This is the underlying technology that creates an encrypted connection between your device and the VPN server. Either way, the first thing to do is decide what kind of VPN connection you're seeking to create and which VPN servers you want to use.įor the first question, it comes down to VPN protocol. If you've read this far, you either have a complicated technical reason for seeking to manually configure a VPN or you're filled with hubris. Getting Started With Manual VPN Setup in Windows 11 Unless you have a compelling reason, the official VPN app is going to be the better, easier choice every time. So, before you go further, consider just installing your VPN of choice’s client app. That's not really possible with a manual configuration for commercial VPNs, but is for corporate VPNs. VPN client apps let you use split tunneling to route specific app traffic in or out of the VPN connection, for example. Most importantly, VPN apps give you access to all the features VPN companies provide as part of their offerings. Trust me, you want the app handling all that. For some companies, that's thousands of servers. As you'll see below, manual configuration means you have to keep those updated yourself, and you can only connect to the servers you have configuration information for. Plus, the app will update with all the necessary configuration information to connect to any of the VPN's servers. When you use a VPN's client app, you interact through a graphical interface that's much simpler than any alternative DIY method. (Opens in a new window) See all (6 items) How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication.How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.

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