Online privacy is an issue of utmost importance in our modern times. Anyone serious about their online security would use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to assume anonymity and cover their virtual tracks.
The device you’re using and the Android OS version you’re using will affect which method provides the best results for disabling a virtual private network (VPN) on Android.
How to Disable VPN on Android
On the other hand, there are several ways to disable a VPN on Android.
You must configure your smartphone to use only mobile data networks instead of virtual private networks (VPNs).
What is a VPN?
A VPN is an online security system that provides privacy, security, and anonymity. When you enable a VPN, it reroutes your device’s online traffic through encrypted VPN tunnels. Basically, it hides your online activity from the prying eyes of your Internet Service Provider (ISP), hackers, and even the government. In contrast, when you disable your VPN, your Internet traffic passes through public networks in the clear and therefore unprotected. Disabling your VPN for even a few seconds could expose your online activity, so consider yourself warned.
In the device settings, disable the virtual private network (VPN) service.
Disable VPN on Android
You can disable your VPN directly in the app or in your smartphone’s VPN settings. That is how:
Go to Settings > Network & Internet.
Tap VPN.
Disable VPN.
Disable VPN from Android Settings
Android currently has no native VPN feature. You can turn off the VPN the same way you turned it on, from within the VPN app itself. But Android has a dedicated VPN settings option that hosts all the VPN apps you might have.
- Open Settings and tap Network & Internet.
- Tap Advanced at the bottom.
- Tap VPN.
- Here you will see a list of the VPNs currently attached to your device. To disconnect from the connected VPN, press it.
- Tap Disconnect.
- Your VPN is now offline.
Forget the VPN
Sometimes you may want to clear your VPN settings or just remove it from the list of settings without uninstalling it. To do this, navigate to the same VPN screen and tap on the gear icon next to your VPN.
- Tap Forget VPN.
- Tap Forget when prompted.
- Note that if you re-enable the same VPN, it will reappear on the Settings screen.
Disable VPN from the notification panel
Disabling the VPN is even easier from the notification panel.
Simply swipe down on your Android home screen and tap Stop below your VPN notification.
Disable VPN notifications
Keeping the VPN on is fine, but it would be better if it wasn’t hanging around the notification panel. To permanently disable VPN notifications, you must stop your access to notifications.
- Swipe down to view the notification panel, then touch and hold the VPN notification.
- More options will now be available to you. Tap Turn off notifications.
- Disable your VPN’s access to notifications.
- Alternatively, you can remove notification access for your VPN from your Android settings.
- Open Settings and tap Apps & notifications.
- Tap Notifications.
- Your VPN app should appear under “Recently Sent”. Press it. If it’s not there, tap “View Last 7 Days” and tap the VPN app.
- Here, disable All VPN notifications.
- Now you will not find your VPN in the notification panel.
Disable VPN on macOS
VPN connectivity can be disabled in the app, the macOS network settings, or manually.
Go to System Preferences > Network.
Select your VPN connection in the left panel.
Click Disconnect.
How to disable VPN on iPhone and iOS
Disabling a VPN on your iPhone is easy; it only requires a few taps.
On your iPhone, go to Settings and click General.
Find and select VPN.
Once done, you can now change the VPN status to Not Connected.
Disable VPN in Windows 10, 7, and other versions
With one click, you can disconnect a VPN on Windows. The process may differ per design, but the simple pricing model is the same.
Go to Settings > Network & Internet.
Select VPN from the menu on the left.
Select the VPN connection you want to disable.
Click Disconnect.
How do I get my VPN back to normal mode?
To disable VPN support for your entire connection, go to VPN Properties, Networks tab, “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)” Properties, Advanced, and uncheck “Use default gateway for remote networks”.
Conclusion
Disabling a VPN on Android is a simple process. All you need to do is go to your settings, find the VPN option, and turn it off. This will return your phone to its original state and remove any restrictions that were in place. If you’re still having trouble, there are plenty of resources online that can help you troubleshoot the issue.