How To Setup A VPN: A Complete Guide

Looking to enhance your online privacy and network security? If so, it’s a good idea to set up a reliable VPN on your device. Check out this post now to learn how to setup a VPN on your device, no matter whether it’s a Windows PC, Mac, iPhone, or Android device.

How to setup a VPN on your device

These days, VPN providers have made it simpler and easier to set up a VPN. As you probably know, users can easily get a free or paid virtual private network on any device they have via a dedicated VPN app and then enjoy a secure and private connection.

Without a doubt, you don’t need to be a techie to be able to set up and install a VPN on your device. Here are detailed instructions on how to setup a VPN; keep reading to find out now:

How to setup a VPN on Android

Getting a VPN app to work on your Android device is pretty easy. The quickest and simplest way to do so is to install a VPN via the app, and here’s how:

Step 1. To get a VPN app on Android, all you need to do is go to the Google Play Store on your device and find the app from the VPN provider that you want to install.

Step 2. Next, tap the Install button to get the app, and wait for a few moments for the installation to finish.

Step 3. After that, open the VPN app on your Android device and then sign up or log in. Finally, simply connect to a server, and you're all set!

Of course, you can also set up a VPN manually on your Android device. Here’s the manual process if you aren’t letting a VPN app configure things for you automatically:

Step 1. Go to the Settings app on your device.

Step 2. Tap Network & Internet (or maybe Wireless & Networks or Wi-Fi & Internet). Next, you may need to select “Advanced.”

Step 3. Tap VPN and then press on the plus (+) sign.

Step 4. Now, create a VPN profile. Fill out the VPN name, server address, pick your preferred protocol, and enter other details.

Step 5. Hit Save.

Note: Your manual process of setting up a VPN may vary slightly depending on the Android version and the Android device you are using.

RELATED: Best Free VPN For Android: Top 05+ Best Options

How to set up a VPN on the iPhone

As with Android, setting up a VPN on your iPhone or iPad should not be difficult. Of course, the easiest and most convenient way to set up and install a VPN on your iOS device is via the app. The following are the detailed instructions on how to do so:

Step 1. Open Apple’s App Store on your device.

Step 2. Find the VPN provider’s app that you want to install.

Step 3. Tap the Get button, and wait for a few moments for the installation to finish.

Step 4. Open the VPN app on your iPhone or iPad device and then sign up or log in.

Step 5. Finally, simply connect to a server, and you're all set!

Alternatively, you can also set up a VPN on your iOS device manually, and here are the quick instructions:

Step 1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad and tap on General.

Step 2. Scroll down and select "VPN."

Step 3. Next, tap "Add VPN Configuration."

Step 4. Select the correct "Type" of VPN and then fill in your provider’s Description and Server, as well as other details like your Account and Password.

Step 5. Click Done to finish.

RELATED: What Is The Best Free VPN For IPhone In 2023?

How to setup a VPN on a Mac

These days, there are many VPN services that have versions specifically for macOS. To get started, you just need to head to the App Store or the official website of the provider to get the VPN app of your choice.

Well, no matter what VPN app you choose, after downloading and opening it on your Mac, the app should prompt you with detailed instructions on how to fully set it up and make it work on your computer. Of course, this is the simplest and easiest way to set up a VPN on a Mac.

However, if you want to do it yourself manually, you can, and here’s how:

Step 1. On your Mac, go to System Preferences and then click "Network."

Step 2. Click on the + button in the bottom left corner. Next, choose VPN from the Interface drop-down menu and select the correct tunneling protocol.

Step 3. Come up with the "Service Name" and click on the Create button.

Step 4. Now, fill in the details supplied by your VPN service provider.

Step 5. Next, click "Authentication Settings" and then simply enter your credentials used to sign in to your VPN service.

Step 6. When you are done, click Connect to finish.

RELATED: Best Truly Free VPN For Mac

How to set up a VPN on Windows

For sure, there are also lots of free and paid options for great VPN apps that you can choose for your Windows PC. To get started, you’ll need to go to the Microsoft Store or the official website of the VPN provider and download the Windows version of the VPN app of your choice.

Once you successfully download your preferred Windows VPN app, open it, and the app will prompt with specific instructions. All you need to do is simply follow those instructions, and the VPN app will be fully set up on your computer. That’s the most straightforward method to set up a VPN on your Windows PC.

However, if you want, you can manually set up a VPN on your PC. And just like with any other VPN manual setup, you will also need details from your particular VPN service to add a new VPN connection, and below are the details on how to manually setup a VPN on Windows.

Step 1. Click on the Windows button, select "Settings," and then choose "Network & Internet."

Step 2. Next, in the left column, select "VPN" and then click on the "Add a VPN connection" option.

Step 3. Now, in the next window, fill in the details to add a VPN connection. For your VPN provider, select "Windows (build-in). Also, under "Connection name," give your VPN a name. Next, enter the server or address, as well as other details like the "VPN type" and "Type of sign-in info."

Step 4. When you are done, click on the Save button.

Step 5. To connect to your VPN, simply go back to "Settings," select "Network & Internet," then choose VPN, and simply click on your VPN name.

RELATED: 5 Best Free VPN For Windows In 2023 To Protect Your Privacy

How to know whether a VPN is working

As soon as you set up your VPN, either via the app or manually, you may really want to know if it’s actually working or not, right? If so, you may find the following instructions recommended by Forbes.com super helpful; let’s take a look:

Step 1. First, you need to find out your IP address. To do so, simply go to Google.com, type in “what is my IP,” and press Enter. Now, you should see your public IP address shown on the screen.

Step 2. Next, connect to your VPN server. Now, if you find that the IP address is different from the one searched recently, then congrats, you have successfully set up your VPN.

Bottom line

Now that you know how to setup a VPN on iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS devices, right? As you can see, there are different ways to set up a VPN: Via your preferred VPN provider’s app or through the manual setup process.

Without a doubt, setting up your VPN on your device via the dedicated app is the easiest and quickest method, which is highly recommended, especially for those who don’t want to go through a slightly complicated manual setup process. Of course, if you want to set it up manually, you can.