How to set up and use ExpressVPN on macOS 11 and above

Need a VPN for Mac?

Get ExpressVPN Now

Love ExpressVPN? Want a free month?

Refer a Friend Now

This tutorial will show you how to set up the ExpressVPN Mac app.

The app requires 11 (Big Sur), 12 (Monterey), 13 (Ventura), 14 (Sonoma), 15 (Sequoia), or 26 (Tahoe) to use. To find out which macOS version you are using, refer to this guide.

Download the app

To download the ExpressVPN app for Mac:

1. Go to the ExpressVPN account dashboard. If prompted, enter your ExpressVPN credentials and click Sign In.
   
2. Enter the verification code that is sent to your email.
3. Click Set Up Device from the menu on the left.
   
4. Click Download.
   

Keep this browser window open. You will need the activation code for the setup later.

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

Back to top

Get your activation code

To use ExpressVPN on your Mac computer, you will need your activation code.

Click to copy it to your clipboard. You will be asked to provide it later.

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

Back to top

Install the app

To install the ExpressVPN app for Mac:

1. Locate the downloaded file on your computer and open it.
2. A window will pop up, saying, “This package will run a program to determine if the software can be installed.” Click Allow.
   
3. Keep clicking Continue until you reach the “Installation Type” screen.
   
4. After selecting the installation destination, click Install.
   
5. You will see the following window ONLY if you have installed ExpressVPN on your Mac before. If you do not see this screen, skip ahead.
   • Select Keep existing account if you are reinstalling ExpressVPN with the same activation code as before.
   • Select Remove existing account and let me switch to another account if you are using a new activation code.

   Select your preference and click Continue.
   

6. You will be asked to enter your Mac’s password to complete the installation. Enter your Mac password, then click Install Software.
   
7. Wait for the installation to complete, then click Close.
   

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

Back to top

Set up ExpressVPN

To set up and sign in to the ExpressVPN app for Mac:

1. Open the app (or wait for the app to open automatically once installation is complete) and click Sign In.
   
2. There are three ways to sign in to the app:
   • Sign in with Activation Code
     1. Click Sign in with activation code.
        
     2. Enter your activation code. This is the code you copied to your clipboard earlier. Then click Continue.
        
   • Sign in with an Email Sign-In Link
     1. Click Sign in with email link.
        
     2. Enter the email address associated with your ExpressVPN account, then click Email My Sign-In Link.
        
     3. Open the email on any device and select Sign In to ExpressVPN. The app will be activated automatically and sign you in.
   • Sign in with Your Password
     1. Click Sign in with your password.
        
     2. Enter your ExpressVPN account Email and Password, then click Sign In.
        
3. Your Mac will ask permission to complete the configuration. Click Continue.
4. You will be asked whether you want to allow ExpressVPN to launch on startup. Select your preference to continue.
5. You will be asked whether you want to help improve ExpressVPN by sharing anonymous diagnostics with ExpressVPN. This helps ExpressVPN continually improve its products and services. Select your preference to continue.
6. If Advanced Protection is included in your subscription, you will be asked if you want to block display ads and enable additional safeguards. Select your preference to continue.

Congratulations! You have successfully set up ExpressVPN on your Mac. You are now ready to access our many VPN server locations.

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

Back to top

Connect to a VPN server location

To connect to a VPN server location:

1. Click . By default, ExpressVPN will suggest the location that provides the optimal experience for you, called Smart Location.
   
2. Once the app says Protected you can begin surfing with freedom and security!
   

Note: The number of devices you can connect to the VPN at the same time depends on the subscription tier you chose at checkout:

• Basic: 10 devices at the same time.
• Advanced: 12 devices at the same time.
• Pro: 14 devices at the same time.

If you try to connect more devices than your subscription tier allows at once, you will see this screen:

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

Back to top

Disconnect from the VPN server location

To disconnect from the VPN server location:

1. Click .
   
2. You will know you are disconnected when the screen says, Not Protected.
   

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

Back to top

Choose a different VPN server location

To choose a different VPN server location:

1. Clicknext to Selected Location to access the list of VPN locations.
   
2. A list of server locations will appear. Scroll through the list or use the search bar to find a specific location.
   
3. Click on your desired server location and ExpressVPN will automatically connect you to your selected server location.

The list of VPN locations features two tabs: Recommended and All Locations.

The Recommended tab includes four sections:

• Fastest Servers: a list of up to five of the fastest servers based on your current location.
• Recent Locations: a list of up to five of the most recent server locations you have connected to.
• Favorites: server locations you have marked as your favorites. You can add up to 10 server locations.
• Most Popular in Your Country: the server locations most often used by other ExpressVPN users in your country.

The list of VPN locations has two tabs: Recommended and All Locations.

How to add locations to your Favorites

To add server locations to your Favorites, click next to the server name.

The All tab lists the VPN server locations by region. You can expand and collapse the lists by clicking .

You can sort the locations by either Name or the number of Endpoints.

You can also search for your desired server location by using the search bar. Inside the search bar, type the name of your desired server location and then click the server location in the search results to connect to it.

After disconnecting from a server location you selected, you can return to your Smart Location (the location recommended for optimal experience) by clicking Smart Location.

You can also connect to the server location you most recently connected to by clicking Recent Location.

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

Back to top

Switch to a different VPN protocol

VPN protocols are the methods by which your device connects to a VPN server. For the best experience, ExpressVPN recommends using the Automatic protocol option. This is selected by default and automatically picks the protocol most appropriate for your network.

In some cases, switching to a different protocol may help you achieve faster connection speeds.

To switch to a different protocol:

1. On the VPN tab, click VPN Protocol.
   
2. Click the Protocol tab. Select the protocol you want to use.
   
   • If connecting to a protocol other than Automatic, you will see a pop-up asking if you are sure. Click Change Anyway to continue.

