How to connect to a VPN on your Mac
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You went ahead and decided to get a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service and chose one of the best VPN service providers that suits your needs. What now? You call him, that’s what! Here’s how to do it on your Mac.
How does a VPN provider require you to connect to their servers?
There are two main ways to connect to your VPN service provider. Either using macOS’s built-in networking framework or using a VPN provider’s connection app.
How to connect to a VPN if no third-party app is provided
- Click on Apple icon in the upper-right corner of your Mac’s screen.
- Click System Preferences.
- click network.
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click “+”.
Source: iMore
- Choose VPN From the dropdown menu.
- select file VPN type Provided by your VPN service provider. In our example, we are using L2TP over IPSec.
- write in Service name Easy to recognize when you want to call.
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click Creates.
Source: iMore
- write in file future address That VPN service is provided by you. It may be in the form of an IP address or a hostname.
- write in file account name (Also provided by your VPN).
- click Authentication settings. The type of VPN encryption your VPN provider uses will determine the type of authentication settings you will need to enter.
- select file User authentication The method given to you by your VPN provider and enter the relevant details. In our example, we will use password.
- select file Device authentication Required by your VPN provider and enter the relevant details. In our example, we use a file Shared secret.
-
click OK.
Source: iMore
- Optionally, you can check Show VPN status in menu bar If you want to be able to quickly enable and disable your VPN connection from your desktop.
- click advanced.
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Check Send all traffic over a VPN connection To be able to encrypt all your internet access through the VPN provider. You can check out the pros and cons here.
Source: iMore
- click OK.
- click Progressing.
- click Connection To start your VPN connection.
Source: iMore
How to connect to a VPN through your VPN provider app
Several VPN service providers like NordVPN, IPVanish, TunnelBear, ExpressVPN and more offer apps that you can install, which will automatically setup your VPN settings and give you easy access to start/stop your VPN connection. In most cases, you will simply be asked to install the app and enter your account credentials, after which you are good to go. In the screenshots below, we show the effectiveness in choosing a VPN server in different parts of the world using the PIA service application.
Source: iMore
Other sources
If you’d like more information about VPNs, VPN service providers, or simply want more details about how VPNs work, our friends at Android Central have a VPN Hub with lots of great resources available.
any questions?
If you’re anything like me (and if you’ve read our series of VPN and macOS Server articles so far), privacy and security are high on your priority list. Now that you’re browsing more securely, let us know which service you chose and why in the comments section below!
Related Resources
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:
1.Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).
2.Protect your online security and enhance your online privacy when you are abroad.
We do not support or condone illegal or harmful use of VPN services. Paid pirated content is not endorsed or approved by Future Publishing.
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