How to Use Proton VPN on Windows and Beyond

Proton VPN is a user-friendly and highly secure virtual private network that offers top-notch protection for your online activities.

Proton VPN supports a wide range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it easily accessible to a broad audience.

To get started with Proton VPN on Windows, simply download and install the software from the official Proton VPN website.

Proton VPN offers a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to navigate and manage your VPN settings.

ProtonVPN offers several security options to enhance your online safety, including Protocol, Netshield Ad-blocker, Always-on VPN, and a Kill switch. These features can be accessed from the security options list.

The Kill switch is a useful feature that immediately disconnects your internet connection if the VPN drops, ensuring your data remains secure. Netshield Ad-blocker blocks ads and trackers, while Always-on VPN maintains a secure connection even when your device switches between networks.

You can also configure advanced connection options, such as Secure Core, which routes your connection through two VPN servers for improved security and privacy. Secure Core servers are located in privacy-friendly countries like Switzerland, Sweden, or Iceland.

To use Secure Core, simply toggle the switch on and select a country to connect. You can also choose the Secure Core server used by clicking next to the exit country and selecting a Secure Core entry server.

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Signing into Proton VPN is a straightforward process. You can open the app from your taskbar or desktop icon and sign in using your username and password.

If you haven't created a Proton VPN account yet, you can use the Create Account button or click the link provided. Note that if you've signed up for any other Proton service, you can use the same username and password to sign in.

To sign in, tap the Sign in button in the Proton VPN app. If you don't have an account, tap the Create an Account button or click the link provided.

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You can also use your Proton Business Suite or Proton VPN Professional user account to sign in with SSO, if your account manager has set it up. Ask them for details.

Once connected, the Home screen will turn green and show the location of the server you're connected to on a map, along with information about your connection.

Security options are a crucial part of any VPN service, and our provider has some great features to keep you safe.

The protocol is an essential setting, and our VPN uses a robust protocol to ensure your data is encrypted.

Netshield Ad-blocker is a great feature that blocks annoying ads and trackers, making your browsing experience more enjoyable.

Always-on VPN ensures that your connection remains secure, even when your device switches between networks.

A kill switch is a safety net that automatically disconnects your internet if the VPN connection drops, preventing data leaks.

Allowing alternative routing can be useful in certain situations, but it's not always the best option.

Moderate NAT is a feature that can help improve your connection speeds.

Here's a quick rundown of our security options:

To set up Proton VPN using OpenVPN GUI, you'll first need to download and install the correct OpenVPN GUI MSI install file for your PC from the Proton VPN website.

The installation process is straightforward, but make sure to note that OpenVPN GUI is a different program from the OpenVPN Connect app.

Once installed, run OpenVPN GUI and an icon will appear in your Windows taskbar notification area, where you may need to click the Show hidden icons arrow to see it.

Right-click on the icon and go to Import → Import file… to add the OpenVPN configuration file.

You can import up to 50 OpenVPN profiles into OpenVPN GUI, so you can easily switch between different VPN connections.

To connect to a VPN, right-click the OpenVPN GUI icon and hover over the profile you'd like to use, then click Connect.

Enter your OpenVPN username and password, and check the Save password box to log in easily each time.

A Windows notification will alert you when the connection is successfully established, and the OpenVPN GUI icon will turn green.

To disconnect from the VPN, right-click the OpenVPN GUI icon and click Disconnect, or hover over the profile you're connected to and click Disconnect.

If you're on a Free plan, you can change the server to one in a different random country following a short cooldown period by selecting Change server on the Home screen.

You can also find any country, city, or server by typing its name into the Search bar, or by tapping the search icon and typing its name into the search field.

To connect to the fastest server in the country of your choice, go to the Countries tab, select a country, and tap the on button next to it. We’ll automatically connect you to the fastest server in that country (factoring in your location and server loads).

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If you're on a paid Proton VPN plan, you can connect to any of our high-speed servers in 110+ countries. To use Secure Core, go to the Countries tab and toggle the Secure Core switch on. You’ll now see a filtered list of countries that support Secure Core connections.

You can connect to a specific city in a country by tapping the country name and selecting a server from the list, or by clicking ⏷ next to the country and selecting the city from the dropdown list.

To use the map to select a country, simply select a country using the map. If you prefer, click ⏷ next to the country to select a Secure Core server location from the dropdown list.

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Connecting to a specific country is a breeze with Proton VPN. You can find any country, city, or server by typing its name into the Search bar. This feature is available on both free and paid plans.

If you're on a paid plan, you can connect to any of our high-speed servers in 110+ countries. To connect to the fastest server in the country of your choice, go to the Countries tab, select a country, and tap the on button next to it. We'll automatically connect you to the fastest server in that country (factoring in your location and server loads).

To connect to a specific city in a country, tap the country name and select a server from the list. This is especially useful if you need to access specific services or streaming platforms that are only available in certain cities.

You can also use Secure Core to connect to a specific country. To do this, go to the Countries tab and toggle the Secure Core switch on. You'll now see a filtered list of countries that support Secure Core connections. Simply select a Secure Core country and your connection will be automatically routed via the best Secure Core server location for your chosen country.

Here's a quick rundown of the countries that support Secure Core connections:

Note that not all Secure Core countries support all Secure Core server locations, so be sure to check the list carefully before making your selection.

