In this article, we look at how to install and use the Proton VPN app for Windows 7+.
- How to install Proton VPN for Windows
- How to use Proton VPN for Windows
How to install Proton VPN for Windows
By default, Windows 10 and 11 only allow apps to be installed from the Microsoft Store. To install the Proton VPN app, you’ll need to allow apps to be installed from other sources. To do this (if you haven’t done so already), open Settings → Apps & features → Choose where to get apps and select Anywhere from the dropdown menu.
1. Visit to our Proton VPN for Windows page and click Download Proton VPN button.
2. Once the EXE file has downloaded, double-click on it open and click Yes when asked to allow the app to make changes to your device.
3. This will open the Proton VPN installation wizard. Choose the language you would like to use from the dropdown menu and click Next.
4. Click Next.
5. This screen shows the default folder location that Proton VPN will install to. Click Next to continue, or if you prefer to install to to a different folder, click Browse and specify your preferred location.
6. Click Install.
7. Wait for the app to install onto your system.
8. Once the installation is completed, click Finish to exit the setup wizard.
9. The app will now open and you can sign in to your Proton account.
How to use Proton VPN on Windows
Sign in to Proton VPN
Open Proton VPN from your taskbar or the desktop icon (if you created one). Log in using the username and password you created when you signed up and click and click Login.
If you haven’t created a Proton VPN account yet, you can do so using the Create Account link in the bottom left of the app, or click here. Note that if you have signed -up for any Proton service (such as Proton Mail or Proton Drive), you can use the same login credentials to sign into Proton VPN.
Quick connect
To immediately connect to a VPN server, click the Quick Connect button. This connects you to the fastest VPN server for your location (if you’re on our Free plan, we’ll automatically connect you to a server in the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland, or the United States).
You are now connected to Proton VPN.
Connect to a specific country
If you are on any paid Proton VPN plan, you can connect to any of our high-speed servers in 70+ countries. To connect to the fastest server in the country of your choice, hover your mouse pointer over the country → Connect.
To connect to a specific server in a country, click V next to the country of your choice to see a list of servers in that country. Hover the mouse pointer over your server of choice → Connect.
Some servers have special uses. These are clearly labelled:
- Tor servers: Onion icon
- Steaming servers: Play button icon
- P2P servers: Double arrow icon
Advanced connection options
From the Countries tab, you can configure a number of advanced connection options:
- Secure Core
- NetShield Ad-blocker
- Kill switch and permanent kill switch
- Port Forwarding
Connection profiles
If you regularly use the same custom connection settings, you can save them as VPN connection profilesto make it easy to connect using those settings. To create and manage connection profiles, click on the Profiles tab.
Learn how to create and manage VPN connection profiles
The Proton VPN Windows app menu
To access the Proton VPN app menu, click the hamburger button (≡). Once the menu is opened, you’ll be able to access the following functions:
- About — information about the app, including version, the last time the app was updated, and the changelog
- Account — view the account you’re logged in to, the type of account you have, the Proton VPN plan you have, and manage your account
- Profiles — view and ed connection profiles that you have created
- Settings — change general, connection, or advanced settings
- Help — opens Proton VPN’s support center
- Report an issue — opens an issue report form
- Logout — logs you out of your Proton VPN account
- Exit — closes the Proton VPN app
Proton VPN Settings
In the General tab, you can:
- Select the language you would like to use with Proton VPN
- Choose to start Proton VPN minimized to the Windows System tray or Taskbar.
- Choose to start the app when Windows first boots up
- Choose to connect the VPN when the app starts
- Turn Notifications on or off
- Enable early access to get the latest pre-release version of Proton VPN
In the Connection tab, you can:
- Change VPN protocols or use Smart Protocol.
- Disable VPN Accelerator (it’s enabled by default, as there is no real advantage to doing this)
- Enable auto reconection if the app disconnects unexpectedly.
