What’s the best VPN protocol on macOS?

WireGuard/NordLynx for speed and efficiency; switch to OpenVPN TCP/443 on restrictive Wi-Fi (hotels/offices).

How do I enable a real kill switch on macOS?

Use the VPN app’s Kill Switch so macOS blocks traffic if the tunnel drops. Keep the macOS firewall on and allow the VPN helper.

Why do I still see Netflix/iPlayer proxy errors?

The endpoint may be flagged or the app cached an old route. Rotate UK servers, quit and relaunch the app (⌘Q), and try TCP/443 on strict networks.

How do I prevent DNS/WebRTC leaks?

Enable provider DNS in the VPN app, reconnect, flush the DNS cache from Terminal, and disable WebRTC IP leakage in browser settings or via an extension.

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

Exact macOS presets for speed, privacy and streaming reliability in the UK.

Updated: 2025-09-21 • ~15–20 min read

macOS-friendly VPNs for the UK

Choose providers with fast WireGuard/NordLynx, audited no-logs, reliable kill switch and robust UK endpoints.

NordVPN — See offer Surfshark — See offer

Quick setup (2 minutes)

Install NordVPN or Surfshark for macOS (Apple Silicon & Intel supported).
In the VPN app, set protocol to WireGuard/NordLynx. Enable the app’s Kill Switch.
Connect to a low-load UK server (London/Manchester/Birmingham). Confirm your public IP is the VPN’s.

If you’re new to VPNs, start with What is a VPN? and Best VPN Settings (UK).

WireGuard vs OpenVPN on macOS

WireGuard/NordLynx — fastest and battery-friendly; excellent on Apple Silicon (M1–M4).
OpenVPN UDP — classic fallback if a specific network middlebox interferes.
OpenVPN TCP/443 — disguises as HTTPS; handy for restrictive hotel/office Wi-Fi. Slight speed trade-off.

Deep dive: WireGuard vs OpenVPN vs IKEv2 (UK).

Best app & system settings (UK)

1) In the VPN app

Protocol: WireGuard/NordLynx. Keep OpenVPN TCP/443 as a fallback on strict LANs.
Kill Switch: On. Prefer “system-wide” mode if available in your client.
Use provider DNS: On. Prevents ISP DNS from leaking and triggering streaming errors.
Auto-connect: Enable on untrusted networks; optionally at login for always-on privacy.
Obfuscation: Off by default; enable only when a network blocks VPN traffic.

2) In macOS (System Settings)

Privacy & Security → Firewall: Keep it on; allow your VPN app’s helper extensions.
Network → Wi-Fi → Private Wi-Fi address: Leave on for public networks.
Energy: Prevent sleep during long downloads/uploads to keep the tunnel alive.
Login Items: Keep the VPN app in “Open at Login” if you want always-on protection.

3) Server choice (UK)

Pick low-load UK servers near you and rotate at peak hours (evenings/weekends).
Travelling? Switch country and relaunch apps (Netflix/iPlayer) after each change.

Split tunneling on macOS

Useful when specific apps dislike VPN egress or you need local-LAN access:

Exclude from VPN: UK banking, work SSO clients, AirPrint/scan utilities, local NAS apps.
Keep inside VPN: browsers, streaming, P2P clients, messengers.

For whole-home coverage (Apple TV, consoles), consider a router VPN with policy routing: VPN Router Setup (UK), VPN on a Router.

Streaming (Netflix, BBC iPlayer, more)

Netflix UK: If you see a proxy/unblocker error, rotate UK servers → fully quit the Netflix app/browser (⌘Q) → relaunch. On strict networks switch to TCP/443. Guide: Netflix UK with a VPN.
BBC iPlayer: Use recommended UK endpoints, relaunch iPlayer after each change. Guide: BBC iPlayer with a VPN.
Apple TV / Smart TVs: Run the VPN on your router or share your Mac’s VPN via Internet Sharing. See Smart TV (UK).

Performance & speed tips

Prefer Ethernet or 5 GHz Wi-Fi. Avoid crowded 2.4 GHz for 4K streams.
Use WireGuard for best throughput. Rotate to a lower-load UK endpoint if speeds dip.
Pause heavy iCloud/OneDrive sync during gaming/streaming.
For P2P, moderate global connections if your home router is entry-level; see Torrenting (UK).

IP/DNS/WebRTC leaks on macOS

Test after installation and major app or macOS updates. If a leak test shows ISP DNS or your real IP:

Reconnect the VPN with “Use provider DNS” enabled.
Flush DNS cache (Terminal): sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
Restart the browser; in Safari/Chrome/Firefox mitigate WebRTC IP leakage via settings or extensions.

Step-by-step: IP/DNS/WebRTC leaks — UK.

Troubleshooting matrix

Symptom	Likely cause	Fix
Cannot connect on hotel/office Wi-Fi	Strict firewall / blocked UDP	Switch to OpenVPN TCP/443; try another UK city; relaunch the target app
Proxy/unblocker error in Netflix/iPlayer	Flagged IP / stale cache	Rotate server → quit app (⌘Q) → relaunch; try TCP/443; clear app data if needed
DNS shows ISP resolvers	DNS leak	Use provider DNS in the app; reconnect; flush DNS; verify again
Random disconnects when sleeping	Network stack sleeps	Disable sleep during sessions; keep the VPN app in Login Items; update the app
Evening buffering	Server congestion / Wi-Fi jitter	Pick a low-load endpoint; move to 5 GHz/Ethernet; pause background syncs

General presets: Best VPN Settings (UK). Protocols: WireGuard vs OpenVPN vs IKEv2.

Video: macOS VPN — fast UK presets

About the author

Denys Shchur — SEO practitioner & VPN enthusiast. Writes practical, UK-focused guides on privacy, streaming and performance tuning.

More by Denys: Best VPN UK • What is a VPN? • macOS VPN