How To Set Up A VPN For Windows 7, 8, Or 10
Need a VPN for Windows?
This tutorial guide will walk you through the best way to set up ExpressVPN Version 6.x for Windows in your PC or laptop.
Please be aware that this app requires Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10.
Prefer manual setup? See the instructions for manual setup on Windows 10 and Windows 7 and 8.
Jump to section
Download the app
Get your activation code
Install the app
Set up ExpressVPN
Connect into a VPN server location
Disconnect on the VPN server location
Choose some other VPN server location
Switch to some other VPN protocol
Launch and connect ExpressVPN on startup
Use the VPN Speed Test
Use Connection Per App (split tunneling)
Use IPv6 Leak protection
Use the ExpressVPN browser extension
Uninstall the app
Download the app
Open the Welcome Email you received once you signed up for ExpressVPN. Click the link within the email.
If you can't find the hyperlink, register to your account here.
Once you might have clicked the link inside the welcome email or signed into the website, click Download for Windows. This will start the download to your app.
Do not close your window! You will need it for step.
Get your activation code
In order to utilize ExpressVPN on your own Windows computer, you should have your activation code. Let’s copy it for a clipboard.
To copy your activation code on the clipboard, go through the copy code icon inside the top right corner with the box containing the code. You will be inspired to provide it later.
Install the app
Locate and double-select the download file on your pc.
The setup process will start with this Welcome screen. Click Install.
A pop-up dialogue may ask you, “Do you need to allow this app for making changes in your device?” Click Yes.
Please wait as you move the app will be installed with your PC. During installation, you may be motivated to close any running cases of ExpressVPN. Click OK to seal ExpressVPN and proceed together with the installation.
You will also need to set up the ExpressVPN TAP driver as part in the app installation process. When the truth is Windows Security screen for ExpressVPN Network adapters, click Install.
You are going to be notified once the installation is complete. The app might launch automatically.
Click Close to exit the Setup Wizard and launch ExpressVPN.
You could also launch ExpressVPN by seeking the ExpressVPN shortcut on the desktop. Double-click on the app icon to produce ExpressVPN.
Set up ExpressVPN
To begin the setup process, click Sign In.
On the ExpressVPN Setup screen, paste your activation code. This is the code you found earlier. You can paste it by pressing Ctrl + V, or right-clicking the rectangular field and clicking Paste. Then click Sign In.
You have the option of launching ExpressVPN on startup. To launch ExpressVPN once you start Windows, click Allow.
You may choose to anonymously share analytics about your VPN connections to aid improve ExpressVPN. To share analytics, click Allow. ExpressVPN isn't going to collect your private data and anonymizes it before it reaches ExpressVPN servers.
Congratulations! You are now able to access ExpressVPN’s vast network of server locations.
Connect into a VPN server location
To connect to some VPN server location, go through the ON Button. By default, ExpressVPN will suggest the positioning that provides the perfect experience for you personally, called Smart Location.
Once you observe the VPN is ON message within the app screen, you can start surfing with freedom and security!
Note: A single ExpressVPN subscription can be utilized simultaneously on three devices, no matter platform. If you try to utilize more than three devices simultaneously one subscription, you will notice the below screen:
Disconnect on the VPN server location
To disconnect on the VPN server location, select the ON Button even though the VPN is on.
You knows you are disconnected whenever you see the “VPN is OFF” message.
Choose an alternative VPN server location
To choose some other VPN server location, visit CHOOSE LOCATION to access their email list of VPN locations.To connect to your server location, click it, then click on the ON Button. Alternatively, you may connect by double-clicking the placement.
The number of VPN locations features three tabs: Recommended, All, and Favorites.
The Recommended tab teaches you ExpressVPN’s top picks available for you to get connected to.
The All tab lists the VPN server locations by region. You can expand and collapse the lists by tapping the triangular arrowheads.
The Favorites tab has two sections. “Recently Connected” shows these most recent locations you linked with. “Favorites” shows the locations you've got saved as favorites by clicking the star icon near to their names.
You may also search for ones desired server location utilizing the search bar. To launch the search bar, press Ctrl + F.
Inside the search bar, type the domain name of your desired server location and after that double-go through the server location inside the search results to hook up with it.
