There are three ways: auto-connect on Wi-Fi you haven't trusted, auto-connect when the phone starts, and Android's Always-on VPN, which keeps the VPN connected all the time. In PryVPN the first two are in Settings › Auto-connect and Wi-Fi; Always-on is in Android's VPN settings.
How can a VPN connect automatically on Android?
In three ways: on any Wi-Fi you haven't marked as trusted, every time the phone starts, or all the time with Android's Always-on VPN. Auto-connect matters most on public Wi-Fi, where your phone often joins a known network before you have even unlocked it.
| What it does | When it fits | |
|---|---|---|
| On untrusted Wi-Fi | Connects on any Wi-Fi you haven't marked as trusted | Cafés, hotels, airports, work |
| When the phone starts | Connects after every restart | Not having to open the app |
| Always-on VPN (Android) | Keeps the VPN connected and starts it again if it stops | Protection all the time |
Auto-connect on untrusted Wi-Fi
- Open PryVPN and go to Settings › Auto-connect and Wi-Fi.
- Turn on On untrusted Wi-Fi.
- At home, tap Trust current network so PryVPN doesn't connect there by itself.
- To cover the rest too, turn on On mobile data or On other networks.
Android only tells apps the name of a Wi-Fi network if they have the location permission. PryVPN asks for it only when you add a trusted network, uses the name on your phone only and never reads your location.
On hotel and airport Wi-Fi with a login page, PryVPN opens the page, waits while you sign in and then connects by itself.
Can a VPN connect by itself when the phone starts?
Yes. In PryVPN's Settings › Auto-connect and Wi-Fi, turn on When the phone starts, or When the app opens if you prefer to start it yourself. For a VPN that is on from the very first second, Android's own Always-on VPN is the more reliable choice, because the system itself starts it.
Always-on VPN and Block connections without VPN
- In PryVPN, open Settings › Kill Switch › Open VPN settings. You can also go to Android's Settings › Network & internet › VPN (on Samsung: Connections › More connection settings › VPN).
- Tap the gear next to PryVPN.
- Turn on Always-on VPN, and Block connections without VPN for a Kill Switch.
With both on, Android starts the VPN with the phone and blocks internet access for apps whenever the tunnel is down. Disconnecting then leaves you offline until you connect again or turn Always-on off.
If auto-connect doesn't start
- Battery savers on Samsung, Xiaomi and other brands can stop apps in the background: Battery settings shows what to change on each brand.
- Only one VPN can be active at a time, and another app with Always-on takes over: see Another VPN or a work profile.
- If Android stops PryVPN, a notification lets you connect again with one tap.
Key takeaways
- Auto-connect on untrusted Wi-Fi covers cafés, hotels and airports without a thought.
- Mark your home network as trusted to keep it off there.
- Always-on VPN with Block connections without VPN keeps everything inside the tunnel.
- Battery savers are the usual reason auto-connect stops working.