User Guide: Adblock Plus VPN | Adblock Plus Help Center

What is a VPN?

Every time you go online, your device exchanges information with the websites you visit. That information can include which sites you’re visiting and where you’re located. Your internet service provider (ISP) and other third parties can see and collect this data, sometimes to build a profile of your online activity.

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) secures the connection between your device and the internet. With the VPN turned on, it’s much harder for your ISP or other third parties to see what you’re doing online or to identify your location and IP address.

When is it most useful?

A VPN is especially helpful on networks you don’t control or fully trust, like public Wi-Fi at airports, cafés, and hotels.

You can also connect through a VPN server in another country or region. Websites and online services will then see you as browsing from that server’s location instead of your own.

What a VPN can and can’t do

A VPN is a powerful privacy tool, but it doesn’t protect your privacy in every situation. It makes it harder for others to monitor your online activity, but not impossible. Think of it as an extra layer of security and privacy while you browse.

Purchase a subscription

Adblock Plus VPN is included with Adblock Plus Premium. View plans and pricing.

Once subscribed, install the app on each device you want to use and sign in with the email associated with your purchase. For step-by-step instructions, see Sign in for the device you are using.

Coming Soon: Adblock Plus VPN (Android and Windows)

Open Adblock Plus VPN on your device.
Select Sign in.
Enter the email address associated with your subscription and tap or click Next.
A one-time verification code will be sent to your email. Enter it in the field provided.

Didn’t receive a code? See this article: Having problems unlocking Premium? Look here first!

Connect and disconnect

To connect: Select a server location and tap or click Connect. For the best speed, choose a location close to you.

To disconnect: Select Disconnect at any time.

After connecting or disconnecting, reload any open webpages or apps for the change to take effect.

Not sure if the VPN is active? See How do I know Adblock Plus VPN is working?

VPN settings

These options control how the VPN protects your connection. Find them in Settings.

Protocols

Choose the tunneling protocol used for your VPN connection. Switch protocols if you have trouble connecting on certain networks.

WireGuard: Faster and more efficient. Recommended for most users.
OpenVPN (TCP): Slower, but more reliable, since TCP verifies every packet. More likely to work on networks that block UDP, like some corporate or school networks.
OpenVPN (UDP): Faster, but less reliable on unstable or restrictive networks. Generally the better OpenVPN option to try first.
IKEv2 (Windows only): More compatible with restrictive networks. Try this if WireGuard isn’t connecting.

Not sure which to pick? On Windows, Troubleshoot connection tests every protocol for you.

Allow custom DNS (Windows only)

Use this setting if a firewall, antivirus, or other security app on your computer is blocking the VPN’s DNS resolver and stopping you from connecting.

This setting is only available when ad and tracker blocking is off, because it relies on the VPN’s own DNS to block ads and trackers.

To turn it on:

Turn off Block ads and trackers (see above).
In Settings, toggle Allow custom DNS on.

Allow local network access

Keep your local network accessible while connected to the VPN. When this is on, you can still reach local devices such as printers, shared drives, and local network email clients.

To turn it on or off: Go to Settings and toggle Local Network Access.

Learn more: Connecting to local email and network devices.

Block ads and trackers

Use this option to block ads, trackers, and malware. It works independently of the VPN connection, so you can turn it on or off at any time.

To turn it on or off: Go to Settings and toggle Block ads & trackers

Learn more: How ad blocking works with Adblock Plus VPN

App settings (Windows only)

These options control how the app starts. Find them in Settings.

Launch at startup

Adblock Plus VPN opens automatically when you sign in to Windows. It starts minimized in the system tray, so it won’t interrupt you. To open it, click the Adblock Plus VPN icon in the tray at the bottom right of your screen.

To turn it on or off: Go to Settings and toggle Launch at startup.

Connect at startup

Adblock Plus VPN reconnects to the last location you used every time the app opens.

To turn it on or off: Go to Settings and toggle Connect at startup.

Tip: Turn on both Launch at startup and Connect at startup to be protected from the moment you sign in to Windows.

Troubleshoot connection (Windows only)

Having trouble connecting? The built-in troubleshooter checks your network, tries every VPN protocol, and tells you what to change.

Go to Settings and select Troubleshoot connection.
Click Run diagnostic to start the test.
Wait while the test finishes, then follow the recommendations shown.

Still having trouble? Export the report and send it to our support team. It gives us the details we need to help you faster.

When the test finishes, select Export report.
Save the file to include in your support request.

Log out

Open Adblock Plus VPN on your device.
Go to Settings > Log Out.

Adblock Plus for Safari & Apps (macOS & iOS)

Purchased via Apple?

On iOS: Go to Settings > Manage App Store Subscription and select Restore Purchase.
On macOS: From the Home Screen select Restore Purchases.

Once the app recognizes your Apple subscription, follow these steps to connect your email to your Adblock Plus account:

Open Adblock Plus for Safari & Apps on your device.
Go to Settings > Log In.
Enter the email address you want to associate with your subscription and tap or click Continue.
A one-time verification code will be sent to your email. Enter it in the space provided.

Purchased via Paddle?

Go to Settings > Log In.
Enter the email address associated with your subscription and tap or click Continue.
A one-time verification code will be sent to your email. Enter it in the space provided.

Didn’t receive a code? Please see this article: Having problems unlocking Premium? Look here first!