How to connect to VPN on Windows 11

To set up a VPN connection on Windows 11, open Settings > Network & internet > VPN, click on “Add VPN,” configure the connection settings, click on “Save,” and from the “VPN” page, click on “Connect” to establish a VPN connection.

On Windows 11, you can manage Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections through the Settings app using the built-in VPN client, and in this guide, you will learn how. The basic idea of a VPN is to provide an encrypted tunnel over the internet to connect a device to a remote network, offering access to the same resources as if you were physically at the remote location.

Although the technology may not be straightforward for most users, Windows 11 makes it easy to create and manage VPN connections through the Settings app without having to install third-party applications.

This guide will teach you the steps to create and manage a VPN connection using the Settings app on Windows 11.

Create VPN on Windows 11
Connect to VPN on Windows 11
Change VPN settings on Windows 11

Important: If you plan to connect to your office remotely, contact your network administrator to provide the proper connection information, including the domain name or IP address of the network, username and password, and protocol type.

Create VPN on Windows 11

To create a VPN profile on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Settings on Windows 11.
Click on Network & internet.
Click the VPN tab.
Click the Add VPN button.
Choose the Windows (built-in) option from the “VPN provider” setting.
Confirm a name for the Virtual Private Network connection.
Confirm the domain name or public IP address of the remote network in the “Server name or address” setting.

Quick tip: When setting up a connection to your home office, you can find your public address by doing a simple search on Google or Bing for “What’s my IP address?”.
Choose the Automatic option in the “VPN type” setting to allow the system to negotiate the connection protocol automatically.

Quick note: If your company has specific requirements, Windows 11 offers different protocol types, including “IKEv2,” “Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP),” “L2TP/IPsec with certificate,” “L2TP/IPsec with pre-shared key,” and “Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP).”
Select the “Username and password” option in the “type of sign-in info” setting.
Confirm the connection credentials.
Click the Save button.

Once you complete the setup, the new VPN profile will be created on Windows 11.

Connect to VPN on Windows 11

After setting up a new VPN connection, you can use it to access your home or work office to access resources as if you’re at the site.

Connect to VPN server

To connect to a VPN on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Network & Internet.
Click the VPN tab.
Select the Virtual Private Network connection.
Click the Connect button.

Alternatively, you can open the “Quick Settings” flyout (“Windows key + A” keyboard shortcut) from the System Tray, click the “VPN” button, choose the VPN profile, and click the “Connect” button.

If everything is working correctly, the time to connect shouldn’t take more than two seconds. You’ll know your device is connected to the remote network because the connection will read “Connected.” Also, the network icon in the System Tray will include a badge indicating that the connection is established.

Disconnect from VPN server

To disconnect from a VPN on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Network & Internet.
Click the VPN tab.
Select the connection and click the Disconnect button.
(Optional) Click on the connection to view the duration and bytes sent and received.

Alternatively, you can open the Quick Settings flyout (“Windows key + A” keyboard shortcut) from the System Tray, click the “VPN” button, choose the VPN profile, and click the “Disconnect” button.

Remove a VPN profile

To remove a VPN connection on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Network & Internet.
Click the VPN tab.
Select the connection and click the Remove button.
Click the Confirm button.

After you complete the steps, the connection will be removed from Windows 11.

Change VPN settings on Windows 11

If there is a problem trying to connect, or down the road requirements to connect to a remote network changes, you will need to re-configure the VPN connection settings.

To change a VPN profile settings on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Network & Internet.
Click the VPN tab.
Select the Virtual Private Network connection.
Click the Advanced options button.
Under the “Connection properties” section, you can view the current settings.

Quick note: If you access the properties while the connection is active, you will also find the option to change the network profile to private or public.
Click the Edit button to update the settings.
(Optional) Click the Edit button for the “Proxy settings for this VPN connection” to set up automatic configurations or manually enter the proxy settings.

Finally, on the main “VPN” settings page, you will also find additional settings (such as “Allow VPN connections over Metered networks” and “Allow VPN to connect while Roaming”). You should consider having these options always enabled, even more so if you have to access a private network and use a mobile hotspot.