We teach you how to configure a VPN on your Android phone (2024)

Our world is becoming increasingly connected and digitalized, making us increasingly vulnerable to malicious people use the Internet to do bad things. For this reason, it may be important to configure a VPN on our devices. It is especially relevant to set up a VPN on your Android phone so that you can communicate no matter where you are.

Smartphones, when walking from here to there, are more exposed to situations of vulnerability. For example, we connect our cell phones to public Wi-Fi networks, such as in cafes, airports and other places. We do not take into account that these networks are less secure and are more likely to be attacked by hackers. Therefore, a VPN on your phone protects your encrypted personal and financial data so that no one can access them.

These are not the only reasons why it is important to install a VPN, we will cover a few more in this post. In addition, we will show you tricks for setting up a VPN on Android so you don't have to worry about your online privacy.

Why and why configure a VPN on your Android phone

Just like your computer or any other device connected to the Internet, your mobile phone needs a VPN to access the Internet safely. Here we share some of the reasons why it is important to set up a VPN on your Android phone.

• Security on public Wi-Fi networks. As we have stated in the introduction of our article, public Wi-Fi networks are very insecure and easy to hack. A VPN installed on your mobile encrypts all traffic and makes the connection secure.
• Hide your real location. Your phone reveals your physical location all the time when browsing. With a VPN you can hide your location and pretend that you are somewhere else, in another location.
• Avoid censorship. In countries with authoritarian regimes, a VPN on your mobile allows you to access censored content and exercise freedom of information.
• data privacy. If you have a VPN installed on your phone, you will have the peace of mind that it will encrypt all data traffic on the phone and thus prevent others from spying on or recording your browsing activities and use of apps.
• Access to restricted services. Sometimes we want to access streaming services or websites that are blocked based on geographic location, so a VPN could make things easier for us.
• Savings on roaming. By connecting to a VPN server in your home country, you can use applications and services as if you were in that country, paying local rates and not roaming rates.
• Higher connection speed. In some cases, a VPN can increase browsing speeds by routing traffic over a more suitable route.

Learn how to install a VPN on your mobile

This time, we have two ways to configure a VPN on your Android phone:

Set up a VPN on your Android mobile with an app

If you want to protect your privacy and security when browsing the internet from your Android phone, setting up a VPN is what you need. We explain step by step how to do it easily with a third-party app:

1. Opens Google Play Store from your mobile and search for the paid VPN app you want to use. There are many VPNs to choose from. It is better that you install a paid one since the free ones have speed problems and are not as secure. We recommend options like NordVPN, Kaspersky or Norton.
2. Download and install the app that you have selected from the Play Store catalog. When you open it, you must create a user account with your email and password.
3. Wait a few moments while the VPN app connects. Follow the prompts to complete the initial configuration to your liking.
4. When you are inside the app, choose the VPN server you prefer, or use the option «Fast connection» to be assigned automatically.
5. Once the connection is established, you can pause or disconnect the VPN using the buttons provided for this.

Install a VPN on Android manually

Manually setting up a VPN on an Android device requires advanced technical knowledge. We explain the steps to follow:

1. Go to Settings > Connections or Networks and Internet > VPN.
2. Tap on «Add VPN»Or«New VPN«.
3. Complete the requested information:
   Name: A unique identifier for the VPN.
   Type: The protocol to use (OpenVPN, L2TP, etc.).
   Server address: The IP address or URL of the VPN server.
   User/ID: Your VPN username.
   Password: Your VPN access password.
   Advanced: Certificates, encryption, etc.
4. Save the changes and connect the newly configured VPN.
5. Verify that the VPN icon appears in the status bar.

Be careful when configuring a VPN manually, an error can affect the operation of your device. We recommend using a third-party app for greater ease.