Apple menu” > “System Preferences” > “Network.” > “Wi-Fi” or “Ethernet” (Connected Interface) > Click on the “-” button to remove the selected service (you may need to click the lock icon at the bottom left and enter your password to make changes).
2. Click “Create” and then re-configure your new network connection
3. To delete the existing network preferences files:
   • Go to Finder > click “Go” > “Go to Folder.”
   • Type /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/ and click “Go.” Delete the following files: preferences.plist, NetworkInterfaces.plist, com.apple.airport.preferences.plist, com.apple.network.eapolclient.configuration.plist, and com.apple.wifi.message-tracer.plist.
   • After moving these files to the trash, restart your Mac to launch Bit Defender VPN.

iOS (iPhone/iPad):

• Go to “Settings” app > “General.” > “Transfer or Reset iPhone” (or “Reset” on older iOS versions). >“Reset.” > “Reset Network Settings.”
• Enter your passcode if prompted, and confirm that you want to reset network settings.
• Restart your Device.

Android:

• Open the “Settings” > “System” (the exact wording may vary depending on your device) > “Reset options” or “Reset.” > “Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth” or “Reset network settings” > Confirm your action and
• Wait for the device to complete the process and Restart the device.

Windows:

• Go to “Start button” > “Settings” > “Network & internet.” > Scroll down to “Advanced network settings.” > “More settings,” click on “Network reset.” > “Reset now” > “Yes” to confirm.
• Your computer will restart, and the network settings will be completely reset to their original defaults.

After the restart, you will need to reconnect to your Wi-Fi network and re-enter the network password. You can also switch to other network or wifi connections and check the network connection.

2. Restarting Bitdefender VPN Service

Restarting the Bitdefender VPN service can resolve errors related to temporary glitches in the software. It typically means completely closing the application, restarting the device and launching the Bitdefender VPN application again.

Restarting the device and VPN service often fix Error code 2 and 9.

3. Validate Your Credentials

Error 4 is commonly associated with login verification problems. Users should ensure that their Bitdefender credentials are correctly entered. Double-check your entered credentials and password while entering it.

Despite entering the right credentials, the Bitdefender VPN throws error codes, reset the password by clicking forgotten password, you can reset it through the Bitdefender Central website.

You will get the Reset password link via mail, you can change the password by clicking the link.

4. Check The Subscription Status

Sometimes the VPN throws an error code if you don’t have an active subscription to use the VPN service.

Steps to check your Subscription Status:

1. Open a web browser and go to the Bitdefender Central website at central.bitdefender.com.
2. Log into your account and Go to ‘My Subscriptions’ panel on the left side.
3. Here, you will see a list of your current subscriptions and their details, including product name, activation code, and expiration date.
4. If you need to renew or upgrade your subscription, renew it to use the service further.

5. Uninstall Other VPN applications

Error 99 often occurs from software conflicts on the system. Identifying and disabling other VPNs or conflicting applications might solve this problem.

6. Clear Temporary files

When you open the application, the system first checks the cache memory to launch the app. If any corrupted data is in the memory will throw the error.

Clearing cache memory will remove the corrupted files and help the Bitdefender application to run normally.

To clear app data and cache memory for Bitdefender VPN on Windows and Mac, follow these steps:

For Windows:

1. “Windows key + R” to open the Run dialogue box.
2. Type “%appdata%” and press Enter to open the roaming folder where application data is stored.
3. Please navigate to the Bitdefender folder and then to the VPN folder within it.
4. Delete the cache files you find in this folder. Be cautious only to delete cache files and not configuration files necessary for the VPN to work unless you intend to reset the application entirely.
5. Type “%localappdata%” (by typing this in the Run dialogue box) or within the ProgramData folder (accessible at C:\ProgramData).
6. Check for the Bitdefender VPN folder and delete it.

For Mac:

1. Close the Bitdefender VPN application.
2. Open Finder, then click on “Go” in the menu bar and select “Go to Folder”.
3. Type “~/Library/Caches” and press Enter to access the caches folder.
4. Look for any folders associated with Bitdefender VPN and delete the contents inside.
5. You can also check “~/Library/Application Support/” for any additional Bitdefender VPN-related files that can be safely removed.

Remember, clearing app data might log you out of the application or reset its settings. After clearing the cache and app data, restart the device and you will need to reopen Bitdefender VPN and log in again with your credentials.

7. Updating Bitdefender VPN

Software updates often include patches for known issues that could be causing the VPN errors.

Users should check for any available updates to their Bitdefender VPN app. Keeping the app up-to-date can prevent and fixes Error 12, and many other error codes.

Here are the steps for different platforms:

Windows:

1. Open the Bitdefender application.
2. Click on the “Protection” features on the left sidebar.
3. In the “Antivirus” panel, click on “Open.”
4. Here you should see an “Update” option. Click on it to check for updates and follow any prompts to install them.
5. Alternatively, you can right-click the “Bitdefender icon “in the System Tray and select ‘Update Now’ to check for updates (source).

