No matter whether you want to use it for your work from the home office or purely for private purposes: On Set up a VPN becomes child’s play on Windows 10. Nevertheless, you should pay attention to a few things when creating the network so that everything is guaranteed to go according to plan. In the following we will explain exactly how you have to proceed.
Setting up a VPN with Windows 10: you need to know that
Before we tell you how to set up a VPN, you might want to know what it actually is. Basically, it is a virtual private network. VPN allows you to securely connect to your employer’s network, connect to the internet from home, and stay protected even when you’re in a public place like an internet cafe or library.
However, before you can set up the VPN, you need to create a profile on your PC. You can create this VPN profile yourself, or set up a business account to receive a VPN profile from your employer.
The right VPN profile
If the profile is one that you would like to use for work, it is a good idea to first look for the appropriate VPN settings or even a VPN app on your company’s intranet. The IT support of your company will certainly help you in case of doubt.
A suitable app, which you can find in the Microsoft Store, is usually sufficient for private use of a VPN. Before doing this, however, find out more about the VPN connection settings and other information that may play a role in setting up the network on your VPN provider’s website.
Setting up a VPN: explained step by step
You don’t need a great deal of technical know-how to set up a VPN. Just follow our instructions, which will accompany you through the process and break down all the steps individually:
- Use the Windows “Start” button (bottom left in the taskbar) to navigate to “Settings”.
- Here you select the item “Network & Internet” and then click on “VPN”.
- Now you can “Add a VPN connection”.
- When you get there, select “Windows (integrated)” as the VPN provider.
- Then, in the Connection Name dialog box, enter a name that’s easy for you to remember, such as “My Personal VPN.” This is what you look for if you want to connect later.
- Now enter the address of the VPN server in the “Server name or IP address” field.
- The “VPN Type” depends on what type of VPN connection your employer or VPN provider uses.
- The “credential type” simply indicates what kind of credentials you want to use. Username and password, a one-time password, a certificate or even a smart card are all possible. Here you can also optionally enter your username and password directly in the corresponding field.
- Save your entries.
- Finally, you can edit the VPN connection information or make further settings via the “Advanced Options” tab.
Establish a VPN connection
Once you have set up your VPN, you are now able to establish an appropriate connection. It works like this:
- Highlight the Network icon in the taskbar on the right.
- Now select the VPN connection you want to use. Depending on what happens next, do one of the following:
a) When the Connect button appears under the VPN connection, highlight it.
b) If the VPN section opens in the settings, mark the relevant VPN connection there and then “Connect”. - If you are prompted to enter your login information, follow the instructions and enter your username and password.
Your computer should now be connected to a VPN network. You can check this by seeing the addition “Connected” under the name of the connection.
Conclusion: Setting up a VPN is not rocket science
As you’ve probably gathered from our simple explanation, setting up a VPN is a piece of cake. Only a few steps are necessary and the connection to the network is easy. For private purposes, we show you the best VPN providers that you can currently find elsewhere.
Sources: own research, Microsoft