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