Note: When Advanced Protection features are turned on, only Automatic or Lightway protocols are available.

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

Back to top

Block ads, trackers, and harmful sites

Customize your online experience and take back control over what companies know about you. You can block ads, trackers, malicious sites, and adult content in the ExpressVPN app with just a few clicks.

A lot of the apps and websites you visit keep a record of and share your activity with third-party companies, including trackers, scammers, and malware sites. This information is used to serve you more targeted ads and content, usually without your knowledge or permission.

These advanced protection features prevent all apps and websites you visit on your device from communicating with the third-party companies in our open-source blocklists.

Advanced protection features are disabled by default. To enable them:

1. Click the Add-ons tab.
   
2. Under Advanced Protection, toggle on/off the features to fit your needs.
   
3. Reconnect to the VPN to apply the changes.
   

Read more about ExpressVPN’s advanced protection features.

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

Back to top

Speed test

You can run a speed test within the ExpressVPN. Here you can compare the speed of your current VPN location versus the speed of your internet service provider (ISP).

To run a speed test:

1. Click the Speed Test tab.
   
2. Click the Play button to start the speed test. You will get the results after a few minutes.
   

You can find more information about ExpressVPN’s speed test here.

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

Back to top

Launch and connect ExpressVPN on startup

To launch and connect ExpressVPN when starting up your Mac:

1. Click the Profile tab.
   
2. Under Settings, toggle Launch ExpressVPN on Startup and Connect on Launch on. You might need to scroll down to find them.
   

To disable:

1. Click Profile.
2. Under Settings, toggle Launch ExpressVPN on Startup and Connect on Launch off.

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

Back to top

Use Split Tunneling

Split Tunneling lets you select which apps use the VPN when you are connected to ExpressVPN.

To change your split-tunneling settings:

1. Click the Profile tab.
   
2. Click Split Tunneling.
   
3. Toggle Enable Split Tunneling on.
   

From there, you can select different split-tunneling options. Learn more about each settings option below:

Enable Split Tunneling on your Mac

By deafult, Split Tunneling is disabled on your Mac. To enable:

1. Follow the steps above in this section, but when you see a notification for “System Extension Blocked”, click OK.
   
2. Open your Mac System Settings to click Privacy & Security.
   
3. Click Allow next to System software from application “ExpressVPN Split Tunnel” was blocked from loading.
   
4. Enter your Mac system’s Username and Password, then click Modify Settings.
   
5. When you see a notification saying, “ExpressVPN Split Tunnel” Would Like to Add Proxy Configurations, click Allow.
   

You can now return to the ExpressVPN app and change the split-tunneling settings.

IN DEPTH: Learn more about the split-tunneling feature

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

Back to top

Use Internet Kill Switch

The Internet Kill Switch is ExpressVPN’s kill switch. If your VPN connection unexpectedly drops, the Internet Kill Switch blocks all internet traffic, keeping your data safe. It is enabled by default.

To disable or re-enable:

1. Click the Profile tab.
   
2. Under Settings, click Internet Kill Switch.
   
3. Click Enable when connected.
   

The ExpressVPN app for macOS includes an advanced kill switch called Advanced Internet Kill Switch. When enabled, this advanced kill switch prevents data leaks even when the VPN is off. All internet traffic is blocked unless the VPN is active.

In the apps, Advanced Network Lock is indicated by a toggle labeled Enable at all times:

• When toggled on: All your internet traffic is blocked unless you’re connected to the VPN. This offers an extra layer of security to protect your data.
• When toggled off: The kill switch works as normal, only blocking internet traffic if your active VPN connection unexpectedly drops.

To enable/disable the Advanced Internet Kill Switch:

1. Click the Profile tab.
   
2. Under Settings, click Internet Kill Switch.
   
3. Click Enable at all times to toggle on/off.
   

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

Back to top

Auto-connect

You can set the ExpressVPN app to automatically connect to your last connected location on start-up. You can use this feature to set automation rules when using different network types.

To enable auto-connect:

1. Click the Profile tab.
   
2. Under Settings, click Auto-connect.
   
3. Click Enable Auto-connect.
   
4. Once enabled, click Add Setting.
   
5. From here, you can choose when the VPN automatically connects and disconnects. You can choose from the following options:
   • When I join a secure Wi-Fi network…
   • When I join an unsecured Wi-Fi network…
   • When I’m using Ethernet
     
6. Select either:
   • Connect to VPN
   • Disconnect from VPN
7. Click Confirm.
   

To delete an auto-connect setting, click the Trash icon next to the auto-connect setting you wish to delete.

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

Back to top

Access printer and shared folders on local area network

Some users may have problems accessing shared folders and printers on LAN while connected to the VPN.

Troubleshoot issues accessing your intranet, printer, or shared folders on your local area network (LAN).

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

Back to top

Change languages in the ExpressVPN Mac app

The ExpressVPN app for Mac is available in 17 languages.

To change languages in the app:

1. Click the Profile tab.
   
2. Click the dropdown menu next to Language and select your language of choice.
   
3. Click Change Language.
   

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

Back to top

Change app appearance

You can change the color scheme of the app to tailor it to your personal preference.

To change the color scheme of the ExpressVPN app:

1. On the VPN tab, click the color palette icon.
   
2. Under Color scheme, click the theme you want to use. The app color scheme will change immediately.
   

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

Back to top

Uninstall the app

To uninstall the ExpressVPN app from your Mac computer:

1. Click the Profile tab.
   
2. Scroll down to Actions and click Uninstall ExpressVPN.
   
3. Enter your Mac’s password, then click OK.
   

The app is now uninstalled from your Mac.

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

Back to top