VPN for Android: Set Up, Turn Off and the Key Icon

An Android phone can use a VPN app from the Play Store or its built-in VPN settings, according to Google's Android Help. You can turn the connection on and off in the app or in Settings. Android Developers says the key icon in the status bar shows that a VPN connection is active.

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What a VPN does on your phone

Android Developers describes a VPN app as connecting your phone's networking to a VPN gateway. Its guide explains that the app encrypts outgoing data before sending it to that gateway, then receives and decrypts incoming data.

For a provider example, Proton's Android page says data between your device and its VPN server is encrypted. Proton also says websites see the VPN server's IP address.

Start with our plain guide to what a VPN does if those terms are new. For questions about local rules, read our VPN legality guide for the Philippines.

Two ways to set up a VPN for Android

You can use an app or enter connection details in Settings. Google's Android Help describes both routes. Choose based on the instructions your provider or administrator gives you. Huwag manghula ng settings.

Menu names differ by phone maker. Throughout this guide, we use Google's wording: Settings > Network & internet > VPN. Google says to search Settings for VPN if you cannot find that menu. If it is still missing, Google directs you to your device manufacturer.

Google also notes that some steps on its help page work only on Android 14 and up. Its page adds that Pixel 7 and later phones and the Pixel Tablet have Google's own built-in VPN at no extra cost, in countries where it is available. Treat its menu wording as a reference rather than an exact match for every phone.

Use a VPN app

Google's Android Help says you might need to install a VPN app and begin setup there. It says the app could come from the Google Play Store or your administrator.

As an example, Proton tells Android users to create an account, download its app from the Play Store and sign in. ExpressVPN's Android page also describes downloading its app from Google Play, signing in and connecting.

Follow the instructions for the app you actually choose. These are examples of published setup routes, not provider recommendations.

Use the built-in settings

For a saved VPN connection, Google's Android Help gives these steps:

1. Get the VPN information from your administrator.
2. Open your phone's Settings app.
3. Tap Network & internet > VPN, or search for VPN.
4. At the top right, tap Add.
5. Enter the information from your administrator.
6. Tap Save.

How to turn it on

For a saved connection, Google's Android Help says to open Settings > Network & internet > VPN. Tap the VPN you want, enter your username and password, then tap Connect. Google says that if you use a VPN app, the app opens.

For an app example, Proton says to sign in and touch Quick Connect at the bottom right of its screen. ExpressVPN describes opening its Android app, signing in and tapping Connect. Use your chosen provider's wording rather than expecting identical buttons.

Android Developers says Android displays a connection request before a VPN app becomes active for the first time. It asks you to confirm that you trust the VPN and accept the request. Basahin muna bago pumayag.

How to turn off VPN on Android or forget it

Google's Android Help gives this route for disconnecting or forgetting a VPN:

1. Open Settings > Network & internet > VPN, or search Settings for VPN.
2. Next to the VPN you want to disconnect, tap Settings.
3. To disconnect, turn off that VPN.
4. To forget the network, tap Forget.

Android Developers also says you can stop a VPN service through the app's controls. For always-on connections, its guide says the system and Settings app control the connection. If the app's controls do not match what you expect, check the always-on setting below.

What the key icon means

Android Developers says the VPN key icon in the status bar indicates an active connection. If you searched for "key icon Android" because it appeared unexpectedly, check the VPN entry in Settings to see which connection you are managing.

The developer guide also says Quick Settings shows an information panel while a VPN connection is active. Tapping its label opens a dialog with more information and a link to Settings.

Always-on VPN and blocking connections without VPN

Android Developers says always-on VPN is available on Android 7.0 or higher. Android can start the VPN service when the phone boots and keep it running while the phone is on. The VPN service remains responsible for connecting to its gateway.

Google's Android Help says to open Settings > Network & internet > VPN, tap Settings beside the connection, then turn Always-on VPN on or off. Tap Save if needed.

