Want to use a VPN in Windows 10? Here s the best way to set it up. How to get vpn on computer

After you’ve finished setting up your VPN server in Windows 10, you’ll need to set up devices that can remotely access your local network. You can set up any computer and phone (including Android and iPhone). Here are the instructions for setting up a VPN connection in Windows 10.

Want to use a VPN in Windows 10? Here’s the best way to set it up

Sure, you can just download the VPN app on your Windows 10 PC. But there’s a better way.

Setting up a VPN on Windows 10 is easy.

Whether you plan to take advantage of Prime Day laptop deals and buy a new Windows 10 PC ($ 130 at Amazon), or have been using it for years and are looking forward to Microsoft’s upcoming big Windows redesign, perhaps consider adding Virtual Private Network to protect your online privacy.

The easiest way to get your favorite VPN running and running on your Windows 10 device is to simply download the VPN app from the Microsoft Store and install it just like you would on your previous device or version of Windows. Using a VPN app is also the best way to take advantage of additional VPN features – from ad blocking to automatically selecting the fastest connections.

But for the technically curious, another option is to test Windows 10’s built-in VPN client. This may seem complicated, but the process takes around 15 to 20 minutes and can be broken down into two main parts: creating a VPN profile and then connecting to the VPN. Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up a VPN on Windows 10. (And also check out these tips for securing your Windows 10 device .)

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2 things you’ll need before setting up your VPN in Windows 10

VPN service

Even if you use Windows 10 to manage your VPN connection, you still need to select the VPN service you want to connect to. The service you choose will determine who is hosting the servers you intend to connect to.

Check out our list of the best VPNs we’ve tested to get a quick idea of ​​which provider might be best for you. You’ll find plenty of options including the fastest VPNs, the best cheap VPNs, the best iPhone VPNs, and the best Android VPNs. But whichever service you choose, keep an eye out for any red flags that might indicate the service is not private .

Protocol choice

During setup, you will be asked to select a protocol from the list. Simply put, the selected protocol determines the encryption strength. There are several types of protocols used by VPNs, and whichever VPN you choose, it will use one of them. The four most popular are: PPTP, L2TP / IPSec, SSTP, and OpenVPN. During setup, you’ll tell Windows what type of protocol your VPN uses by selecting it from a list. Your VPN provider will let you know which one it is using.

You can use a third-party VPN service on your Windows 10 device or try a built-in option from Microsoft.

Forward port 1723 to your computer’s IP address (the one on which the Windows 10 VPN server is set up). You can do all of this by logging into your router’s configuration page. To increase your security, consider adding a port forwarding rule to your router. One that forwards a random external port to a computer internal port.

How to set up a VPN on Windows

1. Click the Windows button to open the Settings menu.

2. Go to the “Network and Internet” section and then click “VPN.”

3. Click “Add VPN Connection.”

4. Complete the fields on the page with the information about your VPN. Make sure you choose Windows (built-in) for your provider and give your connection any name in the appropriate section. Then enter the server name and address, the type of VPN used, as well as login information such as username and password.

5. Click “Save.”

How to set up a VPN on Mac

1. From the Mac desktop, open System Preferences, and then click “Network.”

2. Click the “+” symbol in the lower left corner of the screen to open the drop-down menu. From there, select “VPN.”

3. Enter the details of the selected VPN in the provided “VPN type and service name.

4. Click “Create.”

5. Then enter the server address, local ID, remote ID and other relevant information, and click “Authentication Settings” when done.”

6. Add a VPN username and password.

7. Click “OK” to save the information and connect to the VPN.

It provides really good services, with thousands of servers all over the world which basically means it can offer good internet speeds wherever you are.

Private Internet Access

Try one of the best VPNs you can get for your laptop, now discounted for a limited time only!

Here are the steps you can follow to create a VPN profile on your laptop, if you don’t have one:

If you want to edit VPN connection information or additional setting specifications such as proxy settings, select the VPN connection and then click Advanced options

Connect your Windows 10 laptop to VPN

Now that you’ve created a VPN profile for your work or personal account, you’re ready to connect to your VPN.

Here are the steps you can follow to connect to a VPN:

1. Go to the right side of the taskbar.
2. Select the network icon (with the Wi-Fi symbol).
3. Select the VPN connection you want to use.
4. Depending on what happens when you select a VPN, select Connect (if the Connect button is displayed under the VPN connection) or, if the VPN opens in Settings, select the VPN connection from there, and then click Connect.
5. Enter your username and password (or other login details) if prompted.

Once connected, you’ll see the name of the VPN connection with the word Connected below it. If you want to check if you’re connected, select the Network icon, and then check if the VPN connection displays Connected under it.

Were you able to connect to a VPN for Windows 10 laptop after following the steps above? If so, please share your experience with us.

