A virtual private network is a privacy tool that can help protect you and your information online by encrypting your data and hiding your IP address. You might be tempted to leave your VPN on all the time, but sometimes you might have to turn it off. 

If you want to protect some of your internet traffic with your VPN but not all of it, you could try split tunneling. If split tunneling isn’t viable, or you’re getting frustrated with the split tunneling process, you might need to simply turn your VPN off altogether for some time.

Here’s why you might need to disable your VPN and how to do it.

Some reasons you might turn your VPN off

There are a lot of situations where you might want to pause your VPN. Most are because sites actively block, or have policies against, VPNs. Turning off your VPN could also help diagnose some network issues. If you’re traveling to a country where VPN use is illegal or regulated, turning your VPN off could help keep you out of trouble.

Banks 

You might encounter such a block when you connect to your bank or other online financial institution. Some banks might block traffic from other countries, so turning off your VPN would let you access your institution. Always remember to be on a secure network when accessing your financial information, so no banking at public Wi-Fi hotspots like Starbucks or McDonald’s.

Work or school

Turning your VPN off could also be required by your workplace or school. Some of these institutions have rules or policies against using VPNs, and it’s best to follow these guidelines so you don’t get in trouble. 

Streaming services

You might also turn your VPN off because a site or service might block your access because you’re using a VPN. Some streaming sites, like Netflix and Hulu, have policies against VPN usage. To comply with these policies, you should turn off your VPN just in case, so you aren’t punished by the service. If you want to speed up your internet to stream high-quality videos, you should disconnect your VPN, as well.

Troubleshooting

If you’re having network issues, disconnecting from your VPN could also help you identify what’s wrong with your internet access. You might experience occasional network issues when using a VPN — you are routing to another region, sometimes on the other side of the world, after all — so turning off your VPN could help resolve your issue.

Traveling 

You might also need to turn your VPN off if you’re traveling to a region where VPN usage is illegal or could result in legal repercussions. According to Surfshark, VPNs aren’t illegal in China, for example, but there are rules in place concerning how VPNs are used. If you don’t want to get in trouble, you should turn your VPN off when traveling, just in case.

How to turn off a VPN on any device

Turning off your VPN is straightforward on most devices that support native VPN apps. For instance, you can install a VPN app easily on Windows, MacOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android and Amazon Fire TV OS. Simply open the VPN app on your device, and you should see a button that lets you know you’re Connected to your VPN. Tap or click that button, and it should now read Disconnected. The specific text may differ, but common words to look for include Connect or On.

In other VPN programs, you might see a button that says Disconnect. If you click or tap this button, you will be disconnected from the VPN. 

In some VPN apps, like NordVPN and Surfshark, you also have the option to pause your VPN connection for a set amount of time, like 5 or 30 minutes. That way, you don’t forget to turn your VPN back on if you’re dealing with a network connectivity issue.

And as a reminder we advise reading through a site or service’s user agreement before using a VPN. It’s also important to remember that illegal activity is still illegal, even if you’re masking your location with a VPN.

Turning off a VPN on some devices like game consoles or smart TVs may be more challenging

While turning off a VPN using an app on your device is pretty straightforward, it’s not always as simple with devicesthat aren’t compatible with VPN apps, like game consoles, some smart TVs or streaming devices and routers.

Gaming consoles, including the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch, don’t have native VPN apps. Android TV, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV streaming devices let you download VPN apps directly, while Roku doesn’t. Smart TVs that run Android TV or Amazon Fire TV accordingly are compatible with VPN apps, whereas you can’t install a VPN app on smart televisions running Roku, LG’s webOS or Samsung’s TizenOS.

If your device isn’t compatible with native VPN apps, you’ll need to run a VPN on your router or use a PC as a hotspot. Because installing a VPN on your router can be tricky and may void your warranty, we recommend using ExpressVPN’s Aircove VPN router or a device from FlashRouters. Alternatively, you can use a Windows or Mac computer as a hotspot to share your VPN connection. For sharing a VPN connection through a MacOS or Windows PC, simply disconnect from that Wi-Fi hotspot and connect to your router’s Wi-Fi directly.

Here’s how to disable a VPN on your router:

1. Log in to your router’s dashboard by heading to the right IP address.
2. Enter your login credentials (username and password).
3. Find the tab with your VPN info. This might be VPN settings, Control panel, Settings or Network/WAN setup.
4. Toggle your VPN off. You may need to reboot your router for changes to take place.

Turning off a VPN on Linux may not be as easy as other devices

A handful of VPN providers, including ExpressVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN and PIA, have graphical user interface apps for Linux that let you turn a VPN on or off as easily as on other operating systems. But for command-line interface Linux VPN apps, you may need to use the command line to disable your VPN connection. For instance, with NordVPN, you’ll enter nordvpn disconnect or nordvpn d in the command line to stop using a VPN connection. The correct command prompts should be listed in the documentation on your VPN provider’s website.

For more, check out the best VPNs, learn what to know about geo-blocking and find out how to turn off a VPN on your iPhone.