- Enable moderate NAT
- Configure custom DNS servers
In the Advanced tab, you can:
- Enable or disable port forwading
- Choose your OpenVPN network driver (TAP or TUN adapter)
- Disable or enable alternative routing to bypass firewalls or network issues
- Switch IPv6 leak protection on or off
- Toggle hardware acceleration on or off (you may want to switch this off if you get screen glitches)
- Turn on Split tunneling and choose which apps are included or excluded from the VPN tunnel
Note: In the Advanced tab, there is also an option for DNS leak protection, which is permanently switched on.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a vast amount of information on various topics, including installing and using the Proton VPN app for Windows. I can provide step-by-step instructions based on the information you provided in the article.
How to Install Proton VPN for Windows
To install the Proton VPN app on Windows, follow these steps:
- By default, Windows 10 and 11 only allow apps to be installed from the Microsoft Store. To install the Proton VPN app, you'll need to allow apps to be installed from other sources. Open Settings → Apps & features → Choose where to get apps and select Anywhere from the dropdown menu.
- Visit the Proton VPN for Windows page and click the Download Proton VPN button.
- Once the EXE file has downloaded, double-click on it to open and click Yes when asked to allow the app to make changes to your device.
- This will open the Proton VPN installation wizard. Choose the language you would like to use from the dropdown menu and click Next.
- Click Next again.
- The installation wizard will show the default folder location where Proton VPN will be installed. Click Next to continue, or if you prefer to install to a different folder, click Browse and specify your preferred location.
- Click Install.
- Wait for the app to install onto your system.
- Once the installation is completed, click Finish to exit the setup wizard.
- The app will now open, and you can sign in to your Proton account.
How to Use Proton VPN on Windows
To use Proton VPN on Windows, follow these steps:
- Sign in to Proton VPN by opening it from your taskbar or the desktop icon (if you created one). Log in using the username and password you created when you signed up and click Login. If you haven't created a Proton VPN account yet, you can do so using the Create Account link in the bottom left of the app.
- To immediately connect to a VPN server, click the Quick Connect button. This will connect you to the fastest VPN server for your location. If you're on the Free plan, you'll be automatically connected to a server in the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland, or the United States.
- If you are on any paid Proton VPN plan, you can connect to any of their high-speed servers in 70+ countries. To connect to the fastest server in the country of your choice, hover your mouse pointer over the country and click Connect.
- If you want to connect to a specific server in a country, click the V next to the country to see a list of servers in that country. Hover the mouse pointer over your server of choice and click Connect.
- Some servers have special uses and are clearly labeled. For example, Tor servers have an Onion icon, streaming servers have a Play button icon, and P2P servers have a Double arrow icon.
- From the Countries tab, you can configure advanced connection options such as Secure Core, NetShield Ad-blocker, Kill switch and permanent kill switch, Port Forwarding, and Connection profiles.
- To access the Proton VPN app menu, click the hamburger button (≡). From the menu, you can access functions such as About, Account, Profiles, Settings, Help, Report an issue, Logout, and Exit.
Proton VPN Settings
In the Proton VPN app settings, you can customize various options. Here's a breakdown of the settings tabs:
General tab:
- Select the language you would like to use with Proton VPN.
- Choose to start Proton VPN minimized to the Windows System tray or Taskbar.
- Choose to start the app when Windows first boots up.
- Choose to connect the VPN when the app starts.
- Turn Notifications on or off.
- Enable early access to get the latest pre-release version of Proton VPN.
Connection tab:
- Change VPN protocols or use Smart Protocol.
- Disable VPN Accelerator (enabled by default).
- Enable auto reconnection if the app disconnects unexpectedly.
- Enable moderate NAT.
- Configure custom DNS servers.
Advanced tab:
- Enable or disable port forwarding.
- Choose your OpenVPN network driver (TAP or TUN adapter).
- Disable or enable alternative routing to bypass firewalls or network issues.
- Switch IPv6 leak protection on or off.
- Toggle hardware acceleration on or off.
- Turn on Split tunneling and choose which apps are included or excluded from the VPN tunnel.
- DNS leak protection is permanently switched on.
Please note that the instructions provided above are based on the information you provided in the article. If there are any specific details or steps missing, please let me know, and I'll be happy to assist you further.
