ProtonVPN

Overview

ProtonVPN is a client for routing everything a machine sends through an encrypted tunnel to a server somewhere else, so that the network you are physically connected to sees only the tunnel. The practical uses are ordinary: working on a network you do not control, keeping a connection private from whoever operates it, and reaching services that behave differently depending on where they think you are.

The client is a map and a list. Pick a country and it connects to the fastest server there, or open the list and pick a specific one with its current load and latency shown. Connection profiles remember a preference so a shortcut connects to a chosen configuration directly, and the client can be set to connect on launch and to reconnect automatically when a network changes.

The protection features are the ones worth configuring. The kill switch blocks all traffic if the tunnel drops, so nothing leaks out through the bare connection during a reconnect, and the permanent variant keeps that block in place even before the client has connected. Split tunnelling lets nominated applications or addresses bypass the tunnel, which is how you keep a local printer or a bank that dislikes tunnels working normally while everything else is routed.

The plus features unlocked here cover the higher tier capabilities: multi hop routing through two servers in different jurisdictions, servers optimised for high throughput transfer, dedicated routing for onion network access, a blocker for advertisements, trackers and known malicious destinations applied at the network level, and access to the full server list rather than the limited free subset. The service operates under a no traffic logging policy.

Key Features

• Encrypted tunnelling with servers across dozens of countries
• Country selection with automatic fastest server, or manual choice with load and latency shown
• Kill switch blocking all traffic if the tunnel drops, with a permanent variant
• Split tunnelling by application or by address in both directions
• Multi hop routing through two servers in different jurisdictions
• Servers optimised for high throughput transfer and for streaming
• Network level blocking of advertisements, trackers and known malicious destinations
• Dedicated routing for onion network access without a separate browser
• Connection profiles, connect on launch and automatic reconnect on network change
• No traffic logging, with an open source client and published audits

What Changed in This Build

• Faster connection establishment and quicker server switching
• Improved stability when moving between wireless networks
• Additional servers added across several regions
• Split tunnelling rules now survive an application update

System Requirements

Processor	Any modern x64 processor
Memory	2 GB
Storage	300 MB
Network	Any internet connection
Privileges	Administrator rights required to install the network adapter

Release Details

Full title	ProtonVPN
Version string	5.1.5
Publisher	Proton
Category	Utilities
Licence	Full version with plus features unlocked
Platform	Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit
Interface language	Multilingual, 20 plus interface languages
Archive size	148 MB
Mirrors	4 active, all reporting online
Listed	refreshed 4 weeks ago, checked again 40 minutes ago

Installation Notes

• Turn the kill switch on before you rely on the tunnel for anything, a reconnect without it is a gap.
• Add your local network printer and any service that refuses tunnelled connections to the split tunnelling exclusions rather than disconnecting entirely.
• The permanent kill switch blocks traffic before the client connects, which is correct behaviour but surprising the first time it happens.

Before You Start

Read the notes above before running setup. Most of the problems people write in about are covered there, and almost all of them come down to an older version of the same software still being installed, a graphics driver that predates the release, or a security suite quarantining part of the package mid install.

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Frequently Asked