How To Turn Off A VPN On Android
Use the Settings app or the VPN app to disable VPN
What you need to know
Go to Settings > Network & Internet > VPN . Select the connected VPN. Tap Disconnect .
If the VPN has its own app, disconnect it, turn it off, or open it to find the power button.
The small button on the top of your device indicates that the VPN is enabled.
This article explains how to disable VPN on Android. These instructions apply depending on who made your phone (Samsung, Google, etc.).
How to disable VPN on Android
There are two ways to disable a VPN, depending on whether the VPN was added via the Settings app or you used the VPN Services app.
To disable VPN from the Android Settings app:
Go to Settings .
Tap Network and Internet .
On some devices, this is called Network and Internet or Connections .
Select VPNs .
On some Android devices, you must first select Advanced , More connection settings , or More networks .
Tap Connected VPN and select Disconnect .
How to disable VPN apps
Some VPNs offer apps that allow you to easily select a server and connect to or disconnect from the VPN. If you already have it, open the app and tap the switch to turn it off.
Every VPN app is a little different. For example, ExpressVPN and TunnelBear have a power button on the home screen, while Mulvad has Disconnect .
What to do if the VPN is not blocked?
Some VPNs are configured to activate automatically under certain conditions. This means that even if you follow the instructions above, the VPN will turn itself on. To prevent VPN from turning on automatically, check the following option settings:
Auto-connect is a feature that some apps use to force your Android device to reconnect to the VPN every time you launch it. Disable this option if the VPN doesn't persist when you restart your phone or tablet.
If your VPN turns on randomly when you switch WiFi networks, you may be using the Trusted Networks feature of the app. This enables the VPN when you connect to a network that you have not manually added to the trusted network list. Disable or add this network to the list to make sure your VPN is not blocked.
You can also delete VPN profiles. Repeat steps 1 to 3 above. If you see a VPN listed, tap the Settings button next to it, then tap Forget .
If all else fails, uninstall the Android app. This ensures that the VPN is permanently blocked.
How to tell if a VPN is missing
The easiest way to find out if you are still connected to a VPN is to look for a small button on your phone. If you see this button (see screenshot above), the VPN is still connected. Otherwise, the VPN will not work.
Another option is to check your IP address. This is useful if you know your public IP address when the VPN is turned off. If your IP address is the same as when the VPN was disabled, rest assured that you are no longer connected.
What's My IP Address is a great website to try because it has the added benefit of showing your physical location. If true, VPN is disabled.
You can also repeat the first step above to check VPN status. Follow steps 1-3 to see a list of VPNs configured on your device. If the first VPN on the list is not connected , the VPN is turned off.
Finally, if you are using a VPN app, open the app to see information about your connection. If the VPN is turned off, you may see "not connected" , "not connected " or "unprotected" .
If you need to disable VPN
Always connecting to a VPN server has some drawbacks. Here are some examples of when it makes sense to turn off the VPN.
Website or app not working. Some websites and apps block VPNs. So if some of the things you normally do on your phone aren't working properly, the first thing you should try is turning off the VPN.
Slow internet. VPNs are overloaded and some of them just weren't built to keep up with your high bandwidth internet connection. Turn it off to regain your true speed.
There is no unlimited amount of data. Many VPNs, especially free ones, limit the amount of traffic that can flow through the VPN on a given day, week, or month. Disable VPN to save data.
The GPS is wrong. When a VPN changes your GPS location (which most don't), it interferes with apps that need your exact location (e.g. navigation and weather apps).
However, having a 24/7 VPN is great, but it's best to stick with it for privacy reasons. For example, if you use public WiFi or unsecured sites/apps. Another reason why you might choose not to disable VPN is because you want to take advantage of changing your public IP address.