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To set up VPN split tunneling, open a VPN app or managed VPN profile that supports it, choose which apps or network destinations should use the VPN, and then reconnect if requested. The controls differ by provider and operating system: Windows and Android commonly offer app-level include or exclude rules, macOS support can be limited, and iPhone does not have one universal screen for choosing apps.
What does VPN split tunneling do?
Split tunneling lets you choose which connections use the encrypted VPN tunnel and which use your ordinary internet connection. It is a routing choice, not a separate VPN connection: the VPN app or an enterprise profile applies the rules while the VPN is connected.
Depending on the app and platform, rules can apply to installed apps, websites, individual IP addresses, or IP subnets. The available rule types and whether you can include or exclude traffic are provider-specific; having a VPN installed does not guarantee that it offers every kind of split tunneling.
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- Include mode: Only the apps or destinations you select use the VPN. Other traffic uses the ordinary connection.
- Exclude mode: Selected apps or destinations bypass the VPN. Other traffic uses the VPN.
These modes describe different policies, so check the selected mode before adding rules. If you want most traffic protected and only a few apps to use the normal connection, exclude mode is usually the relevant choice. If you want only specific apps to use the VPN, look for include mode or an allowed-app list.
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What should you check before changing the rules?
First confirm that your VPN app supports split tunneling on the device and supports the kind of rule you need. A desktop app may offer IP or subnet rules that its mobile version does not; iPhone app-level control is particularly provider- or profile-dependent.
- Find out whether the app calls the setting “Split tunneling,” “Per-app VPN,” “Bypass VPN,” or “Only VPN.” Those labels can describe different modes.
- Check which protocols the provider currently supports on your device. Proton’s lifecycle table lists WireGuard for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, while noting that OpenVPN is deprecated or end-of-life on some of its platforms. Older setup instructions may therefore no longer match the available choices.
- Check whether the provider requires a reconnect after changing rules. Proton and ExpressVPN both document reconnecting in some circumstances; this is especially worth checking when using WireGuard.
- Review the kill-switch behavior. Proton says split tunneling is generally incompatible with its Advanced or Standard kill switch except on Windows.
- Decide whether the goal is app routing, website routing, or IP/subnet routing. These are not interchangeable: an app rule does not necessarily create a rule for a website used inside that app.
How do you set up split tunneling on Windows?
Windows commonly provides the clearest app-level include and exclude controls, but the exact menus and supported rule types depend on the VPN provider. Use the app’s own split-tunneling settings rather than assuming Windows provides one universal control for all VPN apps.
- Install and sign in to a VPN app that supports split tunneling on Windows.
- Open the app’s Split tunneling control. Depending on the provider, this may be a shortcut or a setting inside the app’s Settings menu.
- Turn the feature on.
- Choose the intended mode. Proton’s documented flow offers Include and Exclude; ExpressVPN documents app rules called Only VPN and Bypass VPN.
- Add the apps or network addresses covered by the selected mode. ExpressVPN documents IPv4 and IPv6 addresses as well as CIDR subnets; do not assume another provider accepts the same formats.
- Reconnect if the app asks you to, then test an app from each side of the rule.
Be precise when entering IP or subnet rules: a rule for an address or range is not the same as a rule for an app. If you are unsure which traffic an address represents, do not add a broad range just to make a connection work.
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How do you exclude an app from a VPN on macOS?
On macOS, the provider’s implementation matters more than any universal system setting. Proton documents an experimental app-exclusion feature that requires a macOS network extension on first use and works only with WireGuard or Stealth; other providers may offer different controls.
- Open your VPN app’s Connection or Split tunneling settings and check that the feature is available for your macOS version and selected protocol.
- Enable split tunneling. If prompted to install or approve a network extension, follow the provider’s instructions; Proton says its feature requires one on first use.
- Select the app-exclusion or bypass option and add the apps you want to use the ordinary connection.
- Reconnect if the provider requests it, then verify the route from the selected app and from another app that should remain protected.
There is an important macOS caveat for WebKit-based apps. Proton warns that apps such as Safari may not reliably follow exclusions because they can share system networking processes. If an excluded app still appears to use the VPN, the rule may not be a reliable way to separate that app’s traffic on this setup.
Some desktop providers document IP or subnet rules as well as app rules. ExpressVPN, for example, documents both kinds for desktop. Check your provider’s macOS documentation before relying on a particular rule type.
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Can you choose which apps use a VPN on Android?
