What Does VPN Stand for on the iPhone 11? - Solve Your Tech (2024)

by Matthew Burleigh

As you explore your iPhone and change your settings, you will occasionally encounter a setting or an option with which you aren’t familiar.

This could be something where the setting itself isn’t very descriptive, or maybe a little ambiguous, but you might also find options that include terms you don’t know.

One such setting can be found on the Settings > General menu, and is called VPN. A VPN is a virtual private network, and allows you to connect to the Internet through an encrypted tunnel. This serves the purpose of hiding your IP address, as well as making it more difficult for a third party to view the data that you send over the Internet.

There are many companies that provide VPN services (nordVPN is a popular one. You can find out more about them here), and typically require a monthly or yearly subscription. You can also set up a VPN on your home network, or your workplace may have a VPN that they might require you to use if you are using your phone for work.

How to Set Up a VPN on an iPhone 11

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Choose General.
  3. Select VPN.
  4. Touch Add VPN Configuration.
  5. Enter your VPN details, then tap Done.

Our guide continues below with additional information on setting up a VPN on an iPhone 11, including pictures of these steps.

Where Do I Set Up a VPN on My iPhone? (Guide with Pictures)

The steps in this article were performed on an iPhone 11 in iOS 13.3. Note that you are going to need to know the details for your VPN before you complete these steps.

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

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Step 2: Select the General option.

What Does VPN Stand for on the iPhone 11? - Solve Your Tech (2)

Step 3: Touch the VPN button.

What Does VPN Stand for on the iPhone 11? - Solve Your Tech (3)

Step 4: Tap the Add VPN Configuration button.

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Step 5: Enter all of the information for the VPN, then tap the Done button at the top-right of the screen.

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Our tutorial continues below with additional discussion on using a VPN on an iPhone 11.

What is VPN on iPhone 11?

The VPN section on your iPhone’s Settings menu, as discussed above, is the same as it is on other iPhone models, as well as many computers or other smartphones, such as Android.

A VPN can be a good thing to start using if you have serious privacy concerns and would like to hide your location from places that you connect to on the Internet.

Once you have added a VPN configuration to your iPhone you will be able to select it and connect through that VPN by going to Settings > General > VPN.

Note that many VPNs will give you the ability to connect to the Internet through a different country. In some cases this won’t affect you very much, but it can cause some unintended problems, especially if you are streaming video. Rights and availability for streaming videos can vary significantly between different countries, meaning that some videos aren’t available everywhere. for example, Netflix’s catalog can vary significantly from country to country.

As some people take advantage of this to view videos that aren’t available in their country, many of the more popular video streaming services have mechanisms in place to detect VPN usage and block access.

You can have multiple VPN configurations on your iPhone 11. So if you have a personal VPN that you use to give you a more secure connection on public wi fi networks and you have a work VPN on your iPhone then you can easily choose which VPN connection to use based on your current situation.

Since you are sending Internet traffic through a VPN server when you connect with a VPN service or VPN app, you are often at the mercy of the Internet service providers for those VPN providers when you make the connection. This means that even if you have a strong Internet connection with your local Internet service provider you may see significantly worse performance when you connect through a VPN client.

Learn how to find your IP address on an iPhone 11 if you are troubleshooting an issue and need that information.

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What Does VPN Stand for on the iPhone 11? - Solve Your Tech (6)

Matthew Burleigh

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.

After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.

His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.

Read his full bio here.

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What Does VPN Stand for on the iPhone 11? - Solve Your Tech (2024)

FAQs

What Does VPN Stand for on the iPhone 11? - Solve Your Tech? ›

VPN is an abbreviation of Virtual Private Network, a Software as a Service (SaaS) product that encrypts your online activity, adding a layer of protection for anything being transmitted.

Should VPN be on or off on my iPhone? ›

You should use a VPN on your iPhone because it further ensures your smartphone's security, keeps your online activities private and prevents IP-based tracking. As an added benefit, VPNs help you access your favorite content from your home country whenever you travel abroad.

What is VPN on my iPhone 11? ›

A “VPN on an iPhone” means a virtual private network you use on your iPhone to securely connect to the internet. A VPN service routes your traffic via remote VPN servers, hiding your IP address, so neither your internet provider nor other third parties can snoop on your online activity.

