Hey there! If you use a virtual private network (VPN) to protect your privacy online, you may need to temporarily turn it off once in a while on your iPhone or Mac. Don‘t worry – it‘s easy to disable a VPN connection when required.
In this guide, I‘ll explain exactly how to turn off VPN on both iOS and macOS using simple step-by-step instructions. I‘ll also discuss when you may need to disable your VPN and why it‘s important to keep it on whenever possible.
So let‘s get started!
Contents
Overview: Why Use a VPN in the First Place?
Before jumping into how to disable a VPN, it helps to understand what a VPN is and why you need one.
A VPN is an essential online privacy tool that encrypts all your internet traffic and routes it through a remote server run by the VPN provider. This hides your real IP address, masks your physical location, and keeps your browsing history private from hackers, ISPs, and government surveillance.
According to research by Surfshark, the top reasons people use a VPN are:
- Enhance online privacy – 89%
- Access restricted content – 69%
- Improve online security – 65%
Additional benefits of using a VPN include:
- Bypassing internet censorship and blackouts in countries like China, Turkey, Russia etc.
- Avoiding throttling and profiling by your internet provider.
- Securing public WiFi hotspots from snoops and attackers.
- Obtaining better prices by changing virtual location on travel and shopping sites.
So in short, a VPN adds an important layer of security and anonymity to all your online activities.
When Should You Disable Your VPN?
The best practice is to keep your VPN enabled at all times when connected to the internet. However, there are some instances where you may need to disable or "turn off" the VPN connection briefly.
Here are the main scenarios when disabling a VPN makes sense:
Websites Detecting VPN Usage
Some streaming sites like Netflix block known VPN IP addresses to enforce geographic restrictions. Similarly, your bank or government sites may not work properly over VPN.
Temporarily disabling your VPN allows you to access these sites normally. Just remember to turn on VPN again before browsing other sites.
Using Location-Based Apps and Services
Apps like Google Maps, Uber, Yelp, and weather apps need access to your real physical location to work properly.
A VPN routes your traffic through a different server location, confusing these apps. Simply turn off the VPN to show your true location whenever using location-dependent services.
Downloading Large Files or Streaming Video
Encrypted VPN tunnels can potentially slow down downloads, especially over long distances.
Turning off your VPN results in faster direct downloads since your traffic doesn‘t have to detour through a VPN server halfway around the world.
Similarly, streaming video quality is better without VPN throttling your connection. Disable VPN just while streaming or downloading files for optimal speeds.
Online Gaming and Video Calls
VPN encryption causes slightly more lag which can disrupt real-time gaming or video chat performance.
If you notice choppy gaming or call quality, temporarily disable your VPN. Just be sure to enable it again after finishing your game or call.
Accessing Devices on Local Network
Your VPN tunnels all traffic to a remote server, blocking direct local network access to:
- Network-attached storage like NAS drives.
- Printers, scanners, and other connected devices.
- Media servers like Plex or Kodi.
- Your router admin page and other local resources.
Disable your VPN to directly access these local network devices and services as needed.
Now let‘s look at how to actually disable a VPN on your iPhone and Mac when required.
How to Turn Off a VPN on iPhone
There are two quick methods to disable a VPN connection on an iPhone:
Via VPN App Settings
If you use a third-party VPN app from the App Store:
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Open the VPN app on your iPhone.
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Tap the "Disconnect" or "Turn Off" button – this instantly disables the VPN.
For example, in the NordVPN app you just tap "Disconnect" to quickly turn off the VPN.
NordVPN app‘s disconnect button on iPhone
Most reputable VPN apps like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, TunnelBear etc. make it easy to connect and disconnect the VPN right from the app interface.
Via iPhone Settings
You can also manage VPN connections directly in Settings:
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Go to Settings > VPN on your iPhone.
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Under "Status", tap the VPN connection you want to disable.
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Toggle the switch off (gray) to disconnect the VPN.
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Toggle on (green) again whenever you want to re-enable the VPN.
This iPhone method works for VPNs added directly as profiles, as well as connections from third-party VPN apps.
How to Turn Off a VPN on Mac
Similarly, it takes just a couple clicks to disable a Mac VPN. You can do it via:
Network Settings
If you configured the VPN in Network preferences:
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Go to > System Preferences > Network.
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Select the VPN on the left sidebar.
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Click "Disconnect" to disable this VPN connection.
You can reconnect again anytime by clicking "Connect" in Network settings.
VPN App
If you use a VPN program like TunnelBear or CyberGhost:
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Open the VPN app on your Mac.
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Click the "Disconnect" or "Turn Off" button within the app.
This breaks the connection until you manually re-enable it.
Menu Bar
You can also disconnect VPN from the top menu bar:
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Go to Network settings and check "Show VPN status in menu bar" for your VPN.
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Click the VPN icon in the menu bar and select "Disconnect".
This disables the VPN connection temporarily until you reconnect from the menu bar.
Should I Delete a VPN Instead?
Disabling a VPN simply severs the connection between your device and the VPN server, and it can be re-enabled easily later.
However, if you delete a VPN, it will be permanently removed from your device:
- On iPhone, delete the VPN app or profile from Settings.
- On Mac, delete the VPN app from Applications or profile from Network settings.
You‘ll then have to reinstall or re-add the VPN to connect again. So unless you want to completely remove a VPN, just disable it temporarily.
Why It‘s Important to Keep Your VPN On
Ideally you should keep your VPN enabled at all times when connected to the internet. Here are some key benefits of doing so:
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Encrypts all traffic – Prevents your online activities, data, and downloads from being spied on by cyber criminals snooping on the network.
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Hides your IP and location – Your real IP reveals your identity and physical address. A VPN masks this to keep you anonymous online.
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Bypasses censorship – Lets you access blocked content and information in countries that restrict internet freedom.
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Avoids throttling – Prevents ISPs from throttling certain types of traffic and profiling your usage.
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Secures public WiFi – Encrypts your data from hackers on unsecured public hotspots.
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Better prices – Lets you compare prices across regions by changing virtual location.
So it‘s highly recommended to only disable your VPN temporarily when needed, and reconnect as soon as possible for maximum privacy and security.
Conclusion
I hope this guide has helped explain exactly how to disable a VPN connection on both iPhone and Mac when required.
Just use the VPN app, Settings, Network settings, or menu bar to quickly turn off a VPN. Remember to re-enable it again as soon as you‘re done with the task that requires VPN to be off.
A VPN is essential for online privacy these days, so use these steps judiciously to keep your data secure. Let me know if you have any other questions!
