How to set up and use ExpressVPN on Windows 10 and above

This tutorial will show how to set up the ExpressVPN app on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

The ExpressVPN Windows app is not compatible with:

• Windows 8.1 or below.
• Windows devices that use Microsoft SQ1, Microsoft SQ2, or Microsoft SQ3 processors: These processors are not compatible with the TAP adapter, which is necessary for ExpressVPN to function. If you are in a country with a high level of internet censorship, we suggest using ExpressVPN for routers.

Download the app

To download the ExpressVPN app for Windows:

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 Windows 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 Windows 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 Windows:

1. Locate and double-click the download file on your computer.
2. You’ll see a prompt asking you to allow the app to make changes to the device. Click Yes.
3. Wait while the app is being installed on your PC.
4. Once installation is complete, the app will open automatically.

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 Windows:

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 an email sign-in link

1. Enter the email address connected to your ExpressVPN account and click Email My Sign-In Link.
2. 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 email address and password and click Sign In.

Sign in with activation code

1. Click Sign In with Activation Code. This is the code you copied to your clipboard earlier.
2. Then click Sign In.
3. You will be asked whether you want to allow ExpressVPN to launch on startup. Select your preference to continue.
4. 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.
5. 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 Windows PC. 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.
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.
   A list of server locations will appear. 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 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.

2. Click any location and ExpressVPN will automatically connect to it

How to add locations to your Favorites

To add server locations to your Favorites, hover over a location with the mouse and click next to the server name.

Reconnecting to a location

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.

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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 the Profile tab and select VPN Protocol.
2. 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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Lightway Turbo

Lightway Turbo is an upgraded version of our Lightway protocol that gives you extremely fast upload and download speeds when connected to the VPN.

It is currently available on the ExpressVPN app for Windows if you are using Lightway UDP or the Automatic protocol.

Lightway Turbo is on by default. To change your Lightway Turbo settings:

1. In the VPN protocol page, toggle Enable Lightway Turbo on or off.
   Once you have enabled Lightway Turbo, you can choose to use either a single tunnel or a dual tunnel. The dual tunnel option gives you a faster connection, but some websites, apps, and games might not work.
2. To select between single or dual tunnels, click the dropdown menu and select either Single tunnel or Dual tunnel.

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 here.

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 PC starts up.

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.

To disable, simply turn the toggles off.

You can also configure ExpressVPN to connect to the last used location when you launch the app.

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

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Use split tunneling

Split tunneling lets you choose which apps on your PC 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 and select Split Tunneling.
2. Click the toggle to enable split tunneling.

From there, you can select different split-tunneling options. 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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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 and under Settings, click Internet Kill Switch.
2. Click Enable when connected.

The ExpressVPN app for Windows 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:

On the Internet Kill Switch, 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, and under Settings, click Auto-connect.
2. Click the toggle to enable auto-connect.
3. Once enabled, click Add Setting.
4. 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
5. Select either:
   • Connect to VPN
   • Disconnect from VPN
6. 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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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 Windows.
• To enable MCP in ExpressVPN.

To enable MCP in the ExpressVPN beta app for Windows, click Profile and 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, click the compact mode toggle.

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, go to the Profile tab, click the dropdown menu next to Language, and select your language of choice.

Once you select the language, ExpressVPN will change it automatically.

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. In the VPN tab, click the color palette icon in the top right corner.
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.

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Uninstall the app

The below instructions are for Windows 10 and Windows 11.

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

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