Protect your online activity

Important: Data-only SIMs can use VPN by Google only on Pixel 7 and later devices.

VPN by Google, formerly known as the Google Fi VPN, increases your protection from third-party monitoring. With the VPN, you can:

Stream, browse, and download on an automatically encrypted, private connection.
Shield against hackers on unsecure networks like public Wi-Fi.
Prevent websites from using your IP address to find your location.

VPNs use mobile data for automatic encryption and network optimizations. To make sure that you don’t lose connectivity when your Wi-Fi connection is unusable, the VPN moves to a cell network. If you're in the middle of a download, it might continue to download over mobile data. To go back to Wi-Fi, move closer to your router or access point or pick a different network.

When you use a Wi-Fi hotspot, the device that receives the hotspot doesn’t use the VPN unless you separately use a VPN on that device.

VPN by Google increases your data usage.

Turn VPN by Google on or off

Check if your phone is designed for Fi or compatible with Fi.

For Pixel 7 and later:

Important: Your phone must run on Android 15 or higher.

On your device, go to Settings .
Tap Network & internet VPN VPN by Google.
Tap Use VPN.
To check if you’re connected to the VPN, on the status bar, find the VPN key .

You can also:

On your device, open the Google Fi app .
Scroll to “Phone settings.”
Tap Privacy & security Manage VPN in Settings Use VPN.
To check if connected to the VPN, on the status bar, find the VPN key .

For more information, learn how to connect to VPN by Google on your Pixel device.

For other Android phones:

Important: Your phone must run on Android 9 or higher.

On your device, open the Google Fi app .
Scroll to “Phone settings.”
Tap Privacy & security.
Turn Protect your online activity on or off.
In the pop-up, tap Got it OK.
To check if connected to the VPN, on the status bar, find the VPN key .

For iPhones:

Important: Your iPhone must use iOS 13 or higher.

Open the Google Fi app .
Scroll to “Phone settings.”
Tap Privacy & security.
Turn on or off Protect your online activity.
In the pop-up, tap Got it Allow.
Enter your device passcode or fingerprint.
When the status bar shows , you're connected.

If the VPN still isn’t on:

Check internet speed and connection.
Restart your device.

Know when VPN by Google isn't available on iPhone

Important: When you're in a country or region that doesn’t allow the VPN, you get a notification in the Google Fi app.

When the VPN isn't available on your iPhone, you get a notification on the "Privacy & security" page in the Google Fi app. The VPN may not be available if:

Your Wi-Fi or current network blocks VPNs. To fix this problem, connect to a different network.
Servers may experience issues. After the problem is fixed, the VPN restarts automatically.

Know whether VPN is on or off

Android: If the VPN icon is in the status bar, the VPN is on.

iPhone and iPad: If the VPN is in the status bar, the VPN is on.

Turn off another VPN

On Android phones, if you turn on another VPN while VPN by Google is on, VPN by Google automatically turns off. If 2 VPNs try to use the same connection at the same time, you may experience connectivity issues.

To turn off the other VPN on an Android phone:

Go to Settings .
Tap Network & internet VPN.
Tap the active VPN name.

Take action to update your VPN

Some users may be on “Google Fi VPN (Legacy).” To find which VPN you are on, check your Android VPN settings.

If you're on “Google Fi VPN (Legacy)," update your VPN as soon as possible.

To update your VPN, turn the Google Fi VPN off, then back on. Accept permissions for the VPN. Tap Got it Ok.

After you update your VPN, you can remove “Google Fi VPN (Legacy).”

If you have both “VPN by Google” & “Google Fi VPN (Legacy)”

In your Android VPN settings, you may find 2 VPNs named “Google Fi VPN (Legacy)” and “VPN by Google.” Only use “VPN by Google.” The “Google Fi VPN (Legacy)” isn’t supported.

To remove “Google Fi VPN (Legacy),” tap Settings Forget VPN.

Troubleshoot the VPN

Important: For Pixel 7 and later devices, learn how to connect to VPN by Google on your Pixel Device.

VPN connection unavailable or grayed out

1. Check VPN available country and region list

You can’t use the VPN setting outside these countries and regions:

Where the VPN is available for Pixel 7 and later

Austria
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Mexico
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
UK
US
US Minor Outlying Islands
Virgin Islands

If VPN by Google isn't available in your location, you get a notification.

Where the VPN is available for others

Austria
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Mexico
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
UK
US
US Minor Outlying Islands
Virgin Islands

If VPN by Google isn't available in your location, you get a notification.

2. Check device for operating system (OS) updates

VPN by Google is only available on Android OS 9 or up or iOS 13 or up.

Learn how to check for Android updates.

Learn how to check for iPhone or iPad updates.

Apps, messages, or device features don’t work when the VPN is on

If your device can’t perform these functions while the VPN by Google is on, try to restart the VPN:

Send calls, texts, or emails
Access Wi-Fi
Run apps correctly

To restart the VPN:

Turn off the VPN.
Repeat steps to turn on the VPN.
Check if the issue is fixed.
If the issue persists, contact Google Fi support.

Force apps to connect outside the VPN

Most apps connect through the VPN when it’s on. But, some apps can bypass the VPN so they can work correctly, like smart home device apps and streaming services.

If a streaming service app doesn’t work with the Google Fi VPN on but other apps do, check if it’s a VPN issue. Check if these are both true:

The status bar VPN key is displayed.
The streaming error specifies a “VPN” or ”anonymous proxy” issue, like “It seems like you’re using an anonymous proxy or VPN.”

If both circumstances are true, make an exception to force the app to send its traffic outside the VPN:

Open the Google Fi app .
Scroll to “Phone settings.”
Tap Privacy & security Show details Manage advanced settings.
Turn off Exceptions allowed.
Tap Add an exception.
Select the app that you don’t want to use the VPN.
- If you make an exception, the app always sends traffic outside the VPN.
If the streaming service still doesn’t work, turn off the VPN.
If the issue persists, contact Google Fi support.

These types of apps and connections are always exempt from the VPN:

Apps that are critical to provide reliable Google Fi service.
Your device's connection to your smart home devices and other traffic over your local network.
Traffic over networks that aren't Wi-Fi or cell networks.
Connections to your tethered devices.
Actions you take on your phone while in Airplane mode.
Some Google services and apps installed by your device manufacturer have system privileges that can bypass VPNs, such as Android or Apple notifications to your device.
Your secondary profiles on Android devices. The VPN is only active for your primary profile.
VPN by Google doesn’t support custom DNS lookups. You can’t do external or local DNS lookups.

Important: With or without a VPN, an app can track what you do on that app. Make sure you trust an app before you download it.

Related resources

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