Android
XPASS VPN for Android Phones and Tablets
A VPN on Android sends your phone or tablet's traffic through an encrypted tunnel, which helps on shared Wi-Fi and keeps your internet provider from seeing the sites you open by name. XPASS passes are prepaid for a fixed number of days, paid once by card, with no automatic renewal.
Android varies a lot between Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Pixel and other brands, so this page focuses on what is the same everywhere: the permission prompt, the status-bar key, always-on VPN, and the battery settings that decide whether your VPN survives in the background. The step-by-step version is in the Android setup guide.
XPASS has not yet tested this setup. The setup shown in My Pass after purchase is the source of truth.
One-time prepaid payment, no automatic renewal
Android setup shown on your My Pass page
Tips for always-on VPN and battery savers that kill background apps
What a VPN does on Android
Once connected, apps on your device reach the internet through the VPN server. Websites see the server's address, and anyone watching the café or hotel network sees only encrypted traffic going to one place. That is useful when you check email or banking on public Wi-Fi, though HTTPS already protects most individual sites.
A VPN does not remove ads, block malware or make you anonymous. See what a VPN cannot protect you from so your expectations match reality.
What to prepare
- An active pass and your My Pass page open, since login details appear only there and are never emailed.
- A Google account that can install apps from Google Play, or the source named on My Pass if it lists a different one. Install only from the name and source shown there.
- A stable network for the first sign-in.
- A look at your battery settings, because many Android brands stop background apps aggressively.
Pass validity begins when the account is created, so there is no need to wait until you travel to read the setup steps.
The Android prompts you will see
The first time a VPN app connects, Android shows a "Connection request" asking whether to allow the app to set up a VPN connection. Read the app name, then choose OK. Android shows this to protect you, because an app with VPN access can see and route your traffic.
Once connected you will see a key or VPN symbol in the status bar. Pull down the notification shade to see the connection and often a disconnect option. Saved VPNs and the always-on option live under Settings > Network & internet > VPN on many phones, but the path varies by brand and Android version, so search Settings for "VPN" if needed. Some brands also ask for notification permission, which is worth allowing so you can see the connection status.
Everyday use on Android
Always-on VPN
Android has an Always-on VPN switch for VPN apps that support it, found by tapping the gear icon next to the VPN in the VPN settings. It reconnects after reboots and network changes. A second option, Block connections without VPN, stops traffic whenever the VPN is down. That is safer but can leave you offline until you reconnect. Whether the setup on My Pass supports always-on is something to check there rather than assume.
Wi-Fi and mobile data
Switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data can interrupt the tunnel briefly. A well-behaved client reconnects by itself; if it does not, tap the connect control again.
Sleep, Doze and battery savers
Android's Doze mode and brand-specific battery managers can freeze background apps when the screen is off. If your VPN drops overnight or after a few minutes, set the app's battery usage to unrestricted or "no restrictions" and lock it in the recent-apps view where your brand allows that. How to improve connection stability covers this in more detail.
Troubleshooting on Android
- No connection request appears: another VPN may be active or always-on to a different app. Disable the other one in VPN settings, then try again.
- Connected but nothing loads: check whether a Private DNS setting or battery saver is interfering, toggle Airplane Mode for ten seconds, and reconnect.
- Keeps disconnecting: apply the battery settings above and read reconnecting when the VPN disconnects.
- Login fails: copy the details from My Pass instead of typing them.
- Work profile or managed phone: a company or school policy may block personal VPNs.
The full list is in the Android troubleshooting guide. To confirm the VPN is active, compare your public IP address with it off and on.
Battery optimisation by brand, and work profiles
The most common reason an Android VPN "randomly" disconnects is the phone's own battery management, and every brand names it differently. The wording below is typical, but menus change between versions, so treat it as a map rather than exact steps.
- Pixel and near-stock Android: open the app's info page, then Battery, and choose Unrestricted instead of Optimised.
- Samsung: Settings > Battery (or Battery and device care) > Background usage limits. Make sure the VPN app is not in "Sleeping apps" or "Deep sleeping apps", and consider adding it to "Never sleeping apps".
- Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO: set the app's battery saver to No restrictions and switch on Autostart in the app permissions.
- Oppo, Realme, OnePlus and Vivo: allow background activity and auto-launch for the app, and turn off any option that closes apps after the screen locks.
After changing these, lock the screen for ten minutes and check whether the key icon is still there. If it vanished, the phone is still closing the app and you may need to pin the app in the recent-apps view.
Work profiles and managed phones
If your phone has a work profile, shown by a briefcase badge on some apps, a VPN you start in the personal side usually does not cover the work apps, and the reverse is also true. A company can also set its own always-on VPN, which blocks you from adding a second one. If the connection request never appears, ask your IT team whether a policy is in place rather than trying to work around it.
Compatibility status for Android
XPASS lists the current supported setup for Android in My Pass, and that page is the source of truth for the app or connection method to use. Live verification of this platform with our supplier is in progress, so this page is marked as not yet verified, and results may differ by phone brand and Android version.
A 7-day pass is a low-commitment way to test on your own phone; a 30-day pass suits a longer stay. If you also stream on a TV, see Android TV and Google TV.
Devices covered
- Android phones and tablets
How to set it up
Choose a pass
Pick the number of days you need. There is no automatic renewal.
Pay once
Pay by card through Stripe. Your account is created automatically once payment is confirmed.
Open My Pass
Find your login details and the Android setup shown for your pass.
Follow the Android setup shown
Install the app or add the connection listed on My Pass, sign in, and choose OK on Android's connection request.
Connect and check
Look for the key or VPN symbol in the status bar and compare your public IP address with the VPN off and on.
Limitations to know first
- XPASS has not yet verified Android with the live supplier, so the supported setup can change; My Pass is the source of truth.
- Behaviour differs by brand and Android version, especially battery management and the location of VPN settings.
- Always-on VPN depends on the app or profile, and may not be available for every connection method.
- A VPN does not make you anonymous, and some services may restrict VPN connections.
Choose your pass
Prepaid passes. Pay once, no automatic renewal.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the VPN settings on Android?
On many phones they are under Settings > Network & internet > VPN. The path varies by brand and version, so search Settings for VPN if you cannot find it.
Why does Android show a connection request?
Android asks before an app can set up a VPN because that app can route your traffic. Approve it only for the app listed on My Pass.
What does Block connections without VPN do?
It stops all traffic when the VPN is not connected, so nothing leaves your phone unprotected. The trade-off is that you stay offline until the VPN reconnects.
Why does my VPN disconnect when the screen is off?
Battery savers and Doze can stop background apps. Set the VPN app's battery usage to unrestricted and check your brand's app-lock or autostart settings.
Does it work on tablets too?
Android tablets use the same VPN framework, so the steps are very similar. Check My Pass for how many devices your pass covers.
Ready when you are
Pick a pass, pay once and follow the setup shown in My Pass for your device.
See passes and pricing