After disconnecting coming from a server location you selected, you are able to return for your Smart Location (the positioning recommended for your smoothest experience) by clicking SMART LOCATION.
Switch to another VPN protocol
VPN protocols include the methods through which your device connects to some VPN server. Switching to some other protocol may help you achieve faster connection speeds.
To switch to some other protocol, click the hamburger menu (≡), then click Options. Make sure you might be not connected to your VPN when conducting this.
In the Protocol tab, choose the protocol you want to utilize, then click OK.
Note: PPTP and L2TP-IPsec provide weak security benefits and really should only be useful for anonymization or even for changing locations.
Launch and connect ExpressVPN on startup
To launch and connect ExpressVPN when setting up Windows:
1. In the ExpressVPN app, check out Options > General.
2. Under Startup, look into the boxes for launching ExpressVPN on startup and connecting for a last used VPN location.
Use the VPN Speed Test
To utilize VPN Speed Test, you have to be disconnected from your VPN.
Start by clicking within the hamburger menu (≡) and Speed Test.
On the Speed Test screen, click Run Test and wait for an tests to accomplish.
After email address details are displayed, decide on a location utilizing the following criteria:
Speed Index: the greater the better
Latency: the low the better
Download Speed: the larger the better
If you happen to be simply looking to the fastest speeds, decide on a location according to your Speed Index. However, if you happen to be looking to the best server location inside a country, simply select the highest speed index available from the country that you pick.
Use Connection Per App (split tunneling)
This feature means that you can decide which apps utilize VPN and which apps do not utilize VPN whenever you are linked to ExpressVPN.
To reprogram your “Connection Per App” settings, select the hamburger menu (≡) and head to Options.
Under the General tab, tick the box inside Connection Per App section and click on Settings.
From there, you may decide which of your respective apps will makes use of the VPN and those will not make use of the VPN once you are linked with ExpressVPN.
If you pick the latter two options, it is possible to specify which apps will (not) use VPN. Click for the plus sign (+) to find the apps.
Check the box near to all the apps you intend to select. If your desired app will not be shown, click Add Another App to try to find it.
Click OK to utilize your changes.
IN DEPTH: Learn much more about the split-tunneling feature
Use IPv6 Leak protection
By default, the ExpressVPN app will block IPv6 connections to defend against IPv6 leaks.
If you encounter difficulty with devices that use IPv6 connections, head over to Options, Advanced, and uncheck the lamp under IPv6 Leak Protection.
Use the ExpressVPN browser extension
If you’re using Version 6.2 (or later) on the ExpressVPN app, you'll be able to download and utilize the ExpressVPN browser extension to remotely control the ExpressVPN app from the browser. The extension can be obtained for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.
From your app, select the hamburger menu (≡), select Options, then go on the Browsers tab.
Under “Google Chrome” and “Mozilla Firefox,” click Get Extension and keep to the on-page instructions.
Learn more to do with the ExpressVPN browser extension here.
Uninstall the app
Note: The below instructions are for Windows 10. If you happen to be using Windows 7 or 8, please see the instructions for uninstalling programs on Windows 7 and Windows 8.
To uninstall the ExpressVPN app, right-select the Start button and select Programs and Features.
If Programs and Features will not be directly available by right-clicking the Start button, hop on by first hitting Control Panel and selecting Programs and Features.
Scroll through a list of programs and soon you locate ExpressVPN. Select ExpressVPN then click Uninstall.
In the Setup Wizard, click Uninstall.
You will likely be notified when ExpressVPN is successfully uninstalled. Click Close to exit the Setup Wizard.
If the thing is that that ExpressVPN remains listed being an available VPN connection after uninstalling:
1. Click the Start button, after which click Run… (just for Windows XP and Vista) or press Windows key + R (for virtually every other Windows OS) to file for the run command.
2. Type ncpa.cpl about the run command and press Enter to go on your Network Connections window.
3. On your Network Connections window, right-simply click the WAN Miniport labeled ExpressVPN.
4. Click Delete.
5. From your Windows desktop, head over to Settings > Network & Internet > VPN.
6. If the thing is that ExpressVPN as a possible available connection, delete it.
