Nosotros've covered virtual private networks and when y'all might want to utilise them before. Connecting to a VPN is easy, as Windows and nigh other operating systems offer congenital-in VPN support.

The Easy Way: Use a VPN Client

Annotation that some VPN providers offer their own desktop clients, which ways you won't need the setup process described in this guide. All of our favorite VPNs—StrongVPN for advanced users, and ExpressVPN and TunnelBear for basic users—offering their own desktop application for connecting to their VPNs and selecting VPN server locations.

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Windows x

RELATED: What Is a VPN, and Why Would I Need 1?

Windows 10 supports PPTP, L2TP/IPsec, SSTP, and IKEv2 connections without any third-party software.

To connect to a VPN on Windows 10, head to Settings > Network & Internet > VPN. Click the "Add a VPN connection" button to ready a new VPN connectedness.

Provide the connection details for your VPN. Y'all can enter any name you similar under "Connection Name". This proper noun is just used on your reckoner to assist you place the VPN connection.

Your VPN provider should be able to provide you with these details. If the VPN is provided by your employer, your employer's IT department should provide you lot with the details y'all'll need to connect.

Once y'all've ready a VPN, y'all'll run across it in the network popup carte du jour next to any nearby Wi-Fi networks.

Click the network name in the popup menu and Windows will open up the Settings > Network & Internet > VPN window for you. Select the VPN and click "Connect" to connect to it. You can also configure or remove VPN connections from here.

Windows 7 and eight

To connect to a VPN on Windows 7, press the Windows key and, type VPN, and press Enter. (Note: If yous're using Windows 8, the process will be very similar, but some of the windows may look a little different.)

Enter the accost of your VPN provider in the Cyberspace Address box. You tin can enter an address similar vpn.example.com or a numerical IP address, depending on the server data your VPN provider gave yous.

You lot should also enter a Destination proper name—this can be anything you like. It'southward only used to help you recollect which VPN connectedness is which.

Enter your login credentials on the next screen. Utilize the username and password your VPN provider gave y'all.

Windows will connect you to the VPN you configured. If you checked the "Don't connect now" checkbox on the first screen, Windows will save the VPN connectedness so you lot can hands connect later on.

Once continued, you can click the network icon in your system tray to view your VPN connections. While continued to a VPN, all your network traffic volition be sent over it.

To disconnect from a VPN, click it and click "Disconnect". Y'all can then reconnect to it later by clicking it and selecting Connect. You can have multiple VPNs configured and switch between them in this fashion.

To delete a saved VPN connectedness, printing the Windows central, type "Network Connections", and printing Enter. Right-click a VPN connection and use the Delete choice.