How to set up a VPN

Browse the website of any VPN service and you'll generally find big claims about ease of use. Install a custom client, they'll say, or follow a simple tutorial, and you'll be ready to go within moments.

In some cases, it really is that easy. Install and launch the client, maybe enter your username and password and you'll be able to get connected right away.

But life can often be more complicated. What if there isn't any custom software, or the client has some issues? Or maybe it doesn't work at all.

The reality is that even the best VPNs can have all kinds of setup and configuration issues, and these aren't always covered by the support site.

Fortunately, there are plenty of tips, tricks and strategies that might help you get connected, and we've listed some of our favorites here.

A word of warning: being able to work around major VPN problems is useful, but shouldn't be a long-term solution. If you find a specific protocol doesn't work, for instance, don't just live with that forever – talk to the support staff at your provider and get them to explain or fix it. And if they can't, try someone else: there are plenty of great VPN providers around.

1. Prepare your device

VPN clients can sometimes conflict with each other or be affected by unusual network setups, particularly on desktops. Taking the time to prepare your system before you set up a new VPN can reduce the chance of problems occurring later.

Start by uninstalling any active VPN clients which you no longer need. This isn't compulsory – clients should be able to run side-by-side, so feel free to keep anything you think you might want – but we've found that doing this often reduces the amount of issues that crop up.

Think about your network configuration, too. More complex setups, for example, systems which can get online via multiple methods at once – Wi-Fi, a separate wired connection, perhaps a 4G modem – are more likely to confuse some VPN clients.

If your network is set up exactly as you'd like, leave it alone: it's the responsibility of the VPN client to get everything working properly.

But if you can simplify your system without causing any issues, for example by unplugging a modem you're not using, then do that. It may save you a lot of troubleshooting hassles later on.

2. Install a client – any client

The quickest and easiest way to get connected to any VPN is to install one of its own clients.

Unfortunately, providers won't necessarily have software for all the platforms you need. You might want to use a VPN on your Android phone, for instance, but then find your chosen provider only offers software for Windows and Mac.

In a situation like this we would always recommend you install one of the custom clients first, if possible, even if it's not on the platform you intend to use long-term.

The benefit of using the provider's own client initially is you can confirm that your account and the basic service is working correctly. If even the client won't let you log in or connect to the service you need, you'll know there's no immediate point in trying to set up any other devices. And as a bonus, when you report the problem to the VPN support team, you're less likely to be hassled with questions asking whether you've configured your device properly.

3. Find a setup tutorial

If your VPN provider doesn't have any software available for your device, check its website for a manual setup tutorial.

There's no telling what you might find. Many providers have detailed and helpful guides, although other efforts are poor, and some barely have any documentation at all.

If you don't find any useful guidance on setting up your exact device, look for something similar which uses the same protocol. If the device can use the L2TP protocol, for instance, check for a tutorial which covers manually setting up an Android L2TP connection.

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