We also compiled a guide on how to troubleshoot your VPN connection in case you are unable to connect to your VPN.

If you can’t, please let us know what happens when you try these steps by leaving a comment in the section below.

Step 2 Your best choice should be Change Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Alternatively, open the Settings app and go to Network & Internet> VPN.

Router Setup

If you’re connecting to a new VPN server over the internet, you’ll need to set up port forwarding so the router knows it is going to send this type of traffic to the correct computer. Log in to your router’s configuration page and forward port 1723 to the IP address of the computer where you set up the VPN server. For more instructions check out our guide to port forwarding on a router.

For maximum security, you can create a port forwarding rule that redirects a random “external port” – such as 23243 – to the “internal port” 1723 on your computer. This will allow you to connect to the VPN server using port 23243 and protect you from malicious programs that scan and try to automatically connect to VPN servers running on the default port.

You can also consider using a router or firewall to only allow incoming connections from specific IP addresses.

To make sure you can always connect to the VPN server, you can also set up a dynamic DNS service such as DynDNS on your router.

Connecting to Your VPN Server

To connect to a VPN server, you will need your computer’s public IP address (your network’s IP address on the Internet) or its dynamic DNS address if you are setting up a dynamic DNS service.

On whatever version of Windows you’re running on the calling computer, you can just hit Start, type “vpn”, and then select the option that appears. In Windows 10, it will be called “Change Virtual Private Networks (VPN)”. In Windows 7, it’s called “Set up a virtual private network (VPN.

When prompted, enter a connection name (anything it will) and a web address (it could be a domain name or an IP address).

For more connection instructions – including some advanced options you can choose – check out our full guide on connecting to a VPN in Windows.

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Chris Hoffman
Chris Hoffman is the editor-in-chief of How-To Geek. He has been writing about technology for over a decade, and for two years he was a columnist for PCWorld. Chris has written for The New York Times, has been interviewed as a technology expert on TV stations such as NBC 6 in Miami, and his work has been covered by news sites such as the BBC. As of 2011, Chris has written over 2,000 articles that have been read nearly a billion times – and it is right here at How-To Geek.
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To connect to a VPN server, you will need your computer’s public IP address (your network’s IP address on the Internet) or its dynamic DNS address if you are setting up a dynamic DNS service.

Step by step: How to set up a VPN in Windows 10

Step 1 Click the Cortana search bar or the system tray button and type VPN.

Step 2 Your best choice should be Change Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Alternatively, open the Settings app and go to Network & Internet> VPN.

Built-in VPN client settings in Windows 10.

Step 3 At the top of the VPN screen in the Settings app, click Add VPN Connection.

Built-in Windows 10 VPN client configuration window.

Step 4 In the screen that appears, enter the details of the VPN connection. In the “VPN Provider” section, click the drop-down menu and select Windows (Built-in). This will also change the “VPN Type” to Automatic and the “Login Information Type” to the Username and Password.

Step 5 Then fill in the “Connection name” and “Server name or address” fields. They differ depending on the VPN provider – be it a third party service or an employer. In this example, we’re using Acevpn, a clientless VPN service that supports various connection types such as IKEv2, L2TP, and PPTP.

Step 6 Scroll down this screen and you will see where to enter your VPN username and password – again provided by your VPN service. After entering the information, click Save and close the Settings app.

IKEv2 VPN connection ready to run on Windows 10.

Step 7 Click the Wi-Fi icon on the systray on the taskbar and select the newly created VPN connection, which should be at the very top of the list. It should automatically start connecting, and if all goes well, the connection process should happen relatively quickly.

The above process works for easier VPN connection types like PPTP and L2TP, but if you want to use IKEv2 that requires you to install a root certificate from your VPN provider. Keep in mind that not every service supports IKEv2, so using this method depends a lot on your VPN service provider or employer.

Regardless, here’s how it works on Windows 10.

First, download your VPN provider’s IKEv2 certificate to your computer or other convenient place. Then double-click the certificate file and a security warning will appear. Click Open.

In the next window that opens, click Install Certificate…

Windows 10 Certificate Import Wizard.

Now we got to the Certificate Import Wizard. Select the Local Machine radio button and click Next.

On the next screen, make sure you select the radio button labeled Place all certificates in the following store and click Browse…

A smaller window will open with a tree of folders. Select Trusted Root Certification Authorities, and then click OK. Now we go back to the Certificate Import Wizard window. From here, click on Next.

Step-by-step: How to set up a VPN in Windows 7

Step 1 Click the Start button. In the search bar, type vpn, and then select Set up a virtual private network (VPN.

Step 2 Enter the IP address or domain name of the server you want to connect to. If you’re connecting to a work network, your IT administrator can provide the best address.

