Under the hood, VPNs are sophisticated, especially those with many advanced features. This makes many people wonder how to use a VPN and take full advantage of it. Well, the great thing about these apps is their simplicity. The end-user doesn’t have to bother at all!
Besides, the entire premise revolves around connecting to a server and modifying your IP address. After that, you can enjoy total privacy, bypass geo-blocks, download torrents anonymously, and much more. So, how to use a VPN and achieve all of this?
Hang tight – the guide is on the way. We’ll explain how to set up and use a VPN on all your devices, see what the simplest-to-use providers are, and go through a few use cases to help you get going.
How to Use a VPN: Our Comprehensive Tutorial
The first thing to consider is the choice of the provider. As always, you want the simplest, yet, most effective one to cover all your needs. In this guide, we’ll go with NordVPN and ExpressVPN as the best overall, and simultaneously, the most elementary VPNs.
If you learn how to use a VPN like these two, you’ll effectively know how to work with all the rest. They function pretty much in the same fashion, from the setup process to connecting to a server. That said, if you’re unsure which provider to pick, you now have two options.
Be aware of their great discounts that will let you save ample money. NordVPN has a 70-plus perfect discount for its 2-year plan, costing a little over $3/mo, thanks to our NordVPN coupon.
ExpressVPN is a bit pricier but its 49% discount thanks to 3 free months for the annual plan will drop the cost.
Both providers also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, which can be used for refunds. Later in our guide, we’ll explain how to uninstall a VPN and be refunded if you need it no more or simply don’t like it.
VPN Setup Guide
Okay, so the setup guide is first. We left two buttons above where you can go directly to the VPN’s website and subscribe. This is the first step.
Click the button of the desired provider and select the plan you want. After that, enter your email address and pay for the service.
After you do this, you’ll likely receive a confirmation email from the provider. Go to your inbox and click the link in the email to confirm your account. This will be followed up by password creation, which is necessary to complete the account and be able to use it.
Beware that this step can be completed on ANY device – Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS. Basically, any device with a web browser will be handy. With this out of the way, you can download the VPN app to your device. We’ll get the VPN for our Windows 11 PC.
In a minute, we’ll see how to use a VPN on other devices – it’s nearly identical. You can download the app from the official site. Simply click on the platform you want and press “Download” to get the setup file. Install it by following the steps on the screen.
After installation, the app will prompt you to log in. You can use your email and password here. The same goes for ExpressVPN, another simple-to-use app, or perhaps Private Internet Access, Proton VPN, Surfshark, and hundreds of other providers. This step IS mandatory!
How to Use a VPN App: All You Need to Know
Once you log in, the application will display its main dashboard from which, you can connect to a server and go online in privacy. Here’s a showcase of NordVPN’s dashboard on Windows (it looks almost identical on macOS).
You can use the “Quick Connect” button to connect to the fastest server based on your location. Alternatively:
- Click on “More Connection Options.“
- Click on the country you want to use.
- Wait for a few seconds and NordVPN will connect (you’ll see a “Connected” message).
In the screenshot above, we claimed an Australian IP address by connecting to a server in this country. Rest assured, you can go with any country you like. As said, we’ll take ExpressVPN as another example of how to use a VPN – here’s how it looks:
The image above explains how to use a VPN like this – it’s even simpler. You can use the connection button as your “Quick Connect” function to use the fastest server. If not:
- Open the server list (three horizontal dots next to “Selected Location“).
- Find the country you want either under “Recommended” or “All Locations.“
- Click on the country and use the connection button.
- ExpressVPN will turn green, indicating the connection is in place.
We can explain how to use other VPN apps but we don’t think it’s necessary. Two top-of-the-line VPNs like these are enough to grasp the concept. In short, all VPN apps will function like this:
- Launch the app.
- Open the server list and pick the server location you want.
- Connect to the server and enjoy the internet safely.
How to Use a VPN on Different Devices?
The guide above covers Windows and macOS because these function identical. Downloading the setup file is the first step. Second, installing the VPN, and third, using it in the way described a second ago. But how to use a VPN on your iPhone or Android device?
Android Phones and Tablets
Android users can set up the VPN likely more easily by following these steps:
- Subscribe to NordVPN or ExpressVPN. You can go for any other pick but these two are the most reliable. For this step, follow our initial tutorial to grab the discounts.
- Download the app from the Google Play Store. Simply search for the VPN’s name, select the app that appears, and press “Install.“
- After a minute or so when the app installs, press “Open” to launch it.
- Log in to the app with your email and password.
- Connect to a server of your choice.
iOS Phones & Tablets
If you’re an Apple ecosystem user, it’s good to explain how to use a VPN on your preferred platform. No worries – it’s no different than Android VPNs.
Download NordVPN for iOS and iPadOS
- Subscribe to a provider you like – it doesn’t have to be the two we prefer.
