Windows 10 · Windows 11

XPASS VPN for Windows PCs and Laptops

A VPN on Windows protects the traffic of a laptop or desktop that moves between home, office, hotel and café networks. With XPASS you buy a prepaid pass for a fixed number of days, pay once by card, and nothing renews automatically.

Windows is the platform where a VPN touches the most system layers: it may install a virtual network adapter, it asks for administrator approval, and it interacts with the firewall and sleep settings. This page walks through what to expect. The step-by-step version is in the Windows setup guide.

Compatibility statusNot yet verified

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
Windows setup shown on your My Pass page
Covers admin prompts, sleep behaviour and firewall checks

What a VPN does on a Windows PC

While connected, your PC sends its traffic through an encrypted tunnel to the VPN server. Websites see the server's address, and the hotel or café network sees encrypted data rather than the pages you open. For a laptop that joins unfamiliar Wi-Fi, this is the main benefit.

Windows has its own built-in VPN client under Settings, and many VPN providers also supply a separate program. A VPN does not replace antivirus software, updates or HTTPS, and it does not stop you from being tracked once you sign in to a service. See common VPN security myths.

What to prepare

An active pass and the My Pass page open, because login details are shown only there and never emailed.
Administrator rights on the PC. Work or school laptops are often managed, and policy can block software or VPN connections.
Windows 10 or 11 with recent updates installed, and a stable network for downloading the client.
Your downloads from the name and source shown on My Pass only. Do not install a program from a search result or a link in a message.

If you plan to use the built-in Windows VPN menu, keep the server address, connection type and credentials from My Pass ready to copy.

The Windows prompts you will see

Installing a VPN program normally brings up the User Account Control prompt asking whether to allow the app to make changes to your device. Approve it for the installer you downloaded from the source named on My Pass. Some clients also install a virtual network adapter, and Windows may ask to confirm the driver; this is a normal part of how a VPN client works. You may also see a Windows Defender Firewall prompt asking which networks the app may use.

If you use the built-in client, go to Settings > Network & internet > VPN, choose Add VPN, and fill in the details exactly as My Pass shows them. Once connected, the VPN entry shows Connected and a shield or lock appears on the network icon in the taskbar. Menu names differ slightly between Windows 10 and 11.

Everyday use on Windows

Sleep, hibernate and lid close

When a laptop sleeps, the tunnel usually closes. After waking, Windows rejoins Wi-Fi first and the VPN follows. Some clients reconnect by themselves, others need a click. Before you sign in to something important after waking, check that the VPN shows as connected.

Switching networks

Moving from Ethernet to Wi-Fi, or between Wi-Fi networks, interrupts the connection for a moment. Treat the VPN status as the thing to check whenever the network icon changes.

Start-up and auto-connect

Whether a client can connect when Windows starts depends on the program or profile listed in My Pass. Do not assume it: open the app after sign-in and confirm the status. A kill switch, where offered, blocks traffic when the tunnel drops.

Split tunnelling and other apps

If a work application or local printer stops working on the VPN, a setting called split tunnelling may help where the client supports it. Check My Pass before assuming.

Troubleshooting on Windows

Install is blocked: you may lack admin rights, or security software may flag the installer. Re-download it from the source on My Pass and ask your IT team on a managed device.
Connected but no internet: disconnect, restart the VPN program, then run Network reset only as a last resort. Also try a different Wi-Fi.
Keeps dropping after sleep: reconnect manually and check that the network adapter is not set to turn off to save power in Device Manager.
Firewall blocks the connection: re-run the connection and allow the app on both private and public networks when asked.
Websites load slowly: a VPN adds a hop, see why speed changes with a VPN.

To check it is working, compare your public IP address with the VPN off and on, as described in how to check your VPN.

Metered connections, hibernate and security software

Three Windows-specific settings cause most of the "it worked yesterday" reports.

Metered connections

If you mark a Wi-Fi or mobile hotspot connection as metered (Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > the network's properties), Windows limits background data. The built-in VPN client has its own switches, Allow VPN over metered networks and Allow VPN while roaming, in the advanced options of each VPN entry. If a VPN refuses to connect only on your phone's hotspot, check these first. Other programs may also pause updates and sync on metered links, which is usually what you want.

Sleep, hibernate and Fast Startup

Sleep keeps your session in memory, so the VPN usually needs a reconnect after wake. Hibernate and Fast Startup save more state to disk, and a network adapter can come back in an odd state. If the VPN fails only after a shutdown and start, try a full restart rather than Shut down, since a restart skips Fast Startup. In Device Manager, open the Power Management tab of your Wi-Fi adapter and untick "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" if drops follow sleep.

Third-party firewall and antivirus

Security suites often include their own firewall and a "network protection" or web-filter layer that can block a new virtual adapter or break DNS while a VPN is on. If connecting fails right after installing the VPN client, look at the suite's blocked-activity log and add the VPN program as an allowed application. Do not turn protection off entirely. If a work-managed endpoint tool is installed, only your IT team can change it.

After any of these changes, reconnect and confirm your public IP address changed with the VPN on.

Compatibility status for Windows

XPASS lists the current supported setup for Windows in My Pass, and that page is the source of truth for the program 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 between Windows 10 and 11 or between managed and personal PCs.

A 30-day pass suits a month of work travel; a short trip may only need a few days. Renewing early adds days on top of what remains.

Devices covered

Windows

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 after payment is confirmed.
Open My Pass
Find your login details and the Windows setup shown for your pass.
Follow the Windows setup shown
Install the program or enter the connection details listed on My Pass, and approve the administrator prompt for it.
Connect and check
Confirm the status shows Connected, then compare your public IP address with the VPN off and on.

Limitations to know first

XPASS has not yet verified Windows with the live supplier, so the supported setup can change; My Pass is the source of truth.
Work and school PCs may block VPN software or connections through device policy.
Auto-connect, kill switch and split tunnelling depend on the program or profile and may not be available.
A VPN does not replace antivirus software or system updates, and it does not make you anonymous.

Choose your pass

Prepaid passes. Pay once, no automatic renewal.

Frequently asked questions

Where are the VPN settings on Windows?

In Windows 10 and 11 they are under Settings > Network & internet > VPN. Layout varies slightly between versions.

Why does Windows ask for administrator approval?

Installing a VPN client or a network adapter changes system settings, so Windows shows the User Account Control prompt. Approve it only for the installer from the source named on My Pass.

Will the VPN reconnect after my laptop sleeps?

It depends on the client. Some reconnect automatically and some need a click, so check the status after waking before you sign in to anything important.

Is Windows supported for every setup method?

XPASS lists the current supported setup in My Pass. Live verification of Windows is in progress, so follow what My Pass shows.

Can I use it on a work laptop?

Possibly, but managed devices often block personal VPN software. Check your organisation's policy first.