In previous posts we already showed you how to configure custom DNS manually on your iOS device, whether it is iPhone or iPad. However, we have not yet published any tutorial in which we talk about the possibility of manually configuring a VPN. It is true that on occasion we have mentioned how to use VPN apps that perform all the configuration automatically, but on the other hand, can collect data or perform tasks in the background.
Related: How to access content not available in your geographic area.
As we have mentioned, when we purchase or subscribe to a VPN service, we will be offered the use of an app that is provided by said service. This VPN application designed to simplify its use since it will offer, for example, the possibility of an intuitive login. While that’s the easiest way to get a VPN to work on your iPhone or iPad, it’s not the only way.
Depending on the application in question, it may turn out that instead of making it easier for you to use the VPN service, it may generate problems such as instability in the connection or a very poor performance of the VPN service. But this is not all, since if we want a more exhaustive or specific customization, such as selecting a specific protocol (IKEv2, IPSec, L2TP) or connecting to your work VPN, the only possibility to do it will be through a manual configuration in your iPhone or iPad.
Manually configuring a VPN can greatly improve your security, but with certain limitations, since for example, you can only connect to a single specifically chosen server. If you want to change servers, you will have to edit the VPN settings again manually. In the case of using a VPN app, changing from one server to another with a different location, can be summarized by pressing a simple button.
That said, below we want to show you in detail how to manually configure a VPN service on your iOS device, be it iPhone or iPad.
How to set up a VPN on iOS manually.
Open the Settings app.
Go to: General> VPN
Note: If you’ve used a VPN before, a VPN profile may appear in the VPN list. In our case we will have to make sure that this profile is not active. For this we will have to deactivate the switch next to the VPN profile.
– Click on the option: Add VPN configuration …
– This will give you access to the VPN setup screen manually.
– Here, the first thing we will have to do is click on the field Kind, which will give you the possibility to choose between three options: IKEv2, IPSec or L2TP
– When all the fields have been provided correctly, you will only have to click on the OK option located in the upper right corner of the screen.
Note: You must visit the support of your VPN service to obtain the manual configuration details (also called native protocols) that will be what you will have to enter in the VPN configuration screen.
– Once the new VPN profile has been created, you must activate it clicking on the switch.
This method is common in all recent versions of iOS, including version 13. If you cannot make the connection through the VPN, it may be due to an incorrect entry of the data in which case you can change just by selecting the profile from the VPN section and clicking on the option Edit.
Note that some VPN services use a different authentication method for manual configuration. Using your regular account username and password will not authenticate the connection. You may need to use your account dashboard to create a new configuration. This will generate a random username and password to authenticate your account for a specific protocol.
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