VPN

Windows VPN Setup: How to Configure a VPN in Windows 10

Author
Jonathan Kraske
Last update
12. Apr 2023
Ad disclaimer: For links on this page, EXPERTE.com may earn a commission from the provider. This supports our work and has no influence on our editorial rating.

Are you working remotely? For security reasons, you most likely have to connect to your company's intranet to complete certain tasks. A virtual private network (VPN) makes this, and a lot more possible. With a VPN, you can safely connect to networks that are far away, surf anonymously, and even circumvent geo-blocking. Below, we'll show you how to set up such a connection in Windows 10.

Why Should You Use a VPN on Your Windows PC?

VPN connections are like encrypted tunnels between two networks. Generally speaking, they are used for two main purposes:

  • 1.

    Connecting to a remote network. For example, if you're working from home and need to connect to your company's intranet, or if you're on vacation and want to access something on your home network (such as a smart appliance). As a Windows user, you don't need any additional software to create this kind of connection, since everything is already built into your operating system.

  • 2.

    Enhanced anonymity when surfing, and the ability to bypass geo-blocking. When you want to stream videos, or access a blocked website or service (such as Google in China), VPNs make it possible. To utilize a VPN for this, you'll need a third-party provider.

Below, we'll show you how to set up both.

Create a VPN Using Windows

Creating a VPN connection in Windows only requires a few simple steps.

1) Click on the search bar and type "VPN".

2) The first result should be "Change a virtual private network (VPN)". Click on it.

Alternatively, you can also find this manually in System Settings.

3) In the window that opens, click the "+" symbol with "Add a VPN connection" written next to it.

4) For the VPN provider, select Windows (integrated).

5) For the Connection Name, enter a name of your choice (Hint: Select a name that relates to its purpose or location).

6) Finally, specify the type of connection (PPTP, L2TP, etc.), server address, a username, and a password.

Important

Your server admin (or your VPN provider, see below) can supply you with all of the above information.

7) Save your settings.

8) Open the network overview.

9) You should see VPN Connections at the top. Select the desired connection (and if necessary, input your username and password).

Congratulations! You have successfully created and connected to a VPN.

Anonymous Surfing with VPN Software in Windows

If you want to bypass geo-blocking or surf the web anonymously, creating a VPN connection is even simpler. VPN providers offer applications for Windows with which you can select and connect to servers all over the world at the push of a button.

ExpressVPN's Windows app

Most VPNs are subscription-based, however, there are some freemium options. With the latter, you'll need to accept fewer features, data limits, and restrictions on the number of available servers. In addition, we are not aware of any freemium VPNs that allow users to stream video content.

The basic features each VPN offers are identical, however, the extras they include can vary. Since streaming services like Netflix are becoming better and better at sniffing out users on VPNs, some providers have begun to offer dedicated streaming servers.

Split tunneling is another feature to keep an eye out for. This allows you to control which apps connect to the Internet through your VPN. For parallel downloading and streaming, this is extremely handy.

In our EXPERTE.com VPN reviews, we put 27 leading services to the test, evaluating them in 8 areas. Below, you can see our Top 5:

Best Overall 2024
NordVPN
NordVPN
(877,857 )
NordVPN is our number one VPN because it combines speed, ease-of-use, and functionality in a slick package that's also pretty affordable.
5,500+ servers, 60 countries
excellent performance
no logs
6 devices simultaneously
affordable 2-year package
9.4
excellent
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
6
Protocols
5
Contract Period
1 - 24 months
NordVPN 2-year plan
$3.79
monthly price
Visit Website*
30 days money-back guarantee
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN
(736,465 )
ExpressVPN can impress with a strong performance, a huge server network, and excellently designed applications, but this quality also comes at a higher price.
3,000+ servers
160 cities in 94 countries
reliable performance
good for streaming
secure browser extensions
9.4
excellent
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
5
Protocols
7
Contract Period
1 - 12 months
ExpressVPN 12 Months
$6.67
monthly price
Visit Website*
30 days money-back guarantee
Surfshark VPN
Surfshark VPN
(207,223 )
Surfshark is one of the cheapest providers on the market, but it's a lot more than a great budget option: the relatively new VPN boasts strong protection, many features, and a great support with 24/7 live chat.
3,200+ servers in 100 countries
unlimited number of devices
many apps (Linux, FireTV, ...)
cheap 24-month plan
expensive monthly plan
8.8
good
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
unlimited
Protocols
3
Contract Period
1 - 24 months
Surfshark 24 months
$1.99
monthly price
Visit Website*
Get 83% Discount
Proton VPN
Proton VPN
(144,686 )
With its open source philosophy and extra security features, Proton VPN targets security-conscious VPN users. But thanks to its user-friendly interface and suitability for streaming, it's worth a look for a wide audience.
open source & external audits
2,900+ servers in 67 countries
great performance
free plan without data limit
not suitable for China
9.1
excellent
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
1 - 10
Protocols
3
Contract Period
0 - 24 months
Proton VPN Free
$0.00
monthly price
Visit Website*
Free forever
HideMyAss! VPN
HideMyAss! VPN
(86,656 )
HideMyAss' main claim to fame is its impressive server infrastructure, but the VPN also delivers solid speeds and handy features like its IP Randomizer. When it comes to streaming, however, it's not always the most reliable choice.
290 locations in 210 countries
IP Randomizer
strong performance
support with live chat
unreliable for streaming
8.6
good
Data Volume
unlimited
Devices
5
Protocols
1
Contract Period
12 - 36 months
HideMyAss! 36 months
$2.99
monthly price
Visit Website*
30 days money-back guarantee
Top VPN Provider 2024
Sponsored
from $3.79
per month
NordVPN
from $6.67
per month
ExpressVPN
from $0.00
per month
Proton VPN
from $1.99
per month
Surfshark
show all
Author: Jonathan Kraske
* Ad disclaimer: For links marked with an asterisk, EXPERTE.com may earn a commission from the provider. The commission has no influence on our editorial rating.
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Best Overall 2024
Sponsored
NordVPN
5,500+ servers, 60 countries
excellent performance
no logs
6 devices simultaneously
affordable 2-year package
9.4
Review
excellent
Try NordVPN now
30 days money-back guarantee