VPN for iPhone and Android devices | McAfee (2024)

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This site in other countries/regions: You may have heard that using a VPN is a great way to protect your data and devices, especially when you’re on the go and using public Wi-Fi. But what exactly is a VPN, and why should you use it? What is a VPN? How do I a choose a VPN? What makes a VPN good? Does VPN drain battery? Does a VPN slow down phones? FAQs References

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Products

Recommended

All-In-One Protection

NEW!McAfee+ Products

Worry-free protection for your personal info, privacy, identity, and all your personal devices.
Individual and family plans

NEW!McAfee+ Ultimate

Our most comprehensive privacy, identity and device protection.

McAfee Total Protection

Protection for your devices with identity monitoring and VPN.

Device Protection

Antivirus

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Mobile Security

Free Tools & Downloads

Web Protection

Free Antivirus Trial

Device Security Scan

Other Services

PC Optimizer

Techmaster Concierge

Virus Removal

Features

Keep Me Private Online

Personal Data Cleanup

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

Safeguard My Identity

Identity Monitoring

Password Manager

Protect My Devices

Antivirus

Web Protection

Protect My Family

Protection Score

Parental Controls

About Us

Our Company

Company Overview

Investors

Our Efforts

Public Policy

Join Us

This site in other countries/regions:

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You may have heard that using a VPN is a great way to protect your data and devices, especially when you’re on the go and using public Wi-Fi. But what exactly is a VPN, and why should you use it?

What is a VPN?

A VPN (virtual private network) encrypts internet traffic and then bounces it around until it becomes scrambled, helping block geolocation-based tracking and offering more protection than an open network. This encrypted, or scrambled, traffic is then much harder to intercept and allows your private data to be more secure.

In a nutshell, a VPN makes your information difficult to decipher, helping keep hackers and other threats at bay. This is especially important when you’re using open, public Wi-Fi networks at coffee shops, airports, and other on-the-go locations.

How do I a choose a VPN?

A quick search will show you that there are a lot of VPN options out there, but not all of them have your best interests at heart. Around 38% of Android VPN apps in the Google Play Store inject malware rather than prevent it. Many types of malware operate this way, from keyloggers to outright data theft.

While that number may seem alarming, there’s no need to worry. With the criteria and recommendations below, you can select a VPN that will protect, and not infect, your data and devices.

What makes a VPN good?

A good VPN creates a private network so that hackers or prying eyes cannot see or alter your network traffic and will help keep your phone data and communications private regardless of the device.

McAfee® Safe Connect is a VPN that will do just that. This McAfee VPN for Android and iPhone gives you access to bank-grade Wi-Fi encryption so you can browse in confidence. This VPN will help keep your online activities, sites visited and personally identifiable information protected – even on public Wi-Fi or open networks. It’s available for both iOS and Android devices, giving a lot of smartphone users a safe, reliable VPN option.

Does VPN drain battery?

A VPN should not significantly affect your phone’s expected battery life as it runs in the background. If it does, consider using a different application.

Does a VPN slow down phones?

VPNs by nature tend to have slower internet connectivity. A VPN connects into a separate network before you start browsing, and then runs the requests through that network. This extra step can sometimes cause some network delays in exchange for higher security.

Although a VPN does not provide complete immunity from cyberthreats, it is the safest way to get online and help reduce your risk and vulnerability, especially on public Wi-Fi. The information sent between your device and the server where it lands will be better protected than if you browsed without a VPN, making it a great addition to your cybersecurity toolset.

ASIA PACIFIC

Australia - English

New Zealand - English

Singapore - English

Malaysia - English

Philippines - English

India - English

대한민국 - 한국어

日本 - 日本語

中国 - 简体中文

香港特別行政區 - 繁體中文

台灣 - 繁體中文

EUROPE

Česká Republika - Čeština

Danmark - Dansk

Suomi - Suomi

France - Français

Deutschland - Deutsch

Ελλάδα - Ελληνικά

Ireland - English

Magyarország - Magyar

ישראל - עברית

Italia - Italiano

Nederland - Nederlands

Norge - Bokmål

Polska - Polski

Portugal - Português

Россия - Русский

España - Español

Sverige - Svenska

Suisse - Français

Schweiz - Deutsch

Türkiye - Türkçe

العربية - العربية

United Kingdom - English

LATIN AMERICA

Argentina - Español

Brasil - Português

Chile - Español

Colombia - Español

México - Español

Perú - Español

NORTH AMERICA

United States - English

Canada - English

Canada - Français

VPN for iPhone and Android devices | McAfee (2024)

FAQs

Should I activate McAfee VPN? ›

Using a VPN to protect your personal data is especially important if you plan on making any purchases or financial transactions while connected. With McAfee Secure VPN, we can help turn on VPN automatically on these unsecure networks so you can browse in confidence.