There is a menu caveat. Google's help page says that if you set up a VPN through an app, you will not have the always-on option in that menu. Android Developers separately explains how apps support always-on VPN and says apps can opt out of support. Check the app's own instructions if the option is absent.

Android Developers also describes Block connections without VPN in the VPN options panel in Settings. When enabled, Android blocks network traffic that does not use the VPN. Its guide says Settings warns that you will not have an internet connection before the VPN connects.

Per-app VPN and work profiles

Android Developers says VPN apps can filter which installed apps send traffic through the VPN. An allowed list sends only listed apps through it. A disallowed list leaves listed apps outside it. Without either list, the guide says all network traffic goes through the VPN.

The same guide warns that when non-VPN connections are blocked, apps excluded from the VPN lose their network connection. Check both settings together if you use app exclusions.

Google's Android Help also says you can make a VPN work only for apps associated with your work profile. Android Developers says each user or work profile can run a different VPN app, with only one active service per user or profile.

Choosing an app: what to check

Read the provider's Android page before installing. Look for who is behind the service, which features belong to the free or paid tier, and what the setup instructions ask you to approve.

Proton says its VPN comes from the team behind Proton Mail. Its Android page describes the app as open source and audited by third-party professionals. Those are Proton's published statements. Read them as provider claims when making your decision.

For plan differences, Proton's page offers a free account or a paid VPN Plus account. It labels Secure Core as a premium feature and says NetShield is available to VPN Plus and Unlimited users. Do not assume every feature shown on an Android page belongs to the free tier.

ExpressVPN's Android page publishes a setup outline, a description of split tunneling and its Internet Kill Switch, and a no-logs claim it says is independently audited. These show the kinds of details a provider may publish. They do not establish a ranking here.

For permissions, start with the connection request Android Developers describes. Ask yourself if you trust the service before accepting. For any other permission request, look for an explanation from the provider rather than assuming this guide covers it.

Our Philippines VPN selection guide offers more questions to consider. You can also read our NordVPN and Proton VPN comparison. For a trip, see our VPN for travel guide.

Free VPN apps

If you want a free VPN for Android, check what the provider explicitly includes. Proton's Android page says its free service has no data limits, no logs and no privacy-invading ads. These are Proton's claims, not results from testing by VPNs.ph.

The same page also advertises paid features. Read the plan labels before choosing based on a feature list. Libre ang account does not mean every listed feature is included. Our free VPN guide discusses questions to ask about free plans and how they are funded.

Troubleshooting basics

If you cannot find VPN settings, Android Help says to search Settings for VPN, then seek help from your manufacturer if needed. For editing, Google says to tap Settings beside the VPN, edit its settings and save if required. For an app VPN, Google says the app opens.

If an always-on connection drops, Android Developers says Android 8.0 or higher shows a notification you cannot dismiss. Tap it for more information. The guide says it disappears when the VPN reconnects or always-on is turned off. Google's Android Help also gives turning off always-on as the way to clear that notification.

If apps lose internet access, check Block connections without VPN and any app lists. Android Developers documents that interaction. If starting another VPN stops the first, its guide explains that only one service can be active per user or profile.

Frequently asked questions

Does Android have built-in VPN settings?

Yes. Google's Android Help describes adding a saved VPN under Settings > Network & internet > VPN using information from your administrator. It also says some setups need an app.

How do I turn off VPN on Android?

Google says to open the VPN menu in Settings, tap Settings beside the connection and turn that VPN off. Tap Forget if you want to forget the network.

Why is there a key icon on my Android phone?

Android Developers says the key icon indicates an active VPN connection. Its guide says Quick Settings can show more connection information and a link to Settings.

Why is the always-on option missing?

Google's Android Help says app-based VPN setups will not show that option in its described menu. Android Developers also says apps can opt out of always-on support. Check your app's instructions.

Can I use a free VPN on Android?

Proton's Android page offers a free account and a paid account. Check the tier details before installing. Its page lists paid features alongside the free option, so read each label carefully.