How to Use ProtonVPN in 2026: Setup and First Steps

To use Proton VPN, create a Proton account, install the official app for your device, and select Connect. The app’s default connection is the right place to start; you do not need to choose a protocol or understand every server type before your first session.

Proton Free costs $0, has no data limit, and permits 1 active VPN connection. If you want the paid plan, Proton’s US-facing 2-year VPN Plus offer was $2.99 per month when checked on July 14, 2026, billed as $71.76 for the first 24 months. The listed renewal was $83.88 every 12 months. Promotions, taxes, and regional prices can change, so confirm the total and renewal line at checkout. If you are unsure which to pick, see how the Proton VPN free plan and 30-day refund compare before paying.

Choose Proton Free or VPN Plus before you install

Both plans use Proton’s official apps, but they do not offer the same server control or features.

Plan	Current cost and connections	Server choice	Best fit
Proton Free	$0, unlimited data, 1 connection	The app selects a server from a 10-country Free pool; server changes are randomized and subject to a cooldown	Basic privacy on one device without a subscription
VPN Plus	From $2.99/mo for the checked 2-year introductory offer, up to 10 connections	Full paid-server location choice	Multiple devices, manual location selection, streaming and P2P support, NetShield, Secure Core, and other paid features

Start with Free if you mainly want an encrypted connection for routine browsing and can accept automatic server selection. Choose Plus if you need a specific country, more than 1 connected device, or paid-only tools. Do not upgrade merely because a server feels slow; first try the connection and troubleshooting steps below. If torrenting is the reason you need Plus, see how to set up Proton VPN for safer torrenting.

Install Proton VPN and make your first connection

Windows

1. Download the Windows installer from Proton VPN’s official site.
2. Run the installer, then open the app from the Start menu.
3. Sign in with your Proton account.
4. Select Connect. Free users are connected to an available Free server; paid users are connected to the fastest server allowed by their plan.
5. Wait until the Home screen shows an active connection before opening the browser or app you want to use.

If you have VPN Plus, open the country list when you need a particular location for a legitimate reason. For normal browsing, the default connection avoids unnecessary distance and gives you a clean baseline if you need to troubleshoot later.

Android, iPhone, and iPad

Install Proton VPN from Google Play on Android or the App Store on an iPhone or iPad. Open the app, sign in, and approve the operating system’s request to create a VPN connection. Without that permission, the app cannot build the tunnel.

Select Fastest country and then Connect for the first session. A paid account can choose a specific country or supported specialty server. On Free, Proton selects the location; Change server requests a different random country after the displayed cooldown rather than unlocking manual country choice.

TV devices and routers

Proton publishes native setup paths for Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV. The Fire TV app supports Free and paid accounts, while Proton’s Apple TV app requires a paid plan and tvOS 17 or later. Install from the TV platform’s official app store and follow the on-screen sign-in flow.

A compatible router is useful for a TV, console, or other device without an app. Router connections are available on Proton Free and paid plans, and the router counts as 1 connection regardless of how many devices use that network. Setup is firmware-specific, location changes require editing the router configuration, and app features such as NetShield or split tunneling may be unavailable.

Configure the 5 Proton VPN settings that matter

Menu names can move between app versions, so use the current labels on your device and change one setting at a time.

1. Understand Kill Switch before enabling it

The standard Kill Switch blocks internet traffic if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly, then allows traffic again after Proton reconnects. This reduces the chance that your real IP address is exposed during a failure.

Windows and the Linux GUI also offer Advanced Kill Switch. That stricter mode prevents internet access whenever Proton VPN is not connected, including after you deliberately disconnect. If your internet appears broken later, check this setting before resetting network adapters or reinstalling the app.

2. Leave the protocol on Smart first

Smart Protocol is enabled by default on supported Proton apps, and Proton recommends keeping it on. It automatically selects from the protocols available on your platform instead of forcing you to guess between WireGuard, Stealth, or another option.

Change protocols only as a troubleshooting step. Stealth is the relevant manual choice when a school, workplace, ISP, or other network is actively blocking VPN connections; otherwise, return to Smart after the test.