Mac:

1. Click the Bitdefender icon in the menu bar and choose “Open Main Window” to bring up the Bitdefender interface.
2. Click on the “Update” button in the main window to check for and install any available updates.
3. For a manual update, you can download a fresh installation kit from Bitdefender Central and follow the on-screen steps.

Android:

1. Open the “Google Play Store” > “menu icon” (three horizontal lines)> “My apps & games > Find “Bitdefender” > “Update” if an update is available.

iOS (iPhone/iPad):

• Open the “App Store.“> “profile icon” > Scroll down to see “pending updates” >Find “Bitdefender VPN” > tap “Update” next to it.

For most Bitdefender products, the application will automatically check for and apply updates as long as you have an active internet connection. If you have disabled automatic updates, you may need to check for updates manually using the steps above.

8. Reinstall Bitdefender VPN

Reinstallation will help to remove corrupted software and install fresh new files from the original source. Also, Error 10 typically indicates problems with VPN configuration files. One should consider reinstalling VPN profiles to ensure they haven’t been corrupted or improperly set up

For Windows:

Uninstall the current Bitdefender product

• Go to the “Control Panel” > “Programs and Feature” > Find “Bitdefender” > “Uninstall”.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process and Restart your computer.

Download the latest version of Bitdefender: Visit the Bitdefender Central account at central.bitdefender.com and log in.

• Go to “My Devices“, then click on “+” Install Bitdefender products on your devices’.
• Choose “Security”, select the appropriate product for your device and click ‘Download’.

Install Bitdefender: Run the installer file that was downloaded to your computer. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Bitdefender. Log in with your Bitdefender account when prompted to activate the product.

For Mac:

1. Uninstall the current Bitdefender product: Drag the Bitdefender application from the “Applications” folder to the “Trash“, and then “empty the Trash.”
2. Download the latest version of Bitdefender by following the above-mentioned steps.
3. Install Bitdefender: Open the downloaded installer file and follow the on-screen instructions.

9. Check Firewall Settings

Ensure that Windows Firewall is not blocking Bitdefender VPN.

• Open the “Control Panel ” > “System and Security”> “Windows Defender Firewall” > “Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall” on the left pane.

• In the window of the allowed app, you can see a Bitdefender VPN in the list.
• If the checkbox next to the application is unchecked, click the “Change settings” button (you might need administrative privileges to do this). and allow the app by checking the boxes under “Private” and “Public”.
• If the app is not listed, you can allow it by clicking “Allow another app…” at the bottom of the same window, browsing to the app’s executable file, and clicking on “open” to add it to the list. 

Mac:

To check and allow the Bitdefender app through the firewall on a Mac, you would typically need to adjust the settings in the Security & Privacy preferences.

Here’s how to do it:

• Click on the Apple menu > “System Preferences.”>“Security & Privacy.”>“Firewall” tab.
• If the firewall is turned on, you may need to click the lock icon in the bottom left corner to make changes (you will need to enter your administrator password).
• After unlocking, click “Firewall Options…” or “Advanced…” to manage the settings.
• Look for Bitdefender or its related apps in the list. If it’s not on the list, you can add it by clicking the plus (+) button below the list.
• Select the Bitdefender app from your applications folder, and make sure it’s set to “Allow incoming connections.”
• Click “OK” to save your changes.

For Bitdefender’s own firewall settings on a Mac, if available, you would need to open the Bitdefender application and navigate to the firewall settings within the app to make any necessary adjustments.

10. Change The DNS Servers Settings

Sometimes DNS does not allow certain applications Modify your network adapter’s DNS settings to use public DNS servers such as Google’s 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.

Windows:

• Go to “Control Panel”> “Network and Internet” > “Network and Sharing Center” > “Change adapter settings” on the left pane > Right-click on the network interface you want to configure (such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet) > select “Properties.”
• In the Networking tab, scroll down to “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click on “Properties.”
• In the next window, select the option “Use the following DNS server addresses.”
• Enter the preferred DNS server in the “8.8.8.8” field.
• Enter the alternate DNS server in the “8.8.4.4” field, if you have one.
• Click “OK” to save your changes.

Mac:

To update the DNS server settings on your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Apple menu > “System Preferences” > “Network” > network connection you want to configure (such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet)> “Advanced” > “DNS” tab.
2. Click the “+” button under the DNS Servers list and enter the IP address (8.8.8.8 & 8.8.4.4) of the DNS server you wish to use and click “OK” to close the advanced settings.
3. Click “Apply” to save the changes to your network settings.

Now relaunch the Bitdefender VPN, and it will work fine.

11. Connect to the Different VPN Server

For Error 182, which usually signals an issue with server connectivity, users can try connecting to a different VPN server.

If the issue persists, checking the firewall settings to ensure Bitdefender VPN is not being blocked could be helpful.

12 Reach out to Bitdefender Support

When faced with persistent VPN errors, users should contact Bitdefender Support. This platform offers direct assistance from the company’s technical experts.

Users can submit a support ticket detailing their specific issue, and they will receive a methodical guide tailored to their problem.

Additionally, the Bitdefender Expert Community is also a valuable resource for users seeking peer-to-peer advice.