Pixel 7 and later phones have access to the optimised, built-in virtual private network (VPN) by Google at no extra cost in countries where VPN is available.
Use VPN by Google (Pixel 7 and later)
Who can use VPN by GoogleA personal Google Account or Workspace account is required to connect the VPN. Please note that Workspace administrators may restrict access to the VPN.
The VPN may not work on your Pixel if:
- There isn’t an available Internet connection on your phone. Check your network settings and troubleshoot connection issues.
- You're in a country or region that isn't supported. Check where the VPN is available.
- Your Google Account isn’t eligible. Certain supervised accounts, like a child’s account, aren't eligible.
- Your device is rooted or isn’t up to date with security updates.
- Your bootloader is unlocked.
- You run a beta or other unofficial version of Android.
When you use the VPN, you can't change your IP location to view online content that isn't available in your region.
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap Network and Internet
VPN
- Review the disclosures and requested permissions.
- If you agree, tap Use VPN.
Tip: The VPN will check your phone for apps that are associated with your mobile operator and suggest that you exclude them from the VPN. You can change this setting later.
Stay private on VPN
To help protect your privacy, the VPN automatically connects each time that you join a network. When the VPN is connected, at the top of your screen, you’ll find the key 
The VPN hides your data and Internet activity from hackers on public Wi-Fi or unfamiliar Internet providers. This keeps you safe from websites and app cookies that can track your location or the websites that you visit.
- Austria
- Australia
- Belgium
- Canada
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- Norway
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom
- United States
To confirm that your Google Account is associated with one of these countries, check the country listed next to 'Country version' on Google’s Terms of Service page.
If you have the VPN turned on and your country or region is listed above, the VPN still works when you travel to other countries or regions. If a country or region isn't listed below, the VPN won't work when you travel to that location.
If the VPN is turned on, and your home country or region is listed above, you can use the VPN when you travel. When you travel outside your home country or region, the VPN still works in the locations listed below. If a country or region isn’t listed below, the VPN won’t work when you travel to that location.
Tip: All countries or regions listed in the above section, 'Where VPN is available', also support travel functionality.
- Åland Islands
- Albania
- Algeria
- American Samoa
- Andorra
- Anguilla
- Antarctica
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Aruba
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Benin
- Bermuda
- Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bouvet Island
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Cabo Verde
- Cameroon
- Cayman Islands
- Chad
- Christmas Island
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Colombia
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Croatia
- Curaçao
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji
- French Polynesia
- French Southern Territories
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Guadeloupe
- Guatemala
- Guernsey
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- Heard Island and McDonald Islands
- Holy See
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Isle of Man
- Israel
- Jamaica
- Jersey
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Liberia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Martinique
- Mauritania
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- Nauru
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niue
- Norfolk Island
- Panama
- Pitcairn
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico
- Republic of North Macedonia
- Romania
- Saint Barthélemy
- Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
- Saint Martin (French)
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- San Marino
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Sint Maarten (Dutch)
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen
- Tajikistan
- Togo
- Tokelau
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Türkiye
- Turkmenistan
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- United States Minor Outlying Islands
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Virgin Islands (British)
- Virgin Islands (US)
- Wallis and Futuna
- Western Sahara
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap Network and Internet
- In the connection status panel, tap Pause VPN.
Tip: The VPN will remain paused until your device connects to a different network. (Example: If you pause the VPN on the mobile network when you’re not at home, the VPN will reconnect to your home Wi-Fi when you return.)
Use Quick Settings to pause VPN
You can create a tile to get to the pause settings faster:
- Open Quick Settings. Learn how to find Quick Settings.
- Add the 'VPN by Google' tile.
You may choose to have the VPN pause automatically on certain networks, such as your mobile network.
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap Network and Internet
- Tap on Pause VPN on selected networks.
- Tap Add
next to the network that you would like to pause the VPN on.
Tip:
- To exclude specific Wi-Fi networks, you must give the VPN permission to use your location.
- To stop automatic pause, return to this screen and tap Bin
.
You may choose to exclude certain apps from VPN. For example, you may exclude a multiplayer game if you don’t want latency from the VPN to impact your game play.
By adding an app to this list, its traffic will no longer be protected by the VPN.
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap Network and Internet
- Tap Exclude selected apps.
- In the list of apps, tap Add
Tip: If you no longer want to exclude traffic from a specific app from the VPN, simply return to this screen and tap Bin 
Some mobile operator and Internet service provider apps require use of their network. When these apps are excluded from the VPN, they'll use the IP address that your operator assigns to you. This helps the apps function properly.
VPN by Google gives you the option to be notified when operator apps are installed. You can decide whether or not to exclude them from the VPN. When you first turn on the VPN and 'Use VPN on mobile network', this option is automatically allowed.
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap Network and Internet
- Tap Exclude selected apps.
- Turn on Exclude operator apps.
- Review the list of installed operator apps and tap Exclude.
If no operator apps are already installed when you activate this feature, you’ll be notified and prompted to exclude them when they're installed in the future. Learn how to exclude exempted apps from the VPN.
To deactivate the VPN:
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap Network and Internet
- Turn off Use VPN.
While VPNs are designed to provide an extra layer of protection for your online traffic, any VPN may:
- Increase your data costs, based on your Internet data plan.
- Reduce Internet speeds.
- Increase Internet connection latency.
- Reduce your phone’s battery life.
Some mobile operator data plans support special exemptions for certain apps, including video and audio streaming services, so that they don’t count against your data allowance. The VPN will interfere with your operator's ability to recognise that traffic. If you have this type of plan, you can set the VPN to exclude the exempted apps from the VPN connection.
Some websites and apps may behave differently or not function correctly when the VPN is connected. You may choose to exclude those apps from the VPN or temporarily pause the VPN to address these issues.
Data that isn’t protected by the VPN
Not all network data from your phone is protected by the VPN. Examples of data that isn't protected by the VPN include:
- Tethering traffic
- This includes USB and Wi-Fi hotspot
- Push notifications
- Wi-Fi calling and other IMS services
- Work profile app traffic
- This applies if a work profile is configured on your phone.
- Data traffic from an app that routes traffic directly over the Wi-Fi or a mobile connection
Data collected by Google
Google will never use your VPN connection to track, collect or sell your online activity. Your network traffic and your IP address aren’t associated with your account or identity. However, Google’s VPN service performs some minimum aggregate logging to ensure quality of service. Learn more about minimum aggregate logging.
Some anonymous data about VPN usage on your device may also be sent to Google, including how it impacts battery life. You can control this by going to Settings 
While VPN secures your device connection, it doesn’t affect how Google collects data when you use other Google products and services. For example, Chrome may continue to store your Chrome browsing history associated with your Google Account. To manage the types of data saved to your account, you can review your Google Account's privacy controls.