VPN for Android (UK, 2025) — Best Settings, Speed & Privacy

Quick setup (2 minutes)

1. Install NordVPN or Surfshark from Google Play.
2. Set protocol to WireGuard/NordLynx. Turn on Kill Switch.
3. Open Android settings → Network & internet → VPN → tap the gear for your VPN → enable Always-on VPN and Block connections without VPN.
4. Connect to a low-load UK server (London/Manchester). Test your IP/DNS.

New to VPNs? Start with What is a VPN? and our presets in Best VPN Settings (UK).

WireGuard vs OpenVPN on Android

• WireGuard/NordLynx — fastest and most efficient for UK broadband/5G; quick to reconnect after sleep.
• OpenVPN UDP — solid fallback when a network treats WireGuard oddly.
• OpenVPN TCP/443 — “looks like HTTPS”; best for restrictive Wi-Fi at hotels/campuses/offices (expect a small speed trade-off).

More context: WireGuard vs OpenVPN vs IKEv2 (UK).

Best app settings (UK)

1) Core toggles

• Auto-connect: On for Wi-Fi and mobile. Trigger on boot if offered.
• Kill Switch: On in-app. Also enforce system-wide as above (Always-on + Block without VPN).
• Use provider DNS: On. Avoid ISP DNS to reduce proxy detections.
• Obfuscation: Off by default; enable only if your network blocks VPNs.

2) Server selection

• Prefer low-load UK servers near you. Rotate endpoints during peak hours.
• For travel, select the target country and relaunch streaming apps after the switch.

3) App hygiene

• Keep the VPN app exempt from battery optimisations: Settings → Apps → VPN app → Battery → Unrestricted.
• Allow “VPN active” notification — Android is less likely to kill foreground services.

Split tunneling: what to exclude

Split tunneling gives you control. Typical UK setup:

• Outside the VPN: banking/work apps that dislike VPN egress, local smart-home apps.
• Inside the VPN: browsers, streaming, messaging.

Router user? Consider policy routing/dual SSIDs so only TVs/consoles go via VPN. See VPN Router Setup (UK) and VPN on a Router (overview).

Streaming (Netflix, BBC iPlayer, more)

• Netflix UK: If you get a proxy message, rotate UK servers → force-quit Netflix → relaunch. On strict Wi-Fi try TCP/443 (if app supports) or via a router hotspot. Full playbook: Netflix UK with a VPN.
• BBC iPlayer: Use recommended UK endpoints; relaunch the app after each server change. Guide: BBC iPlayer with a VPN.
• Smart TV handoff: Cast/Chromecast from Android while the router runs the VPN, or install the VPN app on Android TV. See Smart TV (UK).

Battery & stability tips

• Use WireGuard — it’s CPU-light and reconnects quickly.
• Disable aggressive battery optimisation for your VPN app.
• Prefer 5 GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet (for TV boxes). Jittery Wi-Fi causes renegotiations.
• Don’t force-quit the VPN — let it run as a foreground service.

IP/DNS/WebRTC leaks on Android

Test after the first install and after app/OS updates. If a site shows ISP DNS or your real IP:

• Reconnect the VPN and ensure “Use provider DNS” is ON.
• Toggle Airplane Mode ON/OFF to reset radios if routes are stale.
• Switch server/city; relaunch the target app.

Deep dive: IP/DNS/WebRTC leaks — UK.

Troubleshooting matrix

General presets: Best VPN Settings (UK). Router tips: Router Setup.

Video: Android VPN — fast UK presets