How to disable a VPN on any device

Ask someone who knows what they're talking about, and they'll tell you to have a VPN active whenever you go online — but they'll concede some exceptions. Even when you're using one of the best VPNs , there are a few cases where the drawbacks of a VPN outweigh the benefits .  

Read on to find out how to turn off a VPN on any device and learn about a few situations where you might want to. If you're using an iPhone or iPad, I've written a separate article about turning off a VPN on iOS .

How to disable a VPN using its app

Most of you are probably using a VPN through one of its client apps. When I say "VPN app," I'm talking about the software you install on your desktop computer, laptop, phone or tablet, which lets you connect to a VPN's locations and change its settings. If that's the main way you use a VPN, then disabling it should be as easy as pushing a button. Just open the VPN app and tap or click the button labeled "off" or "disconnect."

Every VPN app has a different user interface, so I can't give you a definitive set of steps to follow. That said, there are certain design trends that a lot of services follow. For example, three leading providers — ExpressVPN , CyberGhost and Private Internet Access — all disconnect using a large button with the "power on" symbol. Most other popular apps, including Proton VPN , Surfshark and Mullvad , use a button with the word "disconnect."

Any VPN worth using will make it easy to tell whether you're connected or not. Some services, like Surfshark and Norton VPN , also give you the option to pause your connection for a set amount of time and automatically resume afterwards.

One more note: if you disconnect your VPN, make sure to turn off the kill switch as well. This security feature might prevent you from getting online at all if you aren't connected to a VPN.

How to disable a VPN outside its app

If you're using a VPN on a device that doesn't support apps, things are trickier. Most game consoles, many smart TVs and nearly all internet-of-things appliances lack native VPN support. To use a VPN on any of those devices, you have to either install the VPN on your router or get online through a hotspot generated by a computer or phone that hosts the VPN app.

Both of those take some technical experience, so you may already know how to turn off the VPN. In case you don't, though, don't worry — disconnecting is still straightforward. If you're getting VPN protection by connecting through a VPN-enabled hotspot, just switch to another Wi-Fi network. Alternatively, open the VPN client on the device that's generating the hotspot and disconnect from the VPN that way.

If you're using a router VPN, you can also disconnect by switching to different Wi-Fi. If you don't have another network available, you'll have to shut the VPN off through the router dashboard. Open a web browser and enter your router's IP address into the network bar. Log in with your credentials (all this information should be written on the router itself, unless you've changed it). 

There are multiple types of router that support VPN connections, so the path to the relevant toggle will be different in each one. Look for a tab labeled "VPN settings" or "WAN setup," or anything marked "VPN" on the main control panel. Once you find it, toggle it off.

What to do if the VPN doesn't turn off

Occasionally, you might see a weird error where your VPN doesn't disable, even though the app tells you that you're disconnected. You're still getting slightly slower internet and getting blocked on streaming sites, so the VPN is clearly active, but visually it appears to be off.

This happens in the rare cases when the VPN client stops communicating properly with your operating system. Since a VPN impacts how your entire computer or phone gets online, it needs to place a VPN profile in the part of your computer that manages all connections. These profiles sometimes don't get the message that it's time to shut off.

Luckily, it's easy to manually shut down a system-level VPN profile. On Windows,open the Settings app, then click Network & Internet, then VPN. Look for the VPN connection that's causing trouble and click Remove. On macOS,open the System Settings app, click the Network tab, then click VPN & Filters. Click the "i" button next to the VPN that won't disconnect, then click Remove Configuration.

On Android,open the Settings app, then tap Connections > More connection settings > VPN. Tap the gear icon next to the VPN that won't disconnect, then tap Delete VPN profile. On iOS,open Settings, then tap General > VPN & Device Management > VPN. Tap the "i" beside the VPN you're trying to disable, then tap on Delete VPN.

There's a quick test you can run to check whether you managed to disable the VPN. Go to ipleak.net and check the location in the first box that appears. If it shows your real location, the VPN has disconnected.

When to disable your VPN

A VPN prevents uninvited onlookers from connecting your online activity to your real identity. It's a critical tool for protecting your rights and keeping your internet from being flooded with invasive ads. In rare situations, though, a VPN can get in the way.

• Streaming servicesblock VPN access for copyright reasons. You can use a VPN to change your location and unblock new streaming content , but this sometimes results in errors. When you just want to watch your home country's library, it's easier to disconnect.

• Banking sitestend to refuse users running VPNs. This is likewise to stop people from accessing the site from other countries with different financial laws.

• Schools and workplacesmay have blanket VPN blocks in place.

• Online gamesrequire low latencies. Even the fastest VPNs make your ping times longer, so you may need to shut them down to get the best gaming performance.

If your VPN is interfering with your ability to access certain sites, you don't necessarily need to shut it down. You can also use split tunneling, a feature available on many of the top services (though not always on every system). Split tunneling lets you list certain sites or apps that won't be sent through the VPN, meaning they shouldn't run afoul of any bans.

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