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To use Proton VPN Secure Core, open the country or server list in the app, turn on or filter for Secure Core, choose the country you want websites to see as your location, and connect. The app routes your traffic through a Secure Core server first, then through a VPN server in that exit country. Secure Core is available on paid Proton VPN plans; it adds a routing layer but can slow your connection.
What Secure Core does
Secure Core is Proton VPN’s double-VPN feature. Your connection first passes through a hardened Proton-operated server in Switzerland, Sweden, or Iceland, then through a second VPN server in the exit country you select. The exit country is the location websites and online services see for your VPN connection. Proton describes the route and server locations as part of its security design.
Proton says routing traffic through a Secure Core server first can mitigate some risks if a VPN server is compromised. This is Proton’s stated protection model, not a guarantee of complete security; the company notes that no system offers 100% security. See Proton’s Secure Core guide.
When to use Secure Core
Secure Core is best suited to situations where you specifically want the additional routing layer and accept a possible speed tradeoff. Proton’s iOS and iPadOS guide warns that it “will slow down your VPN connection considerably” and says it “should only be used if your threat model demands it.” That is Proton’s guidance; it does not provide a measured speed impact for your device or connection. Read the iOS and iPadOS guide.
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For routine browsing, streaming, or other tasks where speed is the priority, a regular VPN connection may be a better fit. Secure Core is available on all paid Proton VPN plans, according to Proton’s support guide.
Turn on Secure Core in the app
Choose an exit country—the country you want sites to see—and connect using the platform-specific controls below. Proton can choose an available entry location automatically. Some app versions also let you choose the entry location yourself, but not every exit country is available through every Secure Core entry location.
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Windows
- Open Home, then go to Countries.
- Select the Secure Core filter.
- Choose an exit country and connect. Proton selects an available entry location automatically; where offered, use the country dropdown to choose an entry location manually.
macOS
- Open the app’s Secure Core control and switch Secure Core on.
- Select an exit country and connect.
- If available, use the adjacent dropdown to choose an entry location.
Android
- Open Countries and select the Secure Core filter.
- Choose a destination (exit) country and connect.
- The app can pick an entry location automatically. Use the country menu to choose one manually if that option is shown.
iPhone and iPad
- Switch Secure Core on.
- Select the exit country you want.
- Select an available Secure Core route or location, then connect.
Linux
Secure Core servers appear in the server list for supported exit countries. Proton says their names show the entry and exit locations as two ISO country codes. For example, CH-LU#1 means Switzerland entry and Luxembourg exit.
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App labels and controls may change between versions. For the current platform instructions, use Proton’s Secure Core support guide.
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Check the route and handle connection choices
Verify the active connection
After connecting, check the route details shown on the app’s Home screen. Confirm that Secure Core is active and that the exit country is the one you intended; the exit location is what determines the apparent VPN location.
If your preferred entry location is unavailable
Not every exit country can be paired with every Secure Core entry location. Choose another entry location offered for that exit country, or let the app select one automatically.
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If the connection feels too slow
Secure Core adds another routing step, and Proton warns that it can slow the connection considerably. If the extra layer is not necessary for what you are doing, disconnect and use a regular VPN connection instead. Proton’s documentation does not establish a universal speed difference or predict the impact on an individual connection.
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Secure Core or a regular VPN connection?
| Consideration | Secure Core | Regular VPN connection |
|---|---|---|
| Routing | Two VPN locations: a Secure Core entry server, then an exit server in your selected country. | No Secure Core entry hop. |
| Security rationale | Proton says the first, hardened server can mitigate some risks if a VPN server is compromised; this is not a security guarantee. | Does not use Secure Core’s additional routing layer. |
| Speed | Proton warns it can slow the connection considerably; no specific speed figure is established. | No Secure Core slowdown claim applies, but actual speed depends on the connection and server. |
| Best fit | When the additional routing layer fits your threat model and an available entry/exit pairing meets your needs. | When you do not need Secure Core’s extra route or prioritize speed. |
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