3. Set auto-connect and the default connection deliberately

On Windows, Auto startup controls whether Proton VPN opens with Windows and whether it connects when the app starts. The macOS app has separate start-on-boot and auto-connect controls. On Android, you must enable the operating system’s Always-on VPN manually; on iOS and iPadOS, Proton’s always-on behavior is permanently active and reconnects after an unexpected drop.

Paid users can also customize what the Connect button does on Windows and mobile, such as using the fastest country, the last connection, or a saved profile. Keep the fastest option until you have a repeatable reason to change it.

4. Use split tunneling only for a specific exception

Split tunneling is a paid feature that lets selected traffic use or bypass the VPN. Proton currently documents it for Windows, the Linux GUI, Android, Android TV, its browser extension, and macOS, where support remains experimental. The exact controls differ by platform.

Use it when one trusted app, local device, or site will not work through the VPN. Anything excluded uses your normal connection and public IP address, so add the narrowest possible exception and remove it when you no longer need it.

5. Turn on NetShield if your paid plan includes it

NetShield is included with VPN Plus and other paid Proton VPN plans. It can block domains associated with malware, ads, and trackers while the VPN is connected. Enable the level you want in the app’s feature controls.

Treat it as an extra network filter, not a replacement for software updates, browser protections, or careful handling of downloads. If a legitimate site breaks, lower or disable NetShield temporarily and retest before changing the VPN protocol.

Fix common Proton VPN problems

Proton VPN will not connect

First disconnect and confirm that the device has a normal internet connection. Then update Proton VPN, return the protocol to Smart, and try the default connection. If that fails, try another available server and then Stealth.

Another VPN, system-wide proxy, firewall, or security suite can interfere with the connection. Close the competing VPN and follow Proton’s operating-system-specific support steps rather than permanently disabling security software.

The internet stops after you disconnect

Check Kill Switch. Standard mode blocks traffic while Proton is unexpectedly disconnected; Advanced mode is designed to keep the device offline whenever the VPN is not connected. Reconnect Proton VPN or change the Kill Switch mode in the app if that is not the behavior you want.

One app or website does not work

Try another nearby server first. If the problem affects only one trusted app and you have a paid plan on a supported platform, create a narrow split-tunneling exception. Remember that excluded traffic no longer uses the VPN.

Some services restrict VPN traffic or apply account-region rules. A VPN connection does not override their terms, and no provider can guarantee that every service will accept every server.

Proton Free connects to the wrong country

That is a plan limitation, not an installation error. Proton Free automatically chooses from servers in 10 countries. You can select Change server after the cooldown, but the replacement country is also random. Upgrade only if manual country selection is important to you.

Where to go deeper

This guide covers installation and first-day controls. Read our full Proton VPN review for the broader assessment of privacy, ownership, streaming, P2P, and long-term value.

If a Mac is your main device and you have not chosen a provider yet, compare Proton with the other best VPNs for Mac before committing to a paid renewal.

Our recommended first-day setup

Make one successful connection with the default server and Smart Protocol. Then enable the standard Kill Switch, configure auto-connect for the networks you use, and leave split tunneling off until a specific app needs an exception. Free users should test the automatic server flow before paying; Plus users should verify the checkout total and renewal price before starting a long term.

FAQ

Is Proton VPN Free really unlimited?

Yes. Proton says its Free plan has no bandwidth or data limit. The practical limits are different: only 1 device can connect at a time, the app selects from a 10-country Free pool, and paid features such as NetShield and Secure Core are not included.

Can I choose a Proton VPN server on the Free plan?

Not directly. Proton Free connects you to an available Free server. You can request another random country with Change server, but a cooldown applies. Manual country and server selection requires a paid plan.

Should I leave Proton VPN connected all the time?

You can if your normal apps work correctly through it. Use Windows auto startup, macOS auto-connect, Android’s manually enabled Always-on VPN, or iOS’s built-in always-on behavior to reduce forgotten connections. If one trusted app fails, try another server before adding a split-tunneling exception.

Can I use Proton VPN on a smart TV or router?

Yes. Proton has apps or setup guides for Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, and compatible routers. Apple TV requires a paid plan, while Fire TV and router connections can use Free. Router setup covers the network but may not expose app-only controls such as NetShield or split tunneling.