Set up VPN on Android devices

This article helps IT admins configure virtual private networks (VPNs) on Android devices. Some older versions of Android don't support all the features mentioned here. To check your Android version, see Check & update your Android version.

Android VPN options

VPNs allow devices that aren’t physically on a network to securely access the network.

Android includes a built-in (PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, and IPSec) VPN client. Devices running Android 4.0 and later also support VPN apps. You might need a VPN app (instead of built-in VPN) for the following reasons:

To configure the VPN using an enterprise mobility management (EMM) console.
To offer VPN protocols that the built-in client doesn’t support.
To help people connect to a VPN service without complex configuration.
To run a separate VPN for the personal profile or work profile.

To get help with the built-in client, see Connect to a virtual private network (VPN) on Android.

EMM config

You can configure many VPNs using an EMM console—confirm that your VPN and EMM combination supports this. Using an EMM means that the people using the devices don’t have to change complex settings. EMMs often support the following config:

Disabling the VPN system settings so that somebody using the device can’t change the config.
Configuring the VPN network connection settings, including installing authentication certificates.
Adding a list of apps that are allowed to use the VPN or a list of apps that can’t use the VPN.

Always-on VPN

Android can start a VPN service when the device boots, and keep it running while the device or work profile is on. This feature is called always-on VPN and is available in Android 7.0 or higher. To learn more, see Edit Always-on VPN settings.

Block non-VPN connections

In many EMM consoles (and in the Android Settings app), you can block connections that don’t go through the VPN. To force all network traffic through an always-on VPN, follow these steps on the device:

Open your device's Settings app.
Tap Network & internet Advanced VPN.
Next to the VPN that you want to change, tap Settings.
Switch Block connections without VPN to on.

To block non-VPN connections in your EMM console, see your EMM provider’s documentation.

Allow bypassing the VPN

If your VPN supports it, you can allow apps to bypass the VPN and select their own network. Some special-purpose apps might need to use a specific network, such as cellular or Wi-Fi. You can configure this option in your EMM console or directly in the VPN app.

Per-app VPN

Many VPN apps can filter which installed apps are allowed to send traffic through the VPN connection. You can create either an allowed list, or, a disallowed list, but not both. If you don’t create a list, the system sends all network traffic through the VPN.

You normally configure per-app VPN in your EMM console or directly in the VPN app.

Allowed apps

You can choose which apps are allowed to use the VPN using an allowed list. If you allow one or more apps, then only the apps in the list use the VPN. All other apps (that aren’t in the list) use the system networks as if the VPN isn’t running.

When you also turn on Block connections without VPN, then only apps in the allowed list have network access.

Disallowed apps

You can select which apps you don’t want to use the VPN by creating a disallowed list. Network traffic of disallowed apps uses system networking as if the VPN wasn’t running—all other apps use the VPN.

When you also turn on Block connections without VPN, then these disallowed apps lose network access.

Google Play traffic

You might want to explicitly include or exclude Google Play traffic from your VPN if traffic is metered. Here are the Google Play app packages that you’d need to allow or disallow:

com.android.packageinstaller
com.android.vending
com.google.android.gms
com.google.android.packageinstaller

Restrict system settings

If your EMM supports it, you can prevent device users from changing system VPN settings. In some versions of Android, this restriction stops an always-on VPN from starting:

Android version	Administration	Behavior when restricted
5.0	Fully managed devices	VPN app doesn’t start.
6.0	Fully managed devices and work profile	VPN app doesn’t start.
7.0 or higher	Fully managed devices and work profile	Always-on VPN app starts if set by device policy controller. Other VPN apps don’t start.

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