To protect Internet browsing and mask the IP address on iPhone and iPad, we can use a dedicated VPN service, so as to create a secure and encrypted tunnel when we are abroad or connected to a public hotspot. With a VPN on iPhone and iPad no one will know which sites we are visiting and no hacker will be able to recover our login credentials (when we are connected to a vulnerable network or a network already compromised), significantly increasing the level of security and privacy when we browse from a mobile device.
In the following paragraphs we will show you how to configure a VPN on iPhone and iPad, using both the service apps (to be installed like any other app) and the integrated VPN connection system within the iOS or iPadOS operating system for the purpose.
Why use a VPN
VPN is currently one of the best ways to protect user privacy on iPhone and iPad. Many users do not know it but the Internet connection is spied on by many, often unsuspected subjects: the Internet provider, for example, can keep track of the sites that an iPhone or iPad user visits, so as to generate useful logs in case of inquiries or requests. by some government agency.
If we connect to a public Wi-Fi hotspot we run a great danger: an attacker could in fact capture the data traffic between the iPhone / iPad and the access point to which we are connected, laying the foundations for identity theft or to access bank current accounts. Using a VPN we will be able to block any breach of privacy using an encrypted connection from the phone to the site we have chosen to upload.
Many users want to always have a VPN at hand to quickly change their IP address, so they can access services that restrict access to users in certain countries or bypass filtering and censorship systems (such as the Great Firewall of China. ).
Which VPN to choose
By choosing a good VPN service for the iPhone or iPad we will be able to benefit from fast servers anywhere in the world and encrypted connections with military technology, so that no data can be intercepted. Below you can take a look at the best VPN services that you can use on Apple devices.
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Set up VPN on iPhone and iPad via app
The simplest and fastest way to set up a VPN on iPhone involves using the app provided by the service, freely downloadable from the Apple App Store. After choosing the service and activating an account (free trial or subscription) we open the App Store on the Apple device, press the Search icon at the bottom right and look for the name of the chosen VPN service.
Once the service has been identified, press the Get button next to the name to start the download of the VPN app; if in the past we have already downloaded a VPN app we will find the cloud icon with the down arrow (instead of the Get button), so you can quickly download an app already used in the past. As soon as the download is finished, we press the app icon and, on the home screen, press on Login, Sign in or Login to be able to enter the login credentials of the account created to take advantage of the VPN.
After entering the credentials it is necessary to give consent to all the warning windows that will appear on the screen, so as to be able to fully unlock all the functions of the service; to connect, simply choose a country or a server on the app map and press Connect or Connect to start the VPN on iPhone or iPad.
On some apps it is also possible to quickly connect to the fastest server nearby, without having to choose the country or server manually each time: if the app in question offers this function, it is possible to use it quickly by pressing the Quick Connect button (usually present in the first screen of the app).
To close the VPN connection, all we have to do is open the app again and press Disconnect or similar items.
Set up VPN on iPhone and iPad (manual method)
In addition to using the app, you can configure VPN on iPhone and iPad using the manual method, i.e. the settings accessible from the settings menu of Apple devices. This method is useful for those who don't want to install too many apps on their device and want to quickly switch from one VPN to another, but it requires a few more steps to set up, as well as having to retrieve the login details at the chosen VPN service.
To start the configuration, open the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad, press on the General item, press on VPN and finally tap on the Add VPN configuration item.
A new screen will open where you can set the various parameters to connect to the chosen VPN service. The fields to be filled in are:
At the end, simply press the End button at the top right to complete the configuration; to connect, simply activate the VPN profile you just created and activate the switch at the top of the screen. From now on it is possible to quickly connect to the VPN also from the Settings screen, by pressing directly on the switch next to the VPN item.
With some VPN services it is possible to import certificates directly from the Safari web browser, so as to add the correct VPN profile without having to manually configure the parameters each time. To proceed, make sure that the VPN service offers this possibility, so that you can quickly download the profile via Safari.
Frequent problems
VPNs can have some minor glitches when logging in or while making an encrypted connection, making it difficult to benefit from them. The most frequent problems are:
For the first two problems it may be useful to switch the phone's airplane mode on and off, so as to restart the connection system and be able to restore correct operation. If, on the other hand, we notice that the VPN server is slow we can try to connect to another server in the same country: this will solve most of the problems since some servers are used more than others, quickly running out of available resources.
