How Do I Turn Off VPN on My iPhone?

If you want to save a few extra percentages of battery life, are setting up a new internet connection, or have troubleshooting network issues, you might want to (temporarily!) turn off your VPN.

If you’re wondering ‘how do I turn off VPN on my iPhone?’, read on.

How To Turn Off VPN Through Settings

While it’s recommended to keep your VPN on at all times, there are a few scenarios when it’s better to turn it off. 

The main reason why you might want to turn off your VPN is that it uses more data when browsing the web and drains more battery, (though not excessively) than usual, especially if it’s active in the background all the time.

One way to disconnect the VPN on your iPhone is through the Settings app. 

1. Go to the General tab in the Settings.

2. Scroll down to find the VPN option.
3. Tap the slider switch.

This will turn off VPN on iPhone 11 and newer versions as well.*

*The steps may vary from one iOS version to another.

Worth noting: Once you tap on the slider switch, the VPN will immediately disconnect from the tunnel. If you want to turn it back on, keep in mind it might take some time for the VPN to connect. It’s best to give it a few seconds and wait for the connection status to change before you start browsing to ensure that your data is encrypted and private.

How to Turn Off VPN On iPhone Through a VPN App

The simplest way to disable your VPN is directly through the VPN app on your phone. Although not all VPN apps are the same, most of them have an ‘On/Off’ button on their home screen.

To turn off your VPN via the app:

1. Open the VPN app.
2. Find the ‘On/Off’ button on the home page.
3. Tap the ‘On/Off’ button.

Once that’s done, you’ll get a notification that your VPN is disconnected. 

Worth noting: When disabling the VPN from the app, you might get asked for confirmation. If that’s the case with your VPN provider, all you need to do is tap the ‘Yes’ or ‘Confirm’ button.

Why Does My iPhone Keep Turning On VPN?

There are several reasons why your iPhone is not letting you disable your VPN. It might be the result of an outdated app or enabled features like Trusted Network and Kill Switch.

If your VPN keeps turning on automatically or you simply can’t turn off the VPN on your iPhone, here’s what you can do:

Reinstalled VPN app

Sometimes, reinstalling a VPN app, or even updating it, can reset it to the default settings. 

If you’ve recently reinstalled your VPN app (or it updated automatically), you can disable it either through the Settings menu on your phone or directly from your VPN app. 

An outdated VPN app

An outdated VPN app can cause all sorts of connectivity issues, which are usually caused by bugs. Bugs (and any issues that they may cause with the app) won’t disappear on their own without an update.

To (check whether that’s the case and) update your VPN app:

1. Go to the ‘App Store’
2. Find the ‘Updates’ tab.
3. Check if the VPN app you are using is ‘Pending’ an update.
4. Click ‘Update.

Once the update is done, you should be able to disable the VPN on your iPhone.

Change your Network Settings 

If there are no recent or pending updates, you may have to reset your network settings.

To do so:

1. Go to the ‘General’ tab in your ‘Settings’ menu.
2. Tap ‘Reset’ and select the ‘Reset Network Settings’ options

Resetting your network settings will delete any configuration settings you have to their default settings. This will turn off the VPN on your iPhone as well.

Worth noting: Resetting network settings will not only turn off the VPN on your iPhone but will also remove any saved WiFi networks and passwords, and other network settings on your device.

Kill Switch feature

Most modern VPNs have a ‘Kill Switch’ feature that will automatically disconnect your device from any internet connection when the VPN connection drops. This prevents your location, identity, and IP address from inadvertently being exposed. 

In case the VPN connection fails, the Kill Switch will automatically turn your VPN back on when

your internet connection is back.

To disable this feature:

1. Open the VPN app on your iPhone.
2. Find the Settings tab in the menu.
3. Look for the Kill Switch feature and open it.
4. Tap the slider to turn it off.

Some of the VPNs that have a Kill Switch feature are:

• Surfshark
• ExpressVPN
• NordVPN
• ProtonVPN
• CyberGhost
• Private Internet Access VPN

Do I Need a VPN On My iPhone?

Although mobile malware attacks are more common against Androids than iPhones, Apple’s devices are not entirely immune to threats. 

Some of the reasons you might want to consider getting a VPN include:

• Bypass censored content: Certain countries (like China) block access to certain sites and domains. If you happen to be in such a country, you can easily bypass any restrictions with a good VPN.

• Privately browse the internet: An active VPN encrypts your traffic and increases your online security, making it harder for third parties and cybercriminals to break in and steal your data.

• Using public Wi-Fi networks: Using a public Wi-Fi network makes you an easy target for cyberattacks, especially those that use unencrypted HTTP. A VPN provides an extra layer of protection by rerouting and encrypting your internet connection.

• Blocking Ads: Although VPNs don’t block ads by default, most VPNs come with an ad block feature that stops annoying ads and ad trackers.

Bottom Line

If you’re wondering ‘how do I turn off VPN on my iPhone’, there are two main ways to do that: either through the Settings menu on your iPhone or directly from the VPN app. Disabling your VPN won’t take you more than a minute, but make sure you turn it back on before you start browsing the web or connect to a public Wi-Fi.