- Go to the Apple App Store and install the VPN app of the chosen provider.
- Open the app and sign in with your credentials.
- Connect to a server. When prompted to allow the VPN connection, allow it – you’ll have to do this only once.
- After the app connects to a server, you’ll get the “VPN” badge in the notification bar. This indicates everything is working as intended.
Smart TVs (Firestick/Android/Apple TV)
With their rising popularity, VPNs are frequently used on Smart TVs and streaming devices. This is usually to combat geo-blocks and access restricted websites. Let’s see how to use a VPN app on Firestick TV, Android TV, and Apple TV.
Firestick TV
- Subscribe to the provider you want – the choice is yours.
- Boot up your Firestick and tap “Apps” at the top.
- From here, press “Store” to visit the app store.
- Search for the VPN app of the chosen provider and tap on it.
- Press “Download” and wait for a moment.
- After it’s done, press “Open.“
- Sign in to the app with your credentials.
- If prompted to allow the VPN on the device, press “OK” or any similar option.
- Connect to a server and enjoy.
Beware that the best Firestick VPNs do NOT work on the first generation of this device. You’ll need the second generation to set them up properly.
Android TV
- Get a subscription from the provider.
- Launch your Android TV and go to the Google Play Store.
- Search for the provider you subscribed to.
- Select it and then press “Download.“
- Open the app and sign in with your credentials. Some providers let you use a QR code to sign in via your phone for easier access.
- Connect to a server.
Apple TV
A while ago, VPN providers didn’t offer native apps for tvOS, but that has changed.
Here’s how to use a VPN on Apple TV without hassle:
- Subscribe to the chosen service.
- Visit the Apple App Store and search for the provider.
- Download the app to your Apple TV.
- Log in with your email and password.
- Open the server list and connect to a server. If asked to allow the connection, confirm your choice.
VPN Features: How to Use Them for a Better Experience?
The basic principles of how to use a VPN are already explained. However, given that premium providers – and usually free – offer an array of features, we need to go over them to see their purpose. Sometimes, it’s not about just connecting to a server but altering certain options to make the most out of your VPN.
Here are some features worth using to amplify your experience:
VPN Kill Switch
We always recommend keeping it ON. This feature shuts down all internet traffic if the VPN connection breaks. It’s handy to prevent IP leaks and keep your privacy intact.
How to use the kill switch of your VPN? Go to Settings, find the Kill Switch, and make sure it’s enabled.
In the case of NordVPN, you can even enable the option that prevents internet access unless you connect to a server. This is a surefire way of preventing data leaks.
Connection Protocols
Switching from a few different protocols can yield different benefits. Some of the most popular options include:
- OpenVPN
- IKEv2
- WireGuard
- NordLynx
- Lightway
- Stealth, …
All of them serve different purposes but in most cases, the VPN alone will decide which protocol to use. If you use NordVPN or ExpressVPN which we reviewed recently, you won’t have to touch anything. Some providers require a few additional tweaks, however.
For instance, if you want to combat censorship, enabling Stealth is great. NordLynx and Lightway are fast and secure protocols from NordVPN and ExpressVPN respectively – the same goes for WireGuard. OpenVPN and IKEv2 are old-school options here.
They’re more focused on security rather than neck-breaking speed. To change your protocol, you’ll again have to go to Settings and find the protocol selection menu. Tap on the one you want, connect to a server, and you’re set.
Other Protection Measures
NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and many easy-to-use VPNs offer a myriad of security features you can toy with. For example, you can enable Threat Protection in NordVPN and shield yourself against ads, trackers, malicious downloads, and system-level vulnerabilities.
To do this, go to Threat Protection (the Shield icon displayed above) and turn it ON. After that, you can tweak the level of protection you want to meet your expectations. In ExpressVPN, you can also find Advanced Protection which does the same.
As you can see, it battles ads, trackers, and malicious sites. You can also enable Parental Control to block porn sites (or perhaps connect to a server to unblock adult sites with the VPN). Another feature worth mentioning is a Double VPN that many NordVPN users enjoy.
It encrypts your traffic twice by routing it through two different servers. This is great if the network is under surveillance and you don’t want to be tracked. NordVPN allows you to connect to a Double VPN server using the server list, so it’s overly simple.
To find out more about these, and many other features, refer to our VPN definition guide. We explained what it is, how it works, and everything else. This is just a how-to-use tutorial where we teach you the basics of Virtual Private Networks.
How to Uninstall and Cancel a VPN?
Now that our lesson on how to use a VPN is done, let’s touch upon the bitter part of separation from the chosen provider. You’ll likely want to uninstall its app if you don’t need it anymore, don’t like it, or don’t have the money to pay for it. In that case, the first step is to uninstall the app, which can be done fairly simply.
Windows users will:
- Go to Control Panel.
