How To Change Your VPN: Locations, Apps, and Services Explained

Changing your VPN can mean a few different things depending on what you’re trying to do:

• Switching to a different server location (for example, from USA to UK)
• Changing VPN apps (moving from one VPN provider to another)
• Changing VPN settings (protocols, kill switch, auto-connect, etc.)

All three affect your privacy, speed, and what you can access online. This guide walks through each of these, what actually happens in the background, and what depends on your own setup.

What “Changing Your VPN” Actually Does

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a VPN server. To websites and apps, it looks like you’re connecting from the VPN server’s IP address and location, not your real one.

When you “change your VPN,” you’re usually doing one of these:

1. Change VPN server location
   You stay with the same VPN provider/app, but:

   • Disconnect from one server (e.g., Germany)
   • Reconnect to another (e.g., Canada)
     This changes:
   • Your visible IP address
   • Your apparent country/region
   • Often your speed and latency

2. Change VPN provider/app entirely
   You uninstall or stop using one VPN, and:

   • Install another VPN app
   • Set it up with a new account
     This changes:
   • Which company handles your data
   • Available server locations
   • App features (kill switch, split tunneling, etc.)

3. Change VPN settings within the same app
   You keep the same VPN app, but:

   • Switch protocols (like OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2)
   • Turn features on or off (kill switch, auto-connect, split tunneling)
     This affects:
   • Speed vs. security balance
   • Battery use (especially on mobile)
   • How “always-on” your protection is

Understanding which of these you want is the first step.

How To Change VPN Location (Server) on Common Devices

This is the most common meaning of “change your VPN”: switching the server or country your traffic goes through.

On Windows and macOS

Once a VPN app is installed:

1. Open your VPN app.
2. If you’re already connected, click Disconnect.
3. Find the server list or countries section.
4. Pick a new:
   • Country, or
   • Specific city (e.g., “New York” vs “Los Angeles”), if offered.
5. Click Connect to that location.
6. Confirm it worked by checking:
   • The app’s status (usually shows “Connected to [Country/City]”).
   • An IP-check website in your browser to see the new country.

On Android and iOS

Mobile VPN apps work similarly, with some OS-specific quirks:

1. Open the VPN app.
2. Disconnect if already connected.
3. Tap the location list (often a map icon, country flag, or “Locations” tab).
4. Choose your new country or city.
5. Tap Connect.
6. On first use, approve:
   • “Allow VPN configurations”
   • Or “Set up VPN” (you usually see a system pop-up).
7. Confirm the VPN key/lock icon appears in your status bar.

On mobile, your VPN connection may drop when you switch between Wi‑Fi and mobile data, depending on the app and settings. Auto-reconnect settings matter here.

On a Router or Smart TV

If your router is configured as the VPN client:

1. Log into your router’s admin panel in a browser.
2. Go to the VPN section.
3. Find the server or configuration area.
4. Either:
   • Select a different preset server, or
   • Upload/downloading a new config file (for routers that use manual config).
5. Apply and reboot if required.

On smart TVs and streaming devices:

• Some have native VPN apps (install from the app store and change locations as on mobile).
• Others rely on:
  • Smart DNS
  • Or your router’s VPN connection, meaning you change it on the router, not the TV.

How To Change VPN Provider (Switch to a Different VPN App)

Switching providers changes who runs the servers and what features you get.

General Steps for Switching Providers

1. Turn off and log out of your current VPN

   • Disconnect from any active connection.
   • Log out of the app (optional, but cleaner).

2. Uninstall the old VPN app

   • On Windows/macOS: uninstall from Apps/Programs.
   • On Android/iOS: long-press and remove the app.
   • This helps avoid conflicts where two VPNs fight for the same tunnel.

3. Install the new VPN app

   • Download from the official website or your device’s official app store.
   • Avoid random third-party download sites.

4. Sign in or create an account

   • Some VPNs require an account; others use a code or config files.

5. Grant system permissions

   • Allow the VPN configuration when prompted.
   • On iOS/macOS, you might need to enter your device password or approve a profile.

6. Pick a server and connect

   • Choose a location and tap/click Connect.
   • Verify it’s active (status in the app, IP-check site in your browser).

