How to Set Up a VPN on Your Chromebook (2024)

Chromebooks are portable and hard to hack, making them excellent tools for security-minded folks on the go. When it comes to protecting the privacy of your web traffic, however, you'll need an additional tool: an Android VPN app on your Chromebook. We'll walk you through the setup process, from choosing the right VPN for your needs to setting up the app on your Chromebook

Choose the Best VPN for Your Chromebook

While all the best VPNs perform the same basic task of creating an encrypted connection between your Chromebook and a remote server operated by a VPN company, some services also offer interesting connection features, such as split tunneling or a Kill Switch. For an in-depth examination of VPNs and their merits, check out PCMag's explanation of what is a VPN and why you need one.

Whether you're trying to spoof your location, hoping to bypass government censorship, or you just want to watch another country's version of Netflix, you need to use the right VPN for the job. For example, we've tested some VPNs that excel when it comes to working with video streaming services, while others are better for playing video games.

When choosing a VPN, keep your budget in mind. If you don't think you'll need extras such as an ad blocker or dark web monitoring, why pay for them? While there are plenty of cheap, no-frills VPN options available, consider starting with one of the many free VPNs first to determine what you need from a VPN service, and what you don't.

What's the Best Way to Set Up a VPN on a Chromebook?

There are two ways to use a VPN service with your Chromebook. You can use a Chrome VPN browser extension or use a VPN app.

Chrome VPN Extensions

Using a Chrome browser VPN extension is probably the easiest way to secure your web traffic. Many VPN services offer browser extensions for Chrome. Just install one from the Chrome Extensions Webstore.

Chrome OS VPN browser extensions are encrypted proxies, so they secure only your web browser traffic, not traffic from other apps running on your Chromebook. This scenario could be ideal for you. For example, if you want to keep your web browsing private but don't want your video streaming to lag due to a VPN slowing your connection, you can use a VPN browser extension.

Android or Chrome OS VPN Apps

Another easy way to run a VPN on a Chromebook is to use an Android app. All of the top VPN services we recommend offer Android apps, and modern Chromebooks work well with mobile applications.

Some VPN services also offer Chrome OS applications that have Chromebook-specific features and settings such as options for split tunneling on Chromebook. Android and Chrome OS VPN apps appear as connection options in the network settings menu on your Chromebook.

How to Install a VPN App on Your Chromebook

Installing a VPN on your Chrome OS device is easy. Whichever commercial VPN you choose, it's bound to have an app available for download in the Google Play Store. Follow the steps below to install a VPN app on your device.

1. Locate and click to open the Play Store icon on your Chromebook's desktop or menu.

2. Type the name of the VPN you wish to install into the search bar.

3. Click on the Install button.

4. Open the installed VPN app on your desktop. At this point, you may be redirected to sign up for a VPN service plan and/or enter your information to create a service account.

5. Navigate back to the VPN app window. Click on a button or toggle labeled "Connect" to establish a VPN connection.

Establish a Private Browsing Experience

A VPN can only do so much when it comes to providing online protection. It won't keep you from falling victim to an email phishing scam or prevent you from downloading malware, for instance. With browser fingerprinting and other tracking techniques, a very determined individual can still track your movements online, even if you're using a VPN.

However, a VPN is an effective privacy tool. If you want your traffic to appear to be coming from a different location, a VPN will do that for you. If you want to make sure your ISP is in the dark when it comes to your online activity, a VPN is useful. You can make it harder for advertisers to track you around the web with a VPN, too.

Choose the best VPN for your budget and online lifestyle, and browse with peace of mind. Chrome OS is quite secure, but no system is impervious to exploits. Maintaining a safe presence online is about ensuring your privacy and remaining vigilant in the face of ongoing security threats.