- Search for “Add or Remove Programs” and select this option.
- Scroll down and locate the VPN.
- Double-click on the app and uninstall it by following the steps on the screen.
macOS users will:
- Open Launchpad.
- Find the application of the selected provider.
- Click and hold the application.
- Press X in the corner of the app icon.
- Click Delete to confirm the uninstallation.
iOS & Android users will:
- Long-press the app on the home screen.
- Press Remove or X (iOS).
- Confirm their choice again if they’re prompted.
After that, there are a few ways to cancel the subscription. First, you need to see if you’re eligible for a refund. If you’ve canceled NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or any other provider in the first 30 days, you’re likely refund-eligible thanks to a 30-day money-back guarantee.
If not, you can just cancel the subscription. Either way, you can do this by contacting customer support through live chat or email and voicing your demand. Simply say you want to cancel the subscription AND get a refund, which will usually be fulfilled the same day.
Another method is to to your account and manually cancel the subscription. We opt for the former solution because it’s easier to request a refund by getting in touch with the customer support team directly.
What Are the Easiest-to-Use VPNs? Our Selection for 2025
Imagine the struggle of a first-time user who can’t wrap his head around the VPN app. No one wants to mess around with complicated and non-functional apps just to connect to a server, minimize it in the background, and not touch it for a while.
If you want to connect to a server in seconds and find all the settings you need promptly, you must know how to use a VPN. Above all, it’s vital to pick a provider with elementary apps that won’t require tons of effort to get used to. Here are some:
7492 servers
118 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
10 simultaneous connections
9.4 /10
3000 servers
105 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
8 simultaneous connections
9.1 /10
27000 servers
91 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
Unlimited connections
9 /10
1. NordVPN
This is the best overall pick, as divulged in our NordVPN analysis. It offers apps for all devices, 10 simultaneous connections, and a load of features. All are easily accessible and functional enough to make you feel safe, secure, and cared for in the online world.
NordVPN’s site is filled with how-to guides and tutorials to help you get started. For example, there’s a section dedicated to routers and setting up NordVPN on various models. You’ll have no shortage of help if you get stuck, explaining why this service is so beloved.
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN’s dead simple apps always attract our attention. They’re so simple that you won’t even need a tutorial on how to use a VPN. Simply install it, use the big connection button, and thrust yourself into a safe and encryption-laden internet world.
ExpressVPN’s apps span all devices, with the same great apps for “non-usual” devices like Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and many more. We’ll remind you of its unlimited bandwidth, top-tier speeds, and a no-log policy that screams privacy. A full package, in short.
3. Private Internet Access
We also find PIA very intuitive. Its apps blister with options and advanced features waiting to be explored. However, the premise is simple, as PIA still lets you use it in two clicks by using the server list and the good old connection button.
Private Internet Access allows for unlimited connections, so it protects all devices under one subscription. Adding to its quality is amazing performance, WireGuard, and a quality ad blocker called MACE. Best of all, it’s extremely affordable with an 83% discount in place.
Try Private Internet Access Now
Why Use a VPN? What Can I Do With It?
One click is all it takes to transform your internet and make it a better place. Once connected to a server, you can experience numerous benefits, such as:
- Overcoming geo-restrictions. This service can effectively pierce through geo-blocks, allowing access to Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and many other streaming sites. The same applies to online bookies and restricted VoIP services in specific regions.
- Torrenting anonymously. Our favorite providers can safeguard your P2P activities thanks to encryption and rock-solid security. Once the traffic is encrypted, you can download torrents without anyone’s notice. Handy if you’re using a VPN to avoid copyright trolls and DMCA notices.
- Preserving your privacy. You don’t have to allow third-party sites, ISPs, and data brokers to spy on you. With the VPN’s no-log policy, RAM-only servers, and advanced encryption, you can stay off the charts and soar the internet privately.
- Saving money on travels. Safe and cheap travel are voyager’s dream. Well, a VPN can at least help you save ample money by purchasing flight tickets and hotel rentals using a different IP. Some countries have cheaper prices that can be exploited through a simple IP change. This way, you can save hundreds of dollars yearly.
We have a dedicated article on the reasons for using a VPN. You’ll find more information about this topic there.
Summary
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to learn how to use a VPN. While we showcased NordVPN and ExpressVPN as the most elementary examples, it actually doesn’t get more complicated than that. As stated multiple times, it only takes one connection to a server.
Even if you have more than basic needs, you’ll need to set up the provider, connect to a server, protect your privacy, circumvent site restrictions, and everything else. More advanced users can play around with different features and try out a few protocols.
For the most part, you won’t have to do that. NordVPN and ExpressVPN are designed to work out of the box. One thing we advise is enabling a kill switch and letting the VPN decide on the protocol. You’re all set after that. Go ahead – don’t be shy to give it a test ride.