Why Changing Provider Isn’t Just “Install a New App”

Different providers vary in:

• Privacy approach (logging policies, jurisdiction)
• Available protocols (e.g., only OpenVPN vs. also WireGuard-like options)
• Number and type of servers (virtual vs. physical, city-level, specialty servers)
• Feature set (kill switch, split tunneling, multi-hop, custom DNS)

These differences matter depending on what you use your VPN for: streaming, remote work, public Wi‑Fi, or privacy-focused browsing.

How To Change VPN Settings: Protocols and Features

If you stay with the same provider but want a different balance of speed, security, and reliability, you change settings rather than the app.

Common VPN Settings You Can Change

Here are some of the main options you’ll see:

Changing the VPN Protocol

You’ll usually find this in Settings → Protocol or Connection.

Common options:

• OpenVPN (UDP/TCP)
  Widely supported, solid security. UDP is usually faster; TCP can be more reliable on flaky networks.
• WireGuard-style protocols (including custom names based on it)
  Generally faster and lighter, often better for mobile; newer but widely adopted.
• IKEv2/IPSec
  Often good for mobile because it quickly re-establishes connections when you move between networks.

You might switch protocol if:

• You’re getting slow speeds on one protocol.
• A specific network blocks one protocol but allows another.
• You want better stability on mobile or certain Wi‑Fi networks.

Adjusting Kill Switch, Auto-Connect, and Other Options

• Kill switch: Turn it on if you want to avoid any unprotected traffic when the VPN drops. If apps keep “losing internet,” check whether the kill switch is blocking them when the VPN has trouble.

• Auto-connect: You can often:

  • Connect on all networks
  • Connect only on untrusted/public Wi‑Fi
  • Or disable auto-connect entirely

• Split tunneling:
  Useful when:

  • Local services (like printers or banking sites) misbehave under VPN
  • You want streaming apps outside the VPN while keeping browsers inside it, or vice versa

These settings change how the VPN fits into your daily use rather than where the server is.

What Affects How Easy It Is To Change Your VPN?

How simple or complicated this feels depends on several variables.

1. Device Type and Operating System

• Windows & macOS

  • Full-featured apps with most settings available.
  • Multiple VPN apps can conflict, especially with “always-on” features.

• Android & iOS

  • System-wide VPN is supported, but background rules (battery saving, app killing) differ.
  • Some protocols and advanced features may be limited by the OS.

• Routers & NAS devices

  • Often require manual configuration files and more technical steps.
  • Changing servers may not be a quick click; sometimes you upload a new file.

• Smart TVs, consoles, streaming boxes

  • May not support VPN apps at all.
  • Often rely on your router VPN or Smart DNS, so “changing your VPN” might mean logging into router settings instead.

2. Your Technical Comfort Level

• Beginner
  Likely to use:

  • Default protocol
  • One-tap “Best server” or “Fastest location”
    Changing VPN means:
  • Tap a different country
  • Or install a different app

• Intermediate
  More likely to:

  • Experiment with protocols
  • Set auto-connect and kill switch
  • Use split tunneling for specific apps

• Advanced
  Might:

  • Configure VPN on routers, NAS, or Linux
  • Use custom DNS and firewall rules
  • Run multiple VPN layers on different devices

The more advanced your setup, the more “changing your VPN” involves multiple places: devices, router, and even app-by-app rules.

3. Your Main Use Case

Why you use a VPN heavily shapes what kind of “change” matters most:

The right change—server, provider, or settings—depends on what’s not working for you.

4. Network Environment

• Home network: Fewer restrictions, more freedom to choose protocols and providers.
• Work or school network:
  • May block certain VPN protocols
  • May monitor or restrict VPN usage
• Public Wi‑Fi (cafés, airports, hotels):
  • Some block VPN connections
  • Others are unstable, making protocol choice and auto-reconnect more important

In stricter environments, changing your VPN might mean changing protocols or enabling obfuscation rather than just picking a new country.

Why There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Way To Change Your VPN

You can see that “changing your VPN” isn’t a single action:

• For some people, it’s two taps to switch from one country to another.
• For others, it’s:
  • Removing an old provider
  • Choosing a new one
  • Reconfiguring devices, router, and individual app settings.

The best way to change your VPN—location, app, or settings—hinges on:

• The devices you use (laptop, phone, router, TV)
• Your operating systems (Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, router firmware)
• Your main goals (streaming, security, privacy, gaming, remote work)
• Your tolerance for setup complexity vs. “it just works” defaults

Once you’re clear on those pieces in your own setup, the type of VPN change that makes the most sense becomes much easier to see.