To configure OpenVPN on Windows, you'll need to follow these steps. First, find out your OpenVPN login credentials, which are essential for the process.

To do this, you'll need to download the required OpenVPN configuration files to your PC. This is a crucial step, as it will allow you to connect to your OpenVPN server.

Once you have the config files, you can configure OpenVPN GUI using them. This involves selecting the Windows platform and then right-clicking the OpenVPN GUI icon in your notification area to connect.

To make things easier, here's a quick rundown of the steps:

After configuring OpenVPN GUI, you can connect by right-clicking the icon in your notification area.

To access advanced configuration options, head to the Countries tab. From there, you can configure Secure Core, NetShield Ad-blocker, and a Kill switch.

You can also save custom connection settings as VPN connection profiles, which can be accessed from the Profiles tab. This makes it easy to connect using your preferred settings.

The Profiles tab allows you to create and manage connection profiles, giving you access to advanced functions like Secure Core, NetShield Ad-blocker, and a Kill switch.

Split tunneling allows you to exclude specific websites from your VPN connection. This can be useful for watching local streaming services while connected to a VPN server in another country.

To use split tunneling, go to Features, then click on Split tunneling, and select the websites you want to exclude from your VPN connection.

By default, all subdomains of the excluded website will also be excluded from the VPN connection.

If you're looking for more control over your VPN connection, you'll want to explore the advanced options. Secure Core is one of the features you can configure from the Countries tab.

To add an extra layer of security, you can activate the NetShield Ad-blocker. This will help block ads and malware, making your browsing experience safer.

The kill switch is another feature worth considering. It can be enabled from the Countries tab to ensure your internet connection is completely severed if the VPN drops.

If you regularly use the same custom connection settings, you can save them as VPN connection profiles. This makes it easy to connect using those settings whenever you need to.

To create and manage connection profiles, click the Profiles tab.

To access advanced features and settings, you can select the Proton VPN Settings from the Home page or by clicking on your Proton VPN account. This will open up a range of options, including the ability to configure app settings and features.

You can create a VPN connection profile to have greater control over your connections. To do this, select the Profiles list to see profiles you've already created, or click +New profile to create a new one. Proton VPN has also pre-defined a couple of common use-cases for you.

Here are some key settings to consider:

In the Proton VPN settings, you can customize various options to suit your needs. You can choose to start the app when your Mac first boots up or start it minimized to the macOS menu bar.

The General tab allows you to toggle Notifications on or off, and enable early access to get the latest pre-release version of Proton VPN. You can also enable alerts when you connect to unknown networks.

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In the Connection tab, you can enable auto connect when the app starts and if the app disconnects unexpectedly. You can also decide the criteria our Quick Connect function uses to select a server, such as choosing the Fastest or Random option.

To ensure your browsing sessions are always protected by Proton VPN, toggle the Auto connect switch on. This will automatically connect to a VPN server when you open your browser.

Here are some key features in the Proton VPN settings:

DNS leak protection is always enabled, so you don't have to worry about that. However, you can disable or enable alternative routing to bypass firewalls or network issues.

If you create a VPN connection profile, you can customize settings for specific use-cases. You can also create a new profile by tapping + in the Profiles tab.

You can create a VPN connection profile to have even greater control over your connections. This allows you to customize your VPN settings for specific use cases.

To see the profiles you've already created, select the Profiles list. You can also click +New profile to create a new one.

Creating a VPN connection profile is a great way to save time and streamline your VPN experience. If you regularly connect to a specific server or location, creating a profile can make it easy to access those connections in the future.

Profiles are available on the Home screen, and you can also access them by tapping the Profiles tab. We've also pre-defined a couple of common use-cases for you, so you can get started right away.

You can pin any connection to the Recents list for easy access, including profiles. To do this, tap ⋯ next to the country, city, server, or profile → Pin.

You can use Proton VPN on various platforms and devices, including iPhones and iPads. To install it on these devices, simply tap the App Store link in a browser to open the Proton VPN download page in the App Store app.

Alternatively, you can launch the App Store app and search for Proton VPN manually.

To install Proton VPN on your iPhone or iPad, tap the App Store link on your device, and it will open the Proton VPN download page in the App Store app.

You can also launch the App Store app and search for Proton VPN manually, although this method is not as convenient as tapping the link.

The App Store link can be found in a browser on your iPhone or iPad, making it easy to access and start the installation process.

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To install the Proton VPN browser extension on Firefox, you can click here to visit the Firefox Add-ons page. You can also search for Proton VPN on the page.

The installation process is straightforward: click Add to Firefox and follow the prompts.

Using the Proton VPN extension on Firefox requires a small additional step to prevent DNS leaks. Enter about:config into the URL bar and hit enter, then click Accept the risk and continue.

On macOS, you can customize your VPN settings to suit your needs. In the Advanced tab, you can access various options to enhance your VPN experience.

To start, you can configure the kill switch to automatically disconnect your internet connection if the VPN drops. This feature helps prevent data leaks when the VPN is not active.

You can also adjust the protocol settings to optimize your VPN performance. By selecting the right protocol, you can ensure a stable and secure connection.

In the Advanced tab, you can access the split tunneling feature, which allows you to choose specific apps or services to bypass the VPN. This is useful for apps that don't work well with VPNs or require direct internet access.

By making these adjustments, you can tailor your VPN settings to meet your specific requirements and ensure a seamless VPN experience on your macOS device.