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To reduce the chance that your device goes online outside a VPN tunnel, enable the kill switch in your VPN app, consider your operating system’s always-on VPN controls where available, and check for custom DNS settings that could route queries elsewhere. Exact controls differ by VPN, app version, and operating system; use the provider’s current instructions for your setup.
What a kill switch and DNS leak protection do
A VPN kill switch blocks internet traffic if the VPN connection drops. Depending on its mode, it may block only after an unexpected failure or also when you disconnect deliberately or restart the app. A stricter mode can prevent ordinary internet access until the VPN reconnects.
DNS leak protection is intended to keep domain-name lookups inside the VPN’s protected connection rather than sending them through your regular internet connection. VPN apps implement this differently. Proton describes its own apps as using firewall rules and platform-specific techniques to keep DNS queries and other traffic from entering or leaving outside the VPN interface; that description is specific to Proton’s apps, not a guarantee about every VPN.
Before changing settings, identify your VPN provider and app version, your operating system and version, and whether you want traffic blocked only during accidental drops or whenever the VPN is disconnected.
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Enable the kill switch in your VPN app
Start with the VPN provider’s instructions for your exact app and platform. Interfaces are not universal. For example, Surfshark’s support instructions, updated September 11, 2026, give this path in its apps: Settings → VPN settings → Kill Switch. Turn the setting on. Treat that path as a Surfshark example, not a standard menu shared by all VPNs.
Some providers offer distinct modes or different kinds of kill switch. Proton documents standard and advanced modes on Windows, with an Apply step. NordVPN distinguishes an internet-wide kill switch from an app kill switch that closes selected programs. An app-specific option is not equivalent to blocking all device traffic, so check what the selected mode covers.
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Do not assume the feature is off or that every VPN offers a toggle. Mozilla says its kill switch is on by default on Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux, with no in-app setting to turn it off.
Use Android’s system-level blocking controls if needed
Android can provide an OS-level fallback in addition to a VPN app’s own controls. Menu names and availability vary across Android versions and device makers.
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- Connect to the VPN you want to use.
- Open Android’s VPN settings. The route to this screen varies by device; consult the device maker’s instructions if you cannot find it.
- Enable Always-on VPN for the VPN app.
- If you want Android to block connections outside the tunnel, enable Block connections without VPN.
These controls require operating-system support. Proton says its kill-switch feature is unavailable on Android 7.x and earlier. Amnezia also documents that its iOS app does not have a separate built-in kill-switch control and relies on Android system controls for blocking; those statements describe Amnezia’s app rather than every provider’s iOS behavior.
Check DNS settings that may bypass the VPN
A manually configured DNS resolver, Android Private DNS setting, or browser DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) option may affect where DNS requests go. Proton warns that third-party DNS settings and browser DoH can interfere with its DNS protection. This does not mean every custom resolver is a mistake: you may have chosen one deliberately, and provider behavior differs.
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- Check whether you configured custom DNS in your device’s network settings.
- On Android, check whether Private DNS is set to a custom provider.
- Check your browser’s secure DNS or DNS-over-HTTPS setting.
Change or remove a custom setting only if it fits your needs and the VPN provider’s current guidance. Do not switch DNS providers automatically; first establish whether you need the custom resolver and whether it is compatible with the VPN’s protection.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Test for DNS leaks while connected
- Connect to the VPN and wait until the app reports that the connection is active.
- Open a DNS leak test. Proton recommends connecting to a VPN server in a different country to make a leak easier to notice.
- Review the resolver results. They should be consistent with the VPN connection, not reveal your ordinary ISP’s DNS path.
- Interpret company names carefully: a VPN may use a partner’s resolver infrastructure, so a different company name by itself does not prove a leak.
Proton’s DNS guidance explains its approach to DNS leaks and testing: Proton VPN: DNS leaks when using a VPN.
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Know the trade-offs and platform-specific limits
A strict kill switch favors preventing unprotected traffic over keeping you online. When the VPN drops, it can interrupt internet access; depending on the implementation, it may also affect local-network access, split tunneling, or platform services.
- Windows: Modes and controls vary by provider. Proton documents standard and advanced modes and an explicit Apply step; NordVPN’s app-specific kill switch closes selected programs rather than serving as the same kind of internet-wide block.
- macOS and iOS/iPadOS: Available protections differ by provider. Proton documents possible Apple-service DNS queries outside its VPN and says its kill switch can prevent local-network access.
- Android: Always-on VPN and Block connections without VPN are OS-level options when supported. The labels and route to them can vary by device.
- Linux: Controls differ between provider GUIs and command-line clients. Proton documents both GUI settings and a CLI option; NordVPN documents
nordvpn set killswitch on. Confirm the command applies to your installed client and version before using it.
For the current controls and limitations of your product, consult its official documentation: Proton VPN kill switch, NordVPN kill switch, and Amnezia kill switch instructions. Menu labels and capabilities can change with app and OS updates.
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