How to Set Up a VPN on macOS

On a Mac you can connect to a VPN through an app or through the built-in VPN settings in macOS. Which route you use depends on what your account lists. This guide covers both, how to check the result and what to do if the connection fails.

You need an active pass first. If you have not bought one or are unsure where your details are, begin with getting started with XPASS.

Before you begin

1. Open My Pass and confirm that your pass is delivered and has days remaining.
2. Note the app or connection details listed for macOS, and have your login details ready. Copy and paste them to avoid typing errors.
3. Make sure your Mac is online and that you have an administrator password if you need to install software. On work or school Macs, the administrator may restrict VPN installs.
4. Install any pending macOS updates if you can. It is optional, but it helps avoid confusing errors.

Option A: use the app listed on My Pass

1. Get the app only from the source named on your My Pass page. Avoid lookalike results in search.
2. Install it the usual way. If it arrives as a disk image, open it and drag the app to the Applications folder.
3. Open the app and sign in with the details from My Pass.
4. macOS may ask whether to allow the app to add VPN configurations, or to approve a network extension. You may be asked for your Mac password or Touch ID. This is normal. If the approval is not offered in the prompt, check System Settings > Privacy & Security for a message about the blocked software.
5. Press the app's connect control and wait for the connected status.

Option B: add a VPN configuration in macOS settings

Use this when My Pass gives you connection details to enter manually.

1. Open System Settings and choose VPN. On older macOS versions, open System Preferences > Network and use the plus button at the bottom of the list.
2. Choose to add a VPN configuration, and select the VPN type that your My Pass page lists. Names and options differ by macOS version.
3. Enter a display name you will recognise.
4. Enter the server address exactly as shown on My Pass.
5. Enter the account name or other sign-in details requested. Add the password or other authentication details if the form asks for them.
6. Create or save the configuration.
7. Turn the new VPN on from its toggle, or select Connect.

If you want quick access, look for an option that shows VPN status in the menu bar. Its location varies by macOS version, so search System Settings for "VPN".

Check that it works

1. With the VPN off, open Safari and search for "what is my IP". Note the address.
2. Connect the VPN and reload the page. The address should change.
3. Open a few ordinary sites to confirm they load.

More tests, including DNS, are in how to check if your VPN is working.

Good habits

• Connect before you use a café, hotel or airport network.
• Keep macOS and the VPN app up to date.
• Keep your login details private and never post them in screenshots.
• If you want to know which devices XPASS works on, see the devices page.

If it does not work

• Sign-in fails. Paste the details again from My Pass, remove stray spaces, and confirm the pass still has days remaining.
• Prompt or approval is missing. Close the app and open it again. Check Privacy & Security in System Settings for a blocked item.
• Connected but nothing loads. Disconnect and reconnect. Turn Wi-Fi off and on, or try another network such as a phone hotspot. Restart the Mac if needed.
• Keeps disconnecting. A weak Wi-Fi signal is the usual cause. See reconnecting when the VPN disconnects.
• Settings do not match this guide. macOS menus change between versions. Use the search field in System Settings.
• Work or school Mac. Managed Macs can restrict VPN profiles and apps.

A VPN protects traffic between your Mac and the VPN. It does not make you anonymous or protect you from malware and phishing.

Summary

Take your details from My Pass, install the listed app or add a configuration under System Settings > VPN, approve any macOS prompts, connect and confirm that your IP address changes. Menus differ between macOS versions, so search when in doubt. If you want more time later, you can see the pricing page or renew from My Pass.