VPN setup guide

How to set up VPN auto-connect

VPN auto-connect can start a protected connection when you join an unfamiliar network, open selected apps, or sign in to your device. The exact controls depend on your VPN app, operating system, and whether the device is managed by an organization.

This guide explains the difference between auto-connect, Always-on VPN, and a kill switch, then walks through a safe way to choose and check your settings.

In short: Auto-connect decides when a VPN should start. Always-on settings ask the device to keep or restore a VPN connection. A kill switch or “block connections without VPN” setting controls what happens to internet traffic if the VPN is unavailable. They solve related but different problems.

Three settings that are easy to confuse

Auto-connect

A VPN app can connect on launch, when you join Wi-Fi, on an untrusted network, or when a chosen app opens. Trigger choices vary by provider and platform.

Always-on VPN

An operating-system or managed-device option can automatically start or maintain a VPN connection. On Windows, administrators can configure Always On or trigger profiles for certain apps and networks.

Kill switch or traffic blocking

This can stop internet traffic from using the regular connection if the VPN tunnel drops. It does not necessarily reconnect the VPN by itself, and its behavior differs across apps.

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