How to increase privacy using built-in VPN on Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge now offers free VPN (preview) access to everyone, and in this guide, you will learn how to use it.
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If you use Microsoft Edge onWindows 11(or 10), you can load sites through the built-in virtual private network (VPN) feature for a more secure experience.
A VPN is a mechanism for creating a secure tunnel using encryption to connect a device or network to another network. Although companies use this technology on a regular basis to connect remote employees to their networks,many online servicesuse this technology to provide an extra layer of security while browsing the web since connecting to a VPN allows users to redirect their traffic through a remote network, hiding their public IP address, increasing the protection against hackers in non-secure networks, and reduces online tracking.
On Microsoft Edge, the VPN service is known as"Microsoft Edge Secure Network,“and it offers 5GB of free data per month through a collaboration with Cloudflare. At the time of this writing, it appears that the company isn’t offering a way to add more data.
Thishow-to guidewill help you to start using the new VPN feature built into the Microsoft Edge for Windows 11.
Set up VPN feature on Microsoft Edge
To enable and configure the VPN feature on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the VPN feature on Microsoft Edge will turn on automatically based on your configuration.
It’s also possible to turn the feature on or off from the"Browser essentials”(heart icon) setting next to the address bar.
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It’s worth noting that the “Microsoft Edge Secure Network” feature is still in preview, and it may not be available for everyone. For example, in my case, I was able to use the feature in the latest stable version of the browser but on a device running the latest preview ofWindows 11 in the Dev Channel.
More resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:
Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.
