How to use a VPN with ExpressVPN: a complete walkthrough

Protect yourself on public Wi-Fi

Connecting through the Wi-Fi at places like Starbucks, hotels, or airports makes your traffic more vulnerable to hackers. VPN encryption shields your traffic, keeping your logins, banking details, and other sensitive data private on shared networks.

Keep your personal data and activity private

ISPs can monitor much of what you do online. Encrypting your traffic keeps your browsing private from ISPs.

Third-party trackers may also follow you around the web. Masking your IP address with a shared VPN IP address makes it harder to link your online activity to you.

Get more consistent connections for daily tasks

Content-based throttling from ISPs can interrupt everyday browsing, gaming, or streaming. Encryption helps you avoid this by preventing ISPs from identifying what you’re doing online. ISPs will only detect that you’re connected to a VPN server.

Check the status icon in the app

A green status icon in the VPN app home screen confirms ExpressVPN is on and routing your traffic through the secure tunnel.

Use the built-in IP address checker

The IP address checker appears on the home screen beneath your connection status in the app.

How to check if your VPN is working properly: A changed IP address verifies that ExpressVPN is active.

Stay protected with Auto-Connect

Switching between mobile data and café Wi-Fi at places like Starbucks is safer with Auto-Connect.

This feature automatically activates ExpressVPN the moment you join untrusted networks. All you have to do is toggle it on to enable this automatic protection.

Prevent exposure with Internet Kill Switch

If the Wi-Fi drops at busy places like airports or hotels, Internet Kill Switch prevents traffic from leaving your device until the VPN connection is re-established.

This helps you avoid accidentally exposing your IP address and data on unstable networks.

Control which apps use the VPN with split tunneling

Split tunneling gives you control over which apps through the VPN for added privacy and which ones bypass it, helping you balance speed and protection.

You can set streaming apps, for example, to bypass the VPN on your regular connection while banking apps or browsers use ExpressVPN.

Block trackers and threats with Threat Manager

Browsing ad-heavy sites like large news outlets is safer with Threat Manager.

By preventing known trackers and malicious domains from loading on apps and websites, you reduce unwanted data collection and security risks.

Connect instantly and stay protected

Start your VPN connection with one tap and stay protected active as you move between apps, airports, cafés, or mobile data.

Save preferred servers in your favorites list to make reconnecting even easier.

Get smart server recommendations

Let Smart Location suggest an optimal server when you’re unsure how to pick one.

Or use the built-in speed testing tool on mobile apps to find the fastest server connections during browsing, mobile gaming, or streaming via your accounts.

Receive help anytime, from real experts

Get expert guidance on how to use a VPN, how to turn on a VPN, or which server fits your needs.

Launch 24/7 live chat directly from the ExpressVPN app or from the official website for quick answers.

Try ExpressVPN risk-free with a 30-day guarantee

Explore how to use ExpressVPN with confidence. New customers are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Just contact support to request a refund if you’re not satisfied.

That’s plenty of time to learn how your VPN connections fit into your daily routine.