Step 3 If you want to configure the connection but don’t want to connect, select Don’t connect now; otherwise, leave it blank and click Next.

Step 4 On the next screen, you can enter your username and password or leave it blank. You will be prompted for this again on the actual connection. Click Connect.

Step 5 To connect, click on the Windows network logo at the bottom right of the screen; then select Connect under “VPN Connection.”

Step 6 In the “Connect VPN connection” field, enter the appropriate domain and login details; then click Connect.

Step 7 If you are unable to connect, the problem may be with the server configuration. (There are different types of VPN.) Check with your network administrator to check what type is being used – for example, PPTP – and then select Properties on the “Connect VPN Connection” screen.

Step 8 Go to the Security tab and select the specific “VPN Type” from the drop-down list. You may also need to uncheck Include Windows Logon Domain on the Options tab. Then click OK and Connect.

It takes a bit of work, but setting up a VPN with the built-in Windows client is relatively quick, and as a user, it’s a useful skill.

Windows 10, like other versions of the operating system, has a feature called “Incoming Connection,” which allows you to configure a VPN server to remotely connect to your home network to access your computer’s files and peripherals, and even other computers on your network.

How to set up a VPN connection on Windows 10

After you’ve finished setting up your VPN server in Windows 10, you’ll need to set up devices that can remotely access your local network. You can set up any computer and phone (including Android and iPhone). Here are the instructions for setting up a VPN connection in Windows 10.

After adding a VPN connection to your computer, you need to adjust the settings by following these steps:

Open the Control Panel.

Click on Network and Internet.

Click Network and Sharing Center.

Click the Change Adapter Settings link in the left pane.

Right-click the VPN adapter and select Properties.

On the General tab, make sure you’re using the correct domain you created when setting up DDNS – or at least using the correct public IP address.

Click the Security tab.

Use the “VPN Type” drop-down menu and select Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP.

Use the “Data Encryption” drop-down menu and select Maximum Encryption (disconnect if server refuses.

Click the OK button.

Click the Network tab.

Deselect Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP / IPv6.

Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP / IPv4.

Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP / IPv4.

Click the Properties button.

Click the Advanced button.

Clear “Use default gateway on remote network.

Important: We disable this option to prevent internet traffic from being sent over a remote connection, which can slow down internet use. However, if you want to access the internet through a VPN connection, don’t change the latter setting.

Click the OK button.

Click OK again.

Click OK again.

Open Settings.

Click on Network and Internet.

Click VPN.

Select a VPN connection option and click Connect.

While there are many solutions that allow users to connect to a private network remotely using a VPN connection, you can set up your own server using the tools built into Windows 10 without the need for additional software.

In addition, one of the biggest advantages of setting up a VPN server on a Windows 10 PC is that it is not only secure and reliable, but a great alternative for users who are still skeptical of cloud services for storing their data. Moreover, via a virtual private network, you can even access your device using the remote desktop feature in Windows 10.

Update January 4, 2022: This guide was originally published in May 2016 and updated in January 2021 to ensure the steps are still accurate.

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To successfully connect your Windows 10 laptop to a VPN, you must have a VPN profile on your laptop, either by creating one yourself or setting up an office or work account to get a VPN profile from your workplace.

Creating a VPN Profile

Before you can create a VPN profile, you’ll need your computer’s public IP address or its dynamic DNS address. The first is your network’s IP address on the Internet. The latter will only be available if you choose to configure it with a dynamic DNS service.

• Since we’re focusing on Windows 10, type VPN in the taskbar finder and select the option that appears.
  • “Best Match” will likely show up as VPN options. Later, if possible, you can go straight to Add VPN Connection.

  

  • The “VPN Provider” field should only have one option; Windows (built-in).
  • The “connection name” can be anything you like. This is what you’ll see when you go to make a connection.
  • In the “Server name or address” field, enter a public IP address or a dynamic DNS address.
  • You can keep “VPN Type” as Automatic as long as you have correctly set up port forwarding on your router. PPTP (Point to Point Tunneling Protocol) is also a viable option.
  • Save “Login Information Type” as username and password.
  • Click Save when finished.

  

  Making The Connection

  Now that you have your server set up, router set up, and VPN profile configured, you can finally connect to your VPN.

  1. On the right-hand side of the taskbar, select the Network icon.
     • You may need to click the arrowhead (or the carriage) icon to locate the network icon.
  2. Select the recently created VPN profile and click Connect.
     • You should be prompted for a username and password. Use the ones you created for the user in the “VPN server.
     • If connected, you should see Connected right under the name of the VPN connection.

  Former US Army IT communications specialist who started his career as a web blogger in 2016. Joseph has over 10 years of experience in the IT industry as an analyst and communications expert. He is a night owl and an avid Red Bull consumer who spends most of his time passionate about online gaming and website development. Read Joseph’s full biography

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