VPN for Your Computer: Windows, macOS, Linux

Your computer is probably the device where you spend the most time on "serious" work: documents, banking, email, video calls. You need a VPN on a laptop or PC for the same reasons as on a phone, but some details are different — especially when it comes to setup and what exactly goes through the VPN.

Let's go through it step by step: how to install a VPN on Windows, macOS and Linux, what to choose, and what pitfalls to watch out for.

How a desktop VPN is different

On a computer, you usually have a stable wired or Wi-Fi connection, unlimited data and a whole bunch of apps running in the background — cloud sync, email clients, system updates, messengers. All of it goes through the VPN as soon as you turn it on — and some apps may behave unpredictably if the VPN server is far away.

That's why two things are especially useful on a computer: split tunneling (where some apps bypass the VPN — your banking app, your work chat) and a kill switch (where internet access is blocked if the tunnel drops, instead of leaking out through your real IP). There's more on split tunneling in a separate article — what split tunneling is.

How to install a VPN on Windows

Using the app (recommended)

1. Download the VolnaLink VPN installer from the official website — it's a regular .exe file.
2. Run the installer. Windows may ask for administrator permission — that's normal, since the VPN adds a virtual network adapter to the system.
3. Launch the app and sign in to your account.
4. Click "Connect."

The whole thing takes 3–5 minutes. The app picks the right protocol by itself and connects to the nearest server.

Using the system settings (without an app)

Windows 10 and 11 can work with a VPN out of the box — they support IKEv2 and L2TP/IPsec. You can enter the server settings under Settings → Network → VPN → Add a VPN connection. This works for a corporate VPN — for everyday consumer use, the app is more convenient in every way.

How to install a VPN on macOS

1. Download the .dmg file from the official website.
2. Open the dmg and drag the app into the Applications folder.
3. Launch the app. macOS will ask for permission to install a system extension or VPN configuration — you need to allow it.
4. Sign in to your account and click "Connect."

Apple has tightened its requirements for VPN apps on macOS — they now work through the Network Extension API, which makes them more stable but requires permission on first launch. Nothing to worry about — just click "Allow" when the system asks.

How to install a VPN on Linux

Linux tends to intimidate beginners, but when it comes to VPNs, things have gotten simpler than they were 5 years ago. There are three options:

• A CLI client. Terminal commands like volnalink connect and volnalink switch germany. Handy for servers and automation.
• A graphical app. Supports Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch and Manjaro. It installs through the standard package manager: apt install, dnf install or from the AUR.
• The standard NetworkManager. You can set up VPN connections manually through the system NetworkManager, but for VolnaLink the app is more convenient: it picks the server and connection method by itself.

For everyday desktop work, the graphical app is the way to go — it's almost indistinguishable from the Windows version.

What to turn on right after installing

Two settings worth checking first:

1. Kill switch. It should be on by default — but check. Without it, if the tunnel drops, your IP instantly becomes visible to sites where you have open sessions.
2. DNS leak protection. Also usually on by default, but test it on dnsleaktest.com — you should see only the VPN provider's server, not your real one.

Split tunneling: which apps stay outside the VPN

This is the feature that makes it worth using a proper desktop VPN rather than the built-in system one. The idea: you tell the app which programs should go through the VPN and which should bypass it. Typical scenarios:

• Banking app — usually tied to your "home" IP. If you open it through a German VPN server, the bank may ask for extra verification or even block the session.
• Local network — printing, a file server, a NAS. With the VPN on, you usually lose access to devices on your local network. Split tunneling solves this: traffic to local IPs bypasses the VPN.
• Games and video calls — where ping matters, a VPN adds latency. You can let them go direct.

If your client supports split tunneling, decide in advance which apps should always go through the VPN and which should go direct.

Common setup mistakes

Experience shows that 90% of VPN problems on a computer come down to a handful of typical causes:

• Your antivirus blocks the TAP adapter. Some antivirus programs (especially aggressive paid ones) treat the VPN's network adapter as suspicious. Fix: add the app's processes and folder to the exclusions.
• A conflict with another VPN. If you already have a corporate VPN or an old version of another one installed, two tunnels won't work at the same time. Remove the old one.
• A firewall blocks some of the traffic. Strict corporate networks sometimes close certain ports and connection types. Reconnect, choose a different server or try another network — the VolnaLink app picks the connection method by itself.
• DNS is broken after turning off the VPN. Sometimes, after you disconnect the VPN, old DNS settings remain in the system and the internet "doesn't work." Fix: ipconfig /flushdns on Windows, sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder on macOS.

VPN on a computer: the less obvious things

A few points that rarely make it into the instructions but affect everyday use.

Battery life. On a laptop, a VPN adds 1 to 5% to the CPU load — for modern Intel/AMD/Apple Silicon chips, that means losing 5–15 minutes of battery life. Not critical, but noticeable if you're pushing your machine to the limit.

Page load times. A VPN adds 20–50 milliseconds to every request. On modern sites with dozens of HTTP requests, that adds up to +100–300 ms to page load time. Nothing serious, but you'll find yourself running Speedtest more often than before.

The bottom line

Installing a VPN on a computer takes 5–10 minutes on any OS. The key is to choose a service with a native app for your platform (rather than using the bare built-in system VPN), turn on the kill switch and set up split tunneling to fit how you work.

VolnaLink VPN runs on Windows 10/11, macOS 11+ and all popular Linux distributions. One subscription lets you connect up to 3 devices at the same time — for example, a computer, a phone and a Smart TV or router.

Further reading

• VPN for your phone
• What split tunneling is
• How to choose a VPN