Setting up a VPN on an iPhone takes a couple of minutes. The app does most of the work, but there are a few iOS-specific steps where people get stuck. Here is the whole process.
What you need
- An iPhone or iPad on a recent version of iOS
- An App Store account
- About three minutes
Step 1: Install the app
Open the App Store, search for your VPN, and tap Get. Before installing, check the developer name on the listing and make sure it matches the company's website. Copycat apps with near-identical names and icons are common.
Korp VPN on the App Store: apps.apple.com/app/korp-vpn/id6757106500, developed by Korp Systems L.L.C-FZ.
Step 2: Start a subscription
Most VPNs let you subscribe inside the app through the App Store. Your Apple ID is charged and you can manage or cancel the subscription later in Settings.
Step 3: Allow the VPN configuration
The first time you tap connect, iOS shows a prompt: the app "Would Like to Add VPN Configurations". Tap Allow, then confirm with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.
This is a standard iOS permission that every VPN app needs. It lets the app route network traffic through its tunnel. It does not give the app access to your photos, contacts, messages or passwords.
Step 4: Connect
Tap the connect button. A small VPN badge appears in the status bar at the top of the screen. That means the tunnel is up.
You can also switch the VPN on and off from the main Settings screen, where a VPN toggle now appears.
Step 5: Check that it is working
The badge tells you the tunnel exists. It is worth confirming your traffic actually uses it:
- IP check: visit any "what is my IP" page. The address should be the VPN server's, not yours.
- DNS leak test: the results should show the VPN's DNS servers, not your internet provider's.
- WebRTC test: in your browser, only the VPN address should appear.
Korp VPN has DNS and WebRTC leak tests, a speed test and a live Privacy Score built into the app, so you do not need third-party sites.
Settings that help
Connect on demand. Many VPN apps can switch on automatically when you join an untrusted Wi-Fi network. Worth enabling if you use public hotspots often.
Low Power Mode. iOS limits background activity in Low Power Mode. If your VPN disconnects when the phone is in your pocket, check whether it is on.
Old VPN profiles. If you have used other VPNs before, go to Settings, General, VPN & Device Management and delete configurations you no longer use. Multiple profiles can interfere with each other.
If the VPN will not connect
Work through these in order:
- Make sure the internet works with the VPN switched off.
- If you are on a hotel, office or school network, or mobile data with restrictions, turn on the stealth protocol if your VPN has one.
- Pick a different server.
- Remove old VPN profiles.
- Update the app.
- Restart the iPhone.
If none of that helps, contact support with your iPhone model, iOS version and the network you are on.
Hotel and airport Wi-Fi tip
Many public networks show a login page (a "captive portal") before they let you online. Complete that page first, then turn the VPN on. Until you are through the portal, the VPN has no internet to connect over.
How to turn it off or remove it
To disconnect, tap the button in the app or switch off the VPN toggle in Settings. To remove the VPN entirely, delete the app and check Settings, General, VPN & Device Management that its configuration is gone. Cancel an App Store subscription in Settings, tap your name, then Subscriptions.
Korp VPN for iPhone
Korp VPN works on iPhone and iPad with unlimited data, a strict no-logs policy on RAM-only servers and a stealth protocol for networks that block VPNs. Plans are $4.99 for three months or $17.99 a year.