Yes, many Android VPN apps expose per-app rules. The app may offer an allowed-app list, where only selected apps use the VPN, or a disallowed-app list, where selected apps bypass it.
- Open the VPN app’s settings and look for Split tunneling, Per-app VPN, or a similar setting.
- Choose the allowed-app or disallowed-app mode that matches your goal. An allowed-app list is include behavior; a disallowed-app list is exclude behavior.
- Add or remove apps from the list, then connect the VPN.
- Test one app intended to use the VPN and one intended to bypass it. Reconnect if the app requires it after a rule change.
Android Enterprise documentation also describes an always-on VPN option and the ability to allow bypass. These are managed-device controls, not necessarily settings exposed by every consumer VPN app. An always-on configuration can be set to block connections outside the VPN, so confirm how the managed policy handles bypass rules before relying on them.
Does iPhone support VPN split tunneling?
There is no single universal iPhone split-tunneling screen. Support depends on the VPN provider or an enterprise configuration, and some iOS implementations target websites rather than arbitrary installed apps.
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For a consumer VPN, check its current iOS documentation for the exact rule type before expecting to select individual apps. A website-exclusion feature is not the same as a general app-level allow or block list.
Managed deployments can have different capabilities. Microsoft documents per-app VPN or split-tunneling rules in Microsoft Tunnel for iOS and iPadOS, but the two cannot be used simultaneously in that configuration. If the device is managed by an organization, ask its administrator which policy is active rather than changing consumer-app settings to reproduce it.
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Test both sides of the policy while the VPN is connected. A successful connection alone does not show whether an app is using the VPN or bypassing it.
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- Open an app that should be protected and check that it shows the VPN exit IP.
- Open an app intended to bypass the VPN and check that it shows the ordinary connection when that is the intended rule.
- Check DNS behavior separately. ExpressVPN states that while connected to its service, DNS queries continue to go through its servers regardless of how its split-tunneling settings are configured. Do not assume that bypassing an app also bypasses the provider’s DNS routing.
- Check the kill-switch interaction. A kill switch may not behave as expected with split tunneling; Proton specifically notes the incompatibility described above, with Windows as its exception.
- If a rule change does not appear to take effect, reconnect if your provider requires it, then repeat the checks.
Use the provider’s own documentation to interpret a test result, especially if an app uses shared system networking, a managed profile, or a provider-specific DNS policy.
How do the four platforms differ?
| Platform | What the documented approach supports | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Provider app rules commonly include or exclude apps; some desktop providers also document IP and subnet rules. | Available rule types depend on the VPN app. Proton documents Include and Exclude; ExpressVPN documents Only VPN and Bypass VPN. |
| macOS | Provider-dependent app exclusions; some desktop providers document IP and subnet rules. | Proton describes its feature as experimental, limited to WireGuard or Stealth, and subject to a WebKit networking caveat. |
| Android | Many VPN apps provide allowed-app or disallowed-app lists. | Always-on VPN and bypass controls are also described in Android Enterprise documentation, but managed policies are not the same as consumer-app controls. |
| iPhone | Provider- or enterprise-profile-dependent rules; some provider implementations target websites. | Do not assume arbitrary app selection. Microsoft Tunnel supports per-app VPN or split-tunneling rules on iOS/iPadOS, but not both simultaneously. |
For all four platforms, the operating system alone does not determine the available split-tunneling controls. Verify the provider’s current instructions for your device and protocol, then confirm the actual route with protected and bypassed traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will split tunneling make my VPN faster?
The available documentation does not establish a speed improvement or provide a performance figure. Split tunneling changes which connections use the VPN; whether that changes the experience depends on the traffic and service involved.
Can I use split tunneling with a WireGuard configuration file?
WireGuard clients are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, and providers can distribute configuration files for import. That does not establish that every client or imported configuration exposes split-tunneling controls; check the provider’s instructions for the particular app and configuration.
Does an app bypass rule also bypass the VPN’s DNS servers?
Not necessarily. ExpressVPN says its DNS queries remain routed through its servers while connected regardless of its split-tunneling settings, so DNS routing can differ from the route followed by an excluded app.
Can I use per-app VPN and split tunneling together on iPhone?
Not in the Microsoft Tunnel iOS/iPadOS configuration documented by Microsoft: it supports per-app VPN or split-tunneling rules, but not both simultaneously. Other providers may implement iOS routing differently, so their current documentation is the relevant guide for consumer apps.
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