In today’s era, no one can live without their phones. Whether it is for getting directions or shopping online. We always use social media to communicate with our friends and relations. That, however, also makes a way for people, organizations, and agencies to spy on us. If you want to ensure your business on a phone business then you should use VPN on Android phone or any device.
Relax! I have compiled a guide for you on how to use VPN on Android, and luckily you do not have to be a computer scientist or an engineer to read this article. I’ve been using VPN for years on hundreds of devices.
So, everything you need to know to safely browse the internet from a phone is right here. But oh, before you dig into the guide, let’s have a little idea about why a VPN should be used on Android…
Advertisement Why Should We Use a VPN on Android Devices?
Using VPN on Android offers a wide range of benefits, such as increased security, unlocking blocked applications and websites, and others. This changes your IP address location, encrypts your data, and allows you to enjoy content unavailable in your region. For example, you can unblock Netflix and can watch the latest The Umbrella Academy.
Since most people own smartphones, it becomes important that they protect their privacy online. So, our top recommendation for the best VPN is ExpressVPN. Read the detailed ExpressVPN review to get idea about its features.
How to Set Up a VPN on Android [Step-to-Step Guide]
Setting up a VPN on your Android device can be done in two ways: with the app smart VPN or through the options manually set up VPN.
Use VPN on Android App
You can follow these steps on how to use a VPN on Android easily:
- Download a VPN App: Go to Google Play, the market for Android applications, find the VPN application of your choice like ExpressVPN, and download it.
- Install and Open the App: Download the application on your device and click on it to start.
- Sign In or Create an Account: Log in and provide the necessary information or get a new account.
- Connect to a Server: Choose a server from the list, like the USA — New York. Tap on connect, and you will be connected to your desired server.
Free Manual VPN Settings for Android (Built-in)
The best VPN settings for Android built in VPN are:
- Open Settings: Open the settings of your telephone.
- Network & Internet: Tap on ‘Network & Internet’ and then on ‘VPN’.
- Add VPN: Press the ‘Add VPN’ button and type the data, including the VPN name, type, server address, and login details.
- Save and Connect: After that, save the configuration and click on the VPN profile to establish the connection.
Connecting to an Android VPN
Connecting to your VPN once it is established is quite easy, and this will appear as follows:
You will need to either launch the app of your selected VPN service or download and install a specialized VPN application. Then you will have to tap the ‘Connect’ button. When set manually, tap on the ‘Settings’ icon, then ‘Network & Internet’, then ‘VPN’ and choose the VPN you wish to connect.
Disconnecting From an Android VPN
To disconnect from a VPN connection, follow the quick steps:
Launch the VPN application and select ‘Disconnect’. For manual settings, turn to ‘Settings’ > ‘Network & Internet’ > ‘VPN’ and then on the active VPN connection to temporarily disable it.
But, is it safe to use VPN on Android? Yes, a VPN provides additional security that helps you to protect your data on smart phones.
Changing Android VPN Settings
If you require a modification of the VPN settings, for example, you need to change the server or your login details to the VPN, then all these can be done via the VPN application. For a manual VPN setting on Android, navigate to ‘Settings’ > ‘Network & Internet’ > ‘VPN’, and then choose the profile you want to edit.
How to Select the Right VPN for Your Android Device?
The considerations that one makes while selecting a good VPN for the Android device include the speed of the VPN. You should look how secure the VPN is, how easy it is to use, and its prices.
Here are some key points to consider:
- No-Logs Policy: Make sure accessing the restricted sites with the help of the VPN provider does not trace your activity back.
- Robust Encryption: Pay attention to a VPN’s encryption protocol so that you can be sure it has a top-notch level of data security.
- High-Speed Servers: Choose a VPN that connects fast and stable to prevent buffering and disconnectivity.
- User-Friendly Interface: The VPN app should also be easily downloadable, runnable, and user-friendly.
- Wide Server Network: Nothing more resourceful than having many servers in different regions puts you in good stead for accessing geolocated content.
- Positive User Reviews: It is also wise to read the experience of other users who may have used the same or similar VPN in the past.
- Customer Support: Make sure that the VPN provider provides quick support.
With these features, you will be able to unblock BBC iPlayer, Hotstar, and Kayo Sports with a VPN.
Advanced Tips for Using VPN on Android
Optimizing VPN Speed on Android
Here, it is worth noting that speed is incredibly important for a VPN, especially when it comes to streaming or gaming. Here are some tips to optimize your VPN speed on Android:
- Choose the Nearest Server: Always connect to the nearest VPN server to minimize the problem of latency.
- Use Wired Connection: A wired connection is preferable to a Wi-Fi connection for better stability and internet speed.
- Change Protocols: While using a VPN, change between using OpenVPN, IKEv2 or WireGuard and evaluate which among them is the fastest one.
- Disable Battery Saver: Some battery modes tend to limit the speed of the internet connection. Thus disable such modes while using the VPN.
Combining VPN with Other Privacy Tools
Enhance your online privacy by combining your VPN with other privacy tools:
- Ad Blockers: Use an ad blocker to avoid tracking or coming across advertisements.
- Antivirus Software: Protect your device from malware to stay safer with good antivirus software programs.
Using Split Tunneling on Android
With split tunneling, you can decide on the application that should connect to the VPN and the one that should not. This feature can maximize its effectiveness of functionality, and it can also be used to encrypt only the important information. Here’s how to set it up:
- Open Your VPN App: Select the settings menu.
- Enable Split Tunneling: Enable split tunneling in the search bar.
- Select Apps: Select the applications you wish to be forwarded through the VPN connection.
FAQs
Proceed in the same way as on an Android phone. There are great applications in the Google Play Store for Android boxes. Find a good VPN app, download and install it.
Open ‘Settings’, browse ‘Network & Internet’, then, ‘VPN’, and input VPN configuration manually.
Yes, in fact Android has native support for a VPN, that is, you can set up the VPN manually.
Get the OpenVPN application from the Google Store, take the file with the VPN setting from your open-source VPN provider, and that’s it.
Launch your VPN app and click on ‘Disconnect’. For manual setups use ‘Settings’ > ‘Network & Internet’ > ‘VPN’ and connect.
Of course, using a VPN on an Android phone benefits your online security and privacy.
Click the VPN app that you use and change its server of it. Click on settings> network & internet > VPN for the manual settings and provide new server details.
Conclusion
To use VPN on Android device is not difficult but important to keep your information safe from hackers and snoopers. Whether you opt for an application-based VPN connection or make the settings manually, the process is quite easy and can be completed at some point.
If you follow the above video and the given steps and choose a good VPN service, you can be sure of safer and more secure Android browsing.