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Microsoft retired the privacy-protection VPN in Microsoft Defender for individuals on February 28, 2025. The retirement applies to that VPN feature—not the Defender app itself. Windows, macOS and iOS users do not need to take retirement-specific action; Android users should remove the now-unused Defender VPN profile from their phone’s Settings. Microsoft’s end-of-support notice also explains why an iPhone may still show a VPN indicator.
When did Microsoft Defender VPN stop working?
The privacy-protection VPN feature in Microsoft Defender for individuals ended on February 28, 2025, according to Microsoft’s retirement notice. Microsoft had offered the feature on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, but its earlier announcement of that availability is historical information, not evidence that the service remains available today. Microsoft’s 2024 announcement describes that earlier rollout.
This change does not retire Microsoft Defender. Microsoft says its device-protection and identity-theft and credit-monitoring features continue, although availability varies by feature and region.
What should you do on each device?
| Device | Retirement action |
|---|---|
| Windows | No action is required for the VPN retirement. |
| macOS | No action is required for the VPN retirement. |
| iPhone or iPad (iOS) | No action is required for the retired privacy-protection VPN. A separate web-protection feature may still use a local VPN connection; see below. |
| Android | Microsoft recommends removing the Microsoft Defender VPN profile in your phone’s Settings. Leaving it installed will not affect the device, but Defender no longer uses it to provide protection. |
Remove the old Defender VPN profile on Android
- Open your phone’s Settings app.
- Search Settings for VPN.
- Select the Microsoft Defender VPN profile and choose the option to remove or forget it. Exact labels can vary by Android device.
These steps remove the obsolete profile; they do not uninstall the Defender app. Microsoft’s device-specific instructions are in its retirement notice.
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Why might an iPhone still show a VPN indicator?
On iOS, Microsoft says Defender web protection (anti-phishing) may continue to use a local, loop-back VPN mechanism. This is different from the retired privacy-protection VPN. A VPN indicator by itself therefore does not mean the old Defender privacy service is still operating. Microsoft describes the distinction in its iOS retirement guidance.
What did the retired VPN include?
Microsoft described the feature as protection for public or untrusted Wi-Fi: it encrypted internet traffic and hid the user’s IP address. Its FAQ listed support for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, automatic server selection, and a limit of 50 GB per user per month. Microsoft did not state a publication year for that limit on the FAQ page; it was an allowance for the former feature, not a current Defender plan.
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The service did not let users select a server region and was not intended to bypass geographic or regional content restrictions. Microsoft also said it used a custom implementation of OpenVPN and cautioned against using a personal VPN on workplace-managed devices. These are descriptions of the retired service, not current capabilities. See Microsoft’s privacy-protection FAQ.
What can you use instead?
Choose an alternative based on the job you need it to do. Protecting traffic on public Wi-Fi, using a VPN while traveling, and connecting through a specific region are different requirements. Since Defender’s former VPN selected servers automatically and did not support geographic restriction bypass, it was not a location-selection service.
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- Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Classic, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click secure VPN.
- For a per-device VPN app: Compare supported devices, server and connection controls, data or plan limits, privacy documentation, and safeguards if the connection drops. Proton VPN’s travel guidance and router setup documentation are examples of provider information to review; they do not establish that Proton VPN is equivalent to Defender or best for every user.
- For multiple devices on a trip: A VPN-compatible travel router can route devices through one router connection. Check that the router supports VPN-client configuration and that you have a compatible VPN service; the router is hardware that requires setup, not a direct replacement for Defender’s per-device feature. See NordVPN’s VPN-router overview and ExpressVPN’s Aircove information. Aircove Go is an example of a portable VPN-router product, but confirm current availability and specifications before buying.
Before choosing, verify that the provider supports your devices and intended locations, and read its current privacy and service terms. No single alternative can be recommended for everyone from the former Defender feature’s specifications alone.
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