VPN Configuration: How To Set Up A Virtual Private Network On iOS Devices

96% of people in the UK use the internet, and privacy is a firm concern for them. According to 2020 research by Deloitte, 74% of respondents were either fairly (50%) or very (24%) concerned about businesses using their personal data. One of the ways to protect your personal data is to use virtual private networks (VPNs).

What is a VPN?

VPNs work by connecting the user’s device to a server via an encrypted and secure connection. No one apart from you and the provider can access the information. That means VPNs are useful for people wishing to keep their browsing private, improve their data security by preventing bad actors from accessing their internet-connected devices, and bypass censorship and region-locked content.

There are VPNs for all manner of devices, including Apple’s popular iOS. If you have an iPhone or iPad, here’s how you can install a VPN and boost your device’s privacy.

How To Install a VPN on Your iOS Device

Getting hold of an iOS VPN to protect your phone or tablet is simple – just follow these steps:

  1. Choose a VPN provider, sign up and download their application
  2. Open the app and sign in
  3. Allow the app to add its VPN configuration to your device – you’ll probably need to use your password, Touch, or Face ID to accept
  4. Head to Settings > General > VPN > then turn on the switch next to ‘Status’
  5. Your VPN should now work

Alternatively, manually configure the VPN with details sent by your VPN provider. Simply head to the VPN settings, tap ‘Add VPN Configuration’ and input the VPN type, settings information, and your login details, select if you wish to use a proxy, then tap ‘Done’. Your VPN should now be online.

Why Choose an iOS VPN?

There are many reasons getting hold of a VPN can be a great idea, including:

  • Access to region-locked content is possible with a VPN, which means you can watch streaming libraries only available in different countries, or access content blocked by regulations in your home country, such as US companies stopping EU visitors covered by GDPR
  • Increased security. With a VPN, access public Wi-Fi without fear of being hacked
  • More privacy, since it stops other web users and your internet service provider from viewing what content you access