How to Connect to VPN on Computer (Windows & Mac) – Quick Guide

Overview: Having a VPN connection on your PC has become a necessity considering the number of benefits it offers. Thus, in this guide, we will guide you on how to use VPN on PC in multiple ways. Along with the solutions, we have also listed the benefits with which it comes.

VPNs are primarily used to build a secure connection and prevent others from having a sneak peek at your online activities. You can also use a VPN on PC if you want to access a website restricted to your IP address or in your country.

Moreover, using a VPN on computer / laptop is highly recommended if you use public Wi-Fi like in Airports, Lounges, or any other public area. It is because a hacker on the same Wi-Fi could be looking at all your online activities and can push some sort of malware or get some sensitive information from your system.

Thus, there are so many benefits of using a VPN and it is kind of a must to have a VPN in your system for safe and secure online activities.

If you don’t know how to connect to VPN on the computer, then this is the best place for you. Here, we will explain various ways of using a VPN. But first, have a look at some of its major benefits below.

Why it is Crucial to Have a VPN on your PC?

• Keeps your network secure and protects data from potential hackers.
• Offers privacy protection and masks your online identity.
• Bypass geo-restrictions to access websites and services that are unavailable in your country.
• Enables secure access to Public networks and eliminates the risk of interception.
• Quite useful for businesses to provide secure remote access to employees.

Connect VPN to PC via a Third-Party Application

The quickest and the easiest possible way that you can use to setup VPN on a PC is by installing a third-party application on your PC. There are some free and several paid options to choose from. One of the challenging tasks for most users is to choose the perfect VPN from all these available options.

There are many VPN utilities that offer a basic functionality for free but charge a fee for advanced features. Moreover, most of these utilities come with monthly and annual subscription and users can choose whichever feels useful for them.

If you are confused and can’t choose a perfect utility for you, we have an article on the best VPN client for Windows. I hope this will help you end the searching woes.

Connect to a VPN on a Windows PC Manually

If you don’t want to download any application and want to set up a VPN on your system, then you can perform the following steps.

• Click the Windows logo on your Windows PC >> click on the Settings icon.
• In the Settings window, go to the Search field and search VPN Settings.
• Now, click on “Add a VPN Connection” option.
• In the new window, enter the VPN Provider name, the Connection name, Server name or address (URL or IP Address) in the empty fields.
• Following that, select the type of Sign-in info and then enter the sign-in details. You can also choose to sign in using a username and a password if needed. After that, click on the Save button.
• The new VPN is now available under VPN connections. You can remove it and edit its settings anytime.
• You can connect to this VPN by clicking the Connect button.

These were the simple manual steps to use VPN on your PC for Windows OS. You can try any of these methods to connect to a VPN and ensure secure online activities.

How to Use VPN on Mac OS?

Although Apple’s Mac OS offers better security features when compared to Windows OS, still it is essential for users to set up a VPN on PC for safe access to public networks. Moreover, you can also bypass Geo-restrictions (if any) with ease.

To use VPN on your Mac system, you can either use the aforementioned professional utility i.e. ExpressVPN. However, you can also execute the steps to connect to a VPN on Mac OS.

• Choose System Preferences on your Apple menu.
• Click the sphere icon labeled as Network.
• Now you need to check if the VPN provider provides an app for Mac or not.
• Opting for an application over the below steps ensures an error-free setup of VPN.
• You will get the instructions to connect on the service provider’s website.
• Go to the left side of the window and find the list of networks in the sidebar. Click on the + symbol to add a new VPN connection.
• Here, under the Interface field, choose VPN from the dropdown window.
• Now you need to choose the VPN type from the options available as – L2TP, IPSec, or IKEv2. Each type has its own significance, here we will go with IKEv2 option.
• Finally, enter the Service Name. This will be your VPN name and you can name it as per your preference. Click on the Create button to proceed.
• Go to the Network screen and select the VPN connection that you created. Drop the pull-down menu and select the Add Configuration option. Enter the name of your VPN in the text field and click on Create button to proceed.
• You now have to enter the Server Address and the Remote ID provided by the VPN owner.
• Click on the Authentication Settings to enter username and password. The password that you need to enter here will be shared by the VPN provider / owner.
• Finally, click on the “Advanced” button and enable the checkbox “Send all traffic over VPN connection”. Now click on the Apply button and connect to a VPN on Mac OS.

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Conclusion

Considering all the benefits that a VPN offers, it is quite essential to have a VPN connection on a system. However, many users don’t know how to use VPN on PC and are stuck with the complex steps. Thus, to make their job much easier, we have provided a comprehensive guide to help connect VPN on Windows and Mac OS. We have also provided a trusted and reliable VPN utility to have a seamless experience.

Questions? We got Answers for you!

Q1. Which is the best VPN utility for PC currently in the market?

A. As per our opinion, Nord VPN is the best VPN that you can get for your PC. It comes loaded with many advanced features like two kill switches, dark web monitoring, threat protection, meshnet, fast connection, etc.

Q2. Is there any free VPN services that I can use on my PC?

A. Yes, there are several free VPN software that you can use and connect on your PC. However, we don’t recommend using the free VPN on PC due to numerous reasons. These reasons include lack of security, limited server locations, data caps, slow connection speed, malware infections, etc.

Additionally, these VPN providers need to make money in one way or another, so they might also sell your crucial data to third-parties. Hence, if you are looking for a seamless and secure VPN experience on your PC, we would recommend you going with a cheap VPN alternative instead of a free VPN for PC. You can try using Surfshark as a cheap VPN alternative.

Q3. Can someone get into trouble while using VPN on the PC?

A. Usually you won’t get into any sort of trouble while accessing connecting through a VPN on your PC. However, there are some countries like China, Iran, etc. where VPNs are outlawed and you could possibly get into a legal trouble. Therefore, it is suggested to go through the local news of the countries (if you are in these countries or are travelling to).

Q4. Can my ISP monitor my internet activity if I am using VPN on my PC?

A. Whenever you connect your PC with a VPN, your ISP won’t be able to monitor any activity or your browsing history. Although he would be able to see that you are using the Internet, the IP address of the VPN server that you have chosen, the timestamps during which you were connected to the VPN, and the amount of data you are transferring through the VPN. As your activity is encrypted by VPN, all he will be able to see is a random string that is unreadable.