AdBlock VPN Help Center
AdBlock VPN Help Center
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User Guide: AdBlock VPN

What is a VPN?

New to VPNs? Start with these articles before continuing:

Purchase a subscription

AdBlock VPN is included with AdBlock 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. See Sign In below.

AdBlock VPN (Android and Windows)

Sign In

Sign In

  1. Open AdBlock VPN on your device.

  2. Select Sign in

  3. Enter the email address associated with your subscription and tap or click Next.

  4. 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: Solutions to common issues unlocking Premium

Using the VPN

Connecting and Disconnecting

To connect

Select a server location and tap or click Connect. For the best speed, choose a location close to you — see tips for a faster connection.

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 VPN is working?

VPN settings

Block ads & trackers

This is an optional VPN feature, otherwise known as Threat Protection, that blocks ads, trackers, and malware. It can be toggled on or off independently of the VPN connection.

To enable or disable

Go to Settings and toggle Block ads & trackers on or off.


Allow local network access

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

To enable or disable

Go to Settings and toggle Local Network Access on or off.


Protocols

Choose the tunneling protocol used for your VPN connection. Switch protocols if you experience connectivity issues 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.

Log out

Log Out

  1. Open AdBlock for Safari & VPN on your device.

  2. Go to Settings > Log Out.

AdBlock for Safari & VPN (macOS & iOS)

This guide only covers the VPN portion of the Mac app. For a comprehensive guide, see: User Guide: AdBlock for Safari Mac app.

Sign In

Sign In

Purchased via Apple? From the Home tab, select the option to Restore your purchase. Once the app recognizes your Apple subscription use the steps below to connect your email of choice to your AdBlock account.

  1. Open AdBlock for Safari & VPN on your device.

  2. Go to Settings > Log In.

  3. Enter the email address associated with your subscription and tap or click Continue.

  4. 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: Solutions to common issues unlocking Premium

Using the VPN

Connecting and Disconnecting

To connect

Select a server location and tap or click Connect. For the best speed, choose a location close to you — see tips for a faster connection.

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 VPN is working?

VPN Settings

Access these from AdBlock VPN in the app.

Threat Protection

Threat protection is an optional VPN feature that blocks ads, trackers, and malware. It can be toggled on or off independently of the VPN connection.


Protocol

Choose the tunneling protocol used for your VPN connection. Switch protocols if you experience connectivity issues on certain networks.

  • WireGuard Faster and more efficient. Recommended for most users.

  • IKEv2 More compatible with restrictive networks. Try this if WireGuard isn't connecting.


Status & Connection Details

Shows whether the VPN is currently connected or disconnected.

Displays your current VPN IP address, how long you've been connected, and the amount of traffic secured. Useful for confirming the VPN is working as expected.

App Settings

Launch at Login (macOS only)

Start the app automatically when you log in to your Mac.


Log out

Log Out

  1. Open AdBlock for Safari & VPN on your device.

  2. Go to Settings > Log Out.