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

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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.
2. Enter your email and click Send Code.
3. Enter the verification code sent to your email and click Continue.
4. In the left menu, click Set Up Devices.
5. Click on Mac and select 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.

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Get your activation code

In order to use ExpressVPN on your Mac computer, you will need your activation code.

Let’s copy it to your clipboard.

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

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

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Install the app

To install the ExpressVPN app for Mac:

1. Locate the downloaded ExpressVPN Installer file on your computer and open it.
2. A window will pop up, saying, “ExpressVPN Installer” is an app downloaded from the internet. Are you sure you want to open it? Click Open.
3. Another window will pop up asking you to enter your password to allow ExpressVPN to install a new helper tool. Enter your password, then click Install Helper.
4. Once installation is complete, the app will open.

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

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Sign in and set up the app

To sign in to and set up 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. Enter your activation code. This is the code you copied to your clipboard earlier.
2. 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.

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Connect to a server location

To connect to a server location:

1. Click . By default, ExpressVPN will suggest the location that provides the optimal experience for you, called Smart Location.
2. Once you see the Protected message on the app screen, 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.

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

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Disconnect from the server location

To disconnect from the 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.

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Choose a different server location

To connect to a different server location:

1. Click next 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 to connect it.

Browsing available server locations

The list of VPN locations has 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.

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

The All Locations 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.

How to reconnect to recently used servers

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.

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Switch to a different protocol

Protocols are the methods by which your device connects to an ExpressVPN server. For the best experience, ExpressVPN recommends setting your protocol to Automatic. This is selected by default and automatically picks the protocol most appropriate for your network.

In some cases, such as when advised to do so by our Support Team, switching to a different protocol may help you achieve faster connection speeds.

To switch to a different protocol:

1. Click on the VPN tab.
2. Click VPN Protocol.
3. Click 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.

Learn more about using advanced options for Lightway, the VPN protocol we built from the ground up.

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

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Block ads, trackers, and harmful sites

You can block many forms of ads, trackers, malicious sites, and adult content with ExpressVPN’s advanced protection features.

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 often used to serve you more targeted ads and content.

ExpressVPN’s advanced protection features prevent the apps and websites you visit on your device from communicating with the third-party companies in our open-source blocklists. Note that you must be connected to a VPN server for these features to work.

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. Click the to 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.

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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.
3. You will get the results after a few minutes.

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

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

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Launch and connect ExpressVPN on startup

You can configure whether ExpressVPN automatically connects after your Mac starts up, and use Connect on Launch to immediately connect to the last used server location.

To configure these settings:

1. Click the Profile tab.
2. Click to toggle Launch ExpressVPN on Startup and Connect on Launch on. You might need to scroll down to find them
3. To disable, simply turn the toggles off.

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

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Use split tunneling

Split tunneling lets you choose which apps and IP addresses on your Mac connect to the VPN and which ones are excluded from using the VPN and instead connect to the internet directly.

To change your split-tunnel settings:

1. Click the Profile tab.
2. Click Split Tunneling.
3. Click the toggle to enable split tunneling.

From there, you can set split-tunneling rules for apps by clicking Add App or for IP addresses by clicking Add IP. Learn more about each settings option below:

IN DEPTH: Learn more about the split-tunneling feature

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

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Enable split tunneling on your Mac

Your Mac may block split tunneling by default until you manually allow ExpressVPN’s system extension.

If this is the case, you’ll see a pop-up saying “ExpressVPN Split Tunnel” would like to use a new network extension.

1. Click OK.
2. This will automatically open your Mac System Settings to Login Items. In the Network Extensions pop-up, click the toggle next to ExpressVPN Split Tunnel to enable it.
3. Enter your password or use Touch ID to confirm.
4. When you see a notification saying, “ExpressVPN Split Tunnel” Would Like to Add Proxy Configurations, click Allow.
5. Click Done.

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.

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Use the 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 Mac 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, this 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.

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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 the toggle to 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.

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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.

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MCP server (beta)

The ExpressVPN MCP server (beta) allows you to connect ExpressVPN directly to your AI developer tools using the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

This local integration lets your AI assistant read and control your VPN connection through natural language or programmatic commands. For example, checking your connection state, switching server regions, changing protocols, and troubleshooting issues without you ever needing to open the ExpressVPN app.

This feature is available at no additional cost to all users with an active ExpressVPN or ExpressVPN for Teams subscription.

Before you can connect to the ExpressVPN MCP server, you need:

• An MCP-compatible AI client. The tool must support HTTP-based MCP servers.
• An active ExpressVPN or ExpressVPN for Teams subscription.
• The latest ExpressVPN beta app for Mac.
• To enable MCP in ExpressVPN.

To enable MCP in the ExpressVPN beta app for Mac:

1. Click the Profile tab.
2. Toggle Enable MCP Server on. The local MCP server will start automatically in the background.

Once enabled, follow this guide for full instructions on how to connect your chosen AI tool and what you can do with ExpressVPN MCP tools.

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

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Enable compact mode

Compact mode lets you switch between a slim and expanded interface, depending on your preference. Use it to reduce the app window size and simplify the layout while staying connected to the VPN.

To enable or disable compact mode:

1. Go to the VPN tab.
2. Click the compact mode toggle.

Note: You cannot switch to compact mode while on the Speed Test tab, so you will need to return to the VPN tab to enable compact mode.

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

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Change languages in the ExpressVPN Windows app

The ExpressVPN app for Windows 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.

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

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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. Click on the VPN tab.
2. Click the color palette icon.
3. 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.

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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. Select Uninstall to confirm.
4. Enter your Mac’s password, then click Install Helper.

The app is now uninstalled from your Mac.

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

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