Split Tunneling Is Your VPN’s Best Feature. Here’s How to Make the Most of It
Split tunnelling lets people choose which apps or websites use a VPN, giving them more control over privacy and performance. It can help preserve faster speeds for online games, show local results in apps that rely on location, and keep access to local devices such as printers while the VPN remains active elsewhere.
The most common form routes traffic by app; some VPNs also let users set rules by website domain. Less common options use IP addresses or broader policies. Many VPN services offer split tunnelling, though availability and setup vary: on Windows, ProtonVPN and NordVPN provide settings to include selected apps in the VPN or exclude them, while mobile controls are found in each app’s settings.
In short
- Split tunnelling selects which traffic goes through a VPN.
- It can balance privacy with speed and local access.
- Availability and setup vary between VPN apps and devices.
Explained simply
A virtual private network, or VPN, sends internet traffic through an encrypted connection to a server run by the VPN provider. This can help protect traffic on public Wi-Fi and make websites see the server’s location, but it may also affect speed or how some services work.
Split tunnelling gives the user control over which internet traffic goes through that connection. Rules can apply to particular apps, and some VPNs also allow rules for websites; the available options depend on the service and device.
This can let a game or location-based app connect directly to the internet while other activity uses the VPN. It may also help keep access to devices on a home network, such as a printer, while the VPN is active.