If, on the other hand, we notice that the app closes unexpectedly, let's go to the Settings -> General -> Update app in the background path and make sure that the voice relating to the VPN app we are using is active. Does the app problem persist? In this case it may be a good idea to uninstall the app and reinstall it.
What's the best VPN for iOS?
But what if we wanted to choose the best VPNs to install on iOS based on very specific parameters? If the list of services seen at the beginning of the guide did not completely clarify your ideas, we see below the best VPNs for some of the most well-known choice parameters:
In conclusion, we can choose one of the VPNs indicated in the bulleted list to play it safe and get a good level of protection. To discover other services, you can also read the guide dedicated to VPNs for iPhone and iPad.
Conclusions
With more and more sites that track the connection of users and providers who resell browsing data (for profit or to report suspicious activity) it is practically essential to have a good VPN that is always ready for use on iPhone and iPad, so as to make it practically impossible intercept the active connection.
Firstly, it can be really useful to have a VPN to change your IP address on the fly, so you can access some geo-restricted services. Secondly, the VPN can prevent government agencies from accessing the connection of our phone or tablet and spying on what we are doing, so as to protect the privacy of the sites we decide to visit.
As already explained in the previous chapters, it is advisable to focus primarily on the dedicated apps of the various VPN services, since they are simple to install and use; more experienced users will be able to manually download the VPN profiles or configure the parameters in the dedicated menu, so as to manage various VPN services and connect to the right server based on the country in which you are located or based on the filtering system that you need to bypass (just think of the Great Firewall of China, which does not allow you to download apps dedicated to VPNs in any way).
Frequently asked questions about VPNs for iPhone and iPad
How to install and set up a VPN on iPhone and iPad?
To install and configure a VPN on iPhone and iPad, you can use both the dedicated app provided by the VPN service and the configuration menu present within the iOS / iPadOS operating system.
For users unfamiliar with VPNs, it is always recommended to focus on dedicated apps, since they are simple to configure and activate; if, on the other hand, we have more VPN services to configure, it is possible to use the configuration menu to create multiple VPN profiles, so that we can manually choose which one to activate based on our needs or the country in which we want to connect.
How to connect via a VPN if iPhone and iPad?
By choosing the dedicated app to use the VPN, the connection is really very simple: just open the downloaded app, enter the login credentials of the VPN account we have created and, once on the main screen of the app, press on the quick connect button to connect to the first VPN server nearby (closest and fastest). In addition to the quick connection, you can also start the connection by personally choosing the country or the VPN server to connect to.
If, on the other hand, we have configured the VPN servers manually, it is possible to connect to the service by opening the Settings app and activating the VPN button directly. If we have multiple VPN services configured, you must first access the Settings menu -> General -> VPN, place the check mark on the VPN service to be activated and finally connect.
What are the best VPNs for iPhone and iPad?
For iPhone and iPad, you can use various VPN services, many of which are also free. To get maximum protection when we surf the internet and to be able to access the fastest servers it is advisable to focus only on the best VPNs for iOS / iPadOS, namely:
By focusing on one of the services listed, we will have the certainty of being able to connect without being intercepted, always obtaining servers with a high level of protection, connection speeds at the highest levels and a large choice of servers and countries from which to connect.
Is it worth using a free VPN on iPhone and iPad?
All the VPNs available on iPhone and iPad have a free trial period or directly offer the "money back guarantee", so that any interested user can try the service completely free, without spending any money (or spending but with the guarantee of getting your money back if the trial period does not convince us). These trial periods will give you instant access to paid VPNs, currently the best for number of servers, connection speeds and security.
In the Apple App Store there are also completely free VPNs, but they hardly offer the same quality and the same speed obtainable with a paid service: let's not forget that such a service must be maintained in some way and without certain income the problems will be certainly at the basis of the user experience. With a free VPN, it's easy to run into poor connection speeds, a low number of servers available, and some security features disabled.
In conclusion, we can say that, if we care about the security of our connection, it is advisable to always focus on a VPN that requires the payment of a monthly or annual fee (often with promotions for longer periods).