Installing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an important security step to take with any PC or Laptop. Not only can you access streaming services from abroad, but a VPN also protects your privacy. We explain how to set up a VPN on Windows 11 plus we also reveal which are the best VPNs for Windows 11.

Windows 11 made some much-needed changes to the menus and user interface, but this has, unfortunately, made it slightly more difficult to find certain options. This is to be expected, though: after all, network settings have remained in more or less the same place since Windows XP.

If you ever set up a VPN on Windows 10, this process will be very familiar. That’s because the VPN configuration settings themselves haven’t really changed in the new version. It’s just a matter of knowing where to find them, and which options to check. On the plus side, Windows 11 has replaced the old Action Center with a quick-access panel that lets you turn your VPN on and off without having to dig through the system settings.

Ready to get started? Read on to find out everything you’ll ever need to know about Windows 11 VPN configuration.

Easiest option: simply install a dedicated VPN app

If you don’t feel like setting up a VPN manually, you don’t have to. The vast majority of major VPNs have a Windows app, and these tend to offer features that the default Windows setup doesn’t support. Chief among these is a kill switch, which helps ensure that you never accidentally browse the internet unprotected.

Here’s how to use a VPN app on Windows 11:

  • Begin by registering with a reputable VPN provider. We recommend NordVPN, although Surfshark and ExpressVPN are great options as well.
  • Download the Windows app from your VPN’s website.
  • Run the installer then once you’re all set up, log in.
  • Now, simply connect to a server in your preferred location. Many VPNs place a quick-access icon in your system tray so that you can connect (or disconnect) without having to open the app itself.

How to manually configure a VPN connection on Windows 11

Before we begin, some good news: if you upgraded from Windows 10 and chose to keep your files and apps, any previously-configured connections should still be present. If, however, you’re on a fresh Windows 11 installation, you can create a new VPN connection in a few easy steps:

There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn’t right for you and you’ll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.

  • Before we begin, you’ll have to find the details of the VPN server you’d like to use. Usually, you can log into your provider’s website and find these fairly easily, but if all else fails, simply ask customer support where these details are located.
  • Hit the Windows key in the bottom-left of your keyboard, then type “Settings”, without quotation marks. Press Enter.
  • Maximize the window if it isn’t already. This should reveal a side panel with additional settings categories. Click on Network & Internet.
  • Choose the VPN option, then click the big blue button labeled Add VPN on the following page
  • There’s only one provider, but that’s alright. Make sure the VPN provider box is set to Windows (built-in), then enter a name for your connection in the box below
  • Windows 11 really streamlines the setup process
  • Enter the name or address of your server in the second text box. This will either be numbers separated by periods (such as “111.111.111.111”) or an URL-like string (such as “us123.nordvpn.com”).
  • Ensure Type of sign-in info is set to Username and password.
  • Enter your VPN username and password into the respective areas, then click Save.

You should notice that the VPN connection you’ve just created shows up in the VPN settings page. If you click on it, an Advanced options button will appear. This will allow you to edit properties such as your username, password, server address, and preferred connection protocol. Unless you’ve mistyped something, though, you should be good to go.

Windows 11 really streamlines the setup process

Optional: add your VPN to quick settings for easier access

Obviously, if you intend to use your VPN regularly, it’s a little inconvenient to have to dive into the system settings all the time. Luckily, thanks to Windows 11’s quick settings, we don’t have to.

  • Click the internet connection icon on your taskbar to bring up the quick settings window.
  • Right-click on an empty space, select Edit quick settings, then click Add.
  • Choose VPN at the bottom of the list and finally, click Done.
  • You should now be able to connect to your VPN in seconds by opening quick settings, clicking VPN, and hitting Connect.

How to share a VPN connection in Windows 11

Not all devices are as well-supported as Windows PCs. Games consoles and some Smart TVs, for instance, simply don’t support VPN apps. You could install a VPN on your router and reroute their traffic that way, but this is a pretty involved process where a lot can go wrong. Instead, it’s much easier to simply share your Windows VPN connection. We’ll walk you through the process step-by-step:

  • Press the Windows key and type “Mobile hotspot” without the quotation marks and hit Enter.
  • Toggle the Mobile hotspot option on.
  • Make sure the Share my internet connection from and Share over options are both set to WiFi. You could conceivably use an Ethernet connection but you’d have to have your other device connected via a cable at all times, which isn’t exactly convenient.
  • Setting up a wireless hotspot is fairly simple too
  • Click the Edit button to give your hotspot a name and password before clicking Save.
  • Hit the Windows key again. This time, type “View network connections” and press Enter.
  • Almost done! Identify which local network is the hotspot you just created (it’ll say “Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter”). Remember the name of the local network since we’ll need this in a second.
  • We test a lot of VPNs. Hopefully it’s a little easier to find the hotspot you’ve created…
  • Find the VPN you just created and right-click it. Select Properties, move across to the Sharing tab, and check the box marked Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection while unchecking Allow other network users to control or disable the shared internet connection.
  • This is what will allow our other devices to use the network
  • Choose the local network you just created in the drop-down list, then click the OK button.
  • Connect your Windows 11 PC to the VPN.
  • Finally, connect your other device to the hotspot you just created. All traffic from this device is now routed through the same VPN server that your PC is connected to.

Setting up a wireless hotspot is fairly simple too

We test a lot of VPNs. Hopefully it’s a little easier to find the hotspot you’ve created…

This is what will allow our other devices to use the network

Luckily, there are a few reputable providers (such as Tunnelbear and Hotspot Shield) that have a free tier, plus plenty of others that include a money-back guarantee, allowing you to try them for free and claim a refund if unsatisfied.

To begin with, neither a proxy server nor Smart DNS service encrypts and obfuscates your traffic like a VPN does. This makes it relatively easy for network administrators, ISPs, or streaming platforms to identify and blacklist these services. 

Additionally, VPNs reroute data from all of your apps, while proxies only affect browser traffic. Smart DNS services, meanwhile, are usually only designed to access a handful of specific websites or apps. In other words, only a VPN has the device-wide security needed for you to torrent, game, and stream privately.

Perhaps you’ve brought your laptop on vacation abroad and can’t access your usual services due to regional restrictions. In that case, you could simply tell the VPN to send your data through a server in your home country, which would let you use platforms from back home as normal. 

Unfortunately, Windows 11’s VPN configuration options don’t allow you to enable this feature (although Android does). On the plus side, any VPN worth its salt has a Windows app that includes a kill switch, so you might want to use this instead of setting up a connection yourself.