Why and How to Set Up a VPN On Your iPhone?

Set Up VPN On iPhone

What are the benefits of a mobile VPN?

VPNs, or virtual private networks, are vital tools when it comes to Internet security. A VPN will mask your identity online, keeping you anonymous when visiting websites and hiding your activity from your ISP. While many people use VPNs on their computers, it’s also worth using a VPN on your iPhone.

Learn more about VPNs, reasons to use a VPN, and how to set a VPN up on your iPhone with our handy guide.

Reasons to Use a VPN

What is VPN in iPhone? And do I need a VPN on my iPhone? These are questions you might be asking yourself.

Most people are aware of the benefits of using a VPN on their laptop or desktop. Many of these same benefits and more also apply to your iPhone, arguably even more so given how important smartphones are to our daily lives.

One of the biggest reasons to use a VPN on your iPhone is so you can have a secure Internet connection no matter where you are. You’ve no doubt used free WiFi hotspots with your phone when out and about, but free WiFi is inherently insecure. Using a VPN will add an extra layer of security when you need to use public WiFi hotspots.

Another reason to use a VPN on your iPhone is so you can hide your online activity. If you’re familiar with “private browsing” on browsers such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, then VPNs offer an added element of protection by keeping your ISP, search engines, and website from being able to track you.

Adding to this, VPNs are also useful for accessing region-locked content. Many streaming sites such as Netflix will block access to certain TV shows or movies in some countries. Using a VPN can allow you to access streaming content that is not ordinarily available in your area.

Finally, using a VPN on your iPhone is helpful if you are concerned about government censorship or surveillance. By browsing the Internet via a VPN, you can bypass firewalls and access websites that would normally be blocked.

How to Choose a VPN Provider

When it comes to selecting a VPN for iPhone use, there are additional considerations you need to factor in as opposed to selecting one for computer use.

The first thing you should consider is how mobile-friendly the VPN is. Many popular VPNs, such as NordVPN or ExpressVPN, offer iPhone apps via the App Store, making it easy to set them up on your iPhone. You’ll want to select a VPN that offers strong iPhone support.

Next, you’ll want to investigate how secure the VPN is. Quality VPNs will use a high level of encryption, such as 256-bit encryption, as well as reliable protocols such as WireGuard or OpenVPN. You’ll want to avoid free VPNs because they may not use encryption at all.

If you’re concerned about privacy, you should look for a VPN that maintains a no-logging policy. VPN user logs can be used to trace your activity online even when you are using the VPN, and many VPNs that claim to maintain a no-log policy are not entirely honest about this.

Finally, you’ll want a VPN that has fast performance. Using a VPN is always slower than using an unencrypted connection, so you’ll want a VPN that offers as small a hit to your Internet speed as possible, particularly if you plan to use your VPN for streaming or other high-bandwidth activities.

Other features to look for when selecting a VPN include robust technical support, IP leak protection, and built-in kill switches. Technical support is helpful if you run into configuration issues, and the latter two features are key to remaining anonymous online if your VPN has connection problems.

How to Use a VPN on iPhone

After you’ve chosen a VPN service, you can get started setting it up on your iPhone. Here’s how to do so.

1. Download the VPN app from the app store

You can sign up for a VPN service using your computer or do it via the service’s app, which can be searched for and installed via the App Store.

2. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up the VPN

Most VPN providers offer extensive guidance to make setting up the VPN easy to do, even if you have no technical knowledge. Follow your VPN provider’s directions to get your VPN up and running.

A Guide to iPhone VPN Settings

While most VPNs will guide you through the process of enabling your VPN and getting protected if you want to dive under the hood and enhance your security, here are some of the settings you can familiarize yourself with.

Many VPNs offer a variety of different connection protocols. These protocols govern your data’s encryption level, how your device connects to the VPN and the greater Internet, and so on. Common VPN protocols include WireGuard, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, and more.

WireGuard is one of the most popular protocols because it is extremely data-efficient, which is important when using an iPhone. WireGuard uses less data than other protocols, which makes it a good option if you are connected to a cell phone plan and don’t want to chew through your data allotment.

Other protocols such as OpenVPN offer different features, such as higher levels of security. These may be good to use if you are concerned about privacy.

If you are wondering about how to turn off VPN, most VPNs have a connect/disconnect button located in their dashboards. Simply press this when you want to stop using the VPN.

iPhones and VPNs: The Bottom Line

Given how significant smartphones are to everything we do, installing a VPN on your iPhone just makes sense. It can help guard your privacy online and protect your sensitive data when you’re connected to public WiFi hotspots, among other benefits.

With the tips in this guide, you can easily find a quality VPN for your iPhone and stay protected no matter where you are!

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