Why is VPN appearing on my iPhone? ›

The most common reason why your iPhone VPN might keep turning on is because it's set to connect automatically. If this setting is enabled, you'll need to disable it before you can turn off the VPN manually.

Is it safe to use VPN on iPhone? ›

Not all iPhone VPNs are safe to use, but if you got it from the Apple App Store, it's unlikely that it will give your phone a virus. That's because iOS devices don't need antivirus software, which is why there's no antivirus for iPads or iPhones. As long as you don't jailbreak your iPhone, you are safe from viruses.

Is it OK to leave VPN on all the time on iPhone? ›

Should I leave my VPN on all the time? Yes, you should leave your VPN on all the time. VPNs offer the best online security, so keeping it on will protect you against data leaks and cyberattacks, especially while you're using public Wi-Fi. It can also safeguard against intrusive snoopers such as ISPs or advertisers.

Is VPN free on iPhone? ›

PrivadoVPN, Proton VPN, Windscribe, Hotspot Shield, and Atlas VPN are some of the most trustworthy providers that offer completely free VPN apps for iPhone. You can use their free plan for as long as you want. They do not cost a single penny—and they don't ask for your credit card details, either.

Do iPhones have VPN built in? ›

There's no built-in VPN, but you can add free VPN configuration for iPhones in your phone settings: Select Settings. Select General. Choose VPN & Device Management.

How do I know if I am connected to a VPN? ›

You'll know you're connected to a VPN in the following two ways:
  1. On the VPN settings page, the VPN connection name will display Connected underneath it.
  2. On the taskbar, a blue shield will display when you're connected to a recognized VPN.

Does VPN slow down the internet? ›

A VPN will slow down your internet connection. With a premium VPN (Virtual Private Network), that slowdown should be unnoticeable. But no matter whether it is paid or free, a VPN will slow down your connection because it needs some of that bandwidth for encryption purposes. And without encryption, a VPN is just a VN.

How to check if iPhone is using VPN? ›

To find out, search within settings for these words: VPN, profile, firewall, and filter.
  1. On iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app, then swipe down to reveal the search field.
  2. On Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings (or System Preferences), then use the search field in the corner of the window.
May 20, 2024

How do I stop my iPhone from automatically connecting to VPN? ›

Manage VPN Profiles:

Go to Settings > General > VPN on your iPhone, and check the VPN profiles. Adjust the settings to prevent automatic connections.

How to disable VPN on iPhone 11? ›

How to turn off a VPN on your iPhone or iPad
  1. Head to Settings.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap VPN & Device Management.
  4. Tap VPN.
  5. Toggle Status to Not Connected.
May 9, 2024

Do I need VPN on iPhone 11? ›

Having a VPN an iPhone ensures its security and privacy. Not only does this help protect sensitive data such as personal details, bank accounts, and credit card information, but it minimizes the ability of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and third parties to track activity and create targeted advertising.

How do I delete a VPN on my iPhone? ›

To remove VPN settings installed by a configuration profile, go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, select the configuration profile, then tap Remove Profile. This also removes other settings and accounts provided by the profile.

Is VPN good or bad? ›

Yes, VPNs are good for businesses. They can help keep your data and activity private, and they can also offer several other benefits, such as the ability to connect more devices, user management, remote employee protection, public Wi-Fi security, better customer service and more server locations.

What happens when I turn on VPN on my iPhone? ›

What does VPN do on iPhone? The main function of a VPN setting on an iPhone is to secure data sent to and from the device and ensure all web activity remains private.

Do I really need a VPN on my phone? ›

While it isn't essential, it is highly recommended. A VPN's main purpose is to protect your privacy online, stopping advertisers, threat actors, and internet service providers (ISPs) from tracking, collecting, and selling your data.

Should I turn off VPN on my phone? ›

Should I Run a VPN on My iPhone or Android Smartphone? Yes, You Should! A VPN (virtual private network) is a service that provides a secure Internet connection by using private servers in remote locations. All data traveling between your computer, smartphone or tablet and the VPN server is securely encrypted.

Does a VPN block your location? ›

VPNs can hide your IP address, location and online activities from ISPs and potential eavesdroppers, providing a significant level of privacy and security. However, they can't protect against cookies, website-level tracking, malware or the information you voluntarily share online.

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