Read The Full Story ›

What does "secure VPN" mean on McAfee? ›

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) helps you stay safe on any network (including open and public Wi-Fi networks) by giving you bank-grade encryption and private browsing. These features protect your online activities and data from cybercriminals.

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Why won't McAfee VPN connect? ›

Things to check. Ensure that your McAfee app is up to date, and that the system date and time on your device is correct. Ensure that you have a good, stable internet connection. For example, with the VPN disconnected, you should be able to access and browse popular websites without issue.

Why does McAfee VPN keep turning off? ›

Disable battery saving for your Android VPN app

These try to limit app use of system resources, and if they're too aggressive, your VPN app may lose its connection. To test this, turn off battery saving for your VPN app.

Should I leave my McAfee VPN on all the time? ›

Should I leave my VPN on all the time? Yes, you should leave your VPN on all the time. VPNs offer the best online security, so keeping it on will protect you against data leaks and cyberattacks, especially while you're using public Wi-Fi. It can also safeguard against intrusive snoopers such as ISPs or advertisers.

Get More Info Here ›

Is VPN free with McAfee? ›

The McAfee Safe Connect VPN is only free for a week. After that, users will need to pay $34.99 for one year of access (although that price will increase to $47.99 in the second year).

See Details ›

Why did McAfee remove VPN? ›

As of April 2022, McAfee VPN services are no longer available in India. This change is because of a cybersecurity order passed by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In). The order requires VPN providers in India to log all VPN customer data, and to keep this data for five years.

Learn More Now ›

How does McAfee VPN work on iPhone? ›

This McAfee VPN for Android and iPhone gives you access to bank-grade Wi-Fi encryption so you can browse in confidence. This VPN will help keep your online activities, sites visited and personally identifiable information protected – even on public Wi-Fi or open networks.

Learn More ›

Does a VPN hide your location on iPhone? ›

A VPN hides your iPhone's IP address and gives you a new one from one of its servers. Essentially, changing your IP address alters your phone's virtual location, so ISPs (internet service providers), Netflix, websites, and apps won't know where you really are.

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How do I activate McAfee VPN on my phone? ›

Setting Up the VPN on Your Android

The first step is to go to the Google Play Store on your device and search for your VPN provider. Once you find it, tap on the Install button to download and install the VPN app on your device. For instance, if you have chosen McAfee+, search for “McAfee+ VPN” in the Play Store.

Get More Info Here ›

How to turn off McAfee VPN on iPhone? ›

Yes, turning off a VPN on your iPhone is straightforward. You'll need to go to “Settings” on your iPhone, then select “General” and “VPN.” Within the VPN settings, you should see a toggle button or a “Not Connected” status option. Select this to disable the VPN service on your iPhone.

Keep Reading ›

Why does my McAfee keep turning off on my phone? ›

Common Reasons of McAfee VPN Disconnections

Software Glitches: Outdated VPN client software or conflicting applications on your device may interfere with the proper functioning of McAfee VPN, causing it to turn off unexpectedly.

Learn More ›

Why VPN keeps turning off iPhone? ›

The stability of your VPN heavily relies on your internet connection. If you experience VPN disconnects, test your internet connectivity. Disconnect from and reconnect to your wifi network and see if the issue persists. Try visiting lesser-used websites or using an online service to check internet stability.

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Is there any reason to turn off VPN? ›

Some reasons you might turn your VPN off

Most are because sites actively block, or have policies against, VPNs. Turning off your VPN could also help diagnose some network issues. If you're traveling to a country where VPN use is illegal or regulated, turning your VPN off could help keep you out of trouble.

Read The Full Story ›

Why does my phone keep trying to connect to VPN? ›

The most common reasons include: 1. The VPN is set to connect automatically: Some VPNs have a setting that allows them to connect automatically whenever you connect to a new network. If this setting is enabled, you'll need to disable it before you can turn off the VPN manually.

Read On ›

Should I have VPN enabled? ›

You should use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) whenever you're online. By doing so, you make sure that your data and privacy are protected. Without a VPN, your every action online may be monitored and taken advantage of.

Does McAfee VPN slow down internet speed? ›

On slower networks, you might notice a slight reduction in speed as you use the VPN. This reductoion is caused because we encrypt your data as it moves through our secure servers. If you think internet browsing is unusually slow, turn off the VPN, wait for one minute, and then turn it on again.

Find Out More ›

What is the difference between McAfee Safe Connect and VPN? ›

256-bit AES encryption is the industry standard for VPNs, which ensures that your internet traffic and IP address stays hidden from your ISP. However, while the McAfee Safe Connect hides your browsing data from your ISP, McAfee keeps some data for itself, including: Mailing addresses. Phone numbers.

See Details ›

Does McAfee VPN hide my IP address? ›

Yes, McAfee VPN uses AES-256 encryption to encrypt your connection and hide (and change) your IP address. However, it also logs your real IP address.