How to set up Surfshark VPN on Windows

In this tutorial, you will learn how to install the Surfshark VPN Windows app on your device. You will need a Windows device running Windows 7 or later and an active Surfshark subscription, which you can purchase on our pricing page.

If you are using Windows 7 or 8, you will need to download the Windows Legacy version Surfshark app.

To set up Surfshark VPN, you need to:

1. Download the Surfshark app
2. Install the app
3. Log into the app
4. Connect to the VPN
5. Manage server locations
6. Manage Surfshark features
7. Manage Surfshark settings
8. Manage Surfshark Tray menu
9. Ensure your connection is successful

Download the Surfshark app

1. You can download the Surfshark VPN app for Windows here. Clicking the download button on the Windows VPN app will start the download:
   
   
   If your Windows device's processor's structure is ARM64, download the second option.
   
   
2. Once the download is complete, locate the installation file on your device. It will likely be in your device's downloads folder:
   

Install the app

1. Double-click the Surfshark.Setup file:
   
   
   
2. The computer will ask if you 'want to allow this app to make changes to your device.’ Click yes:
   
   
   
3. Wait until the automatic installation is finished:
   
4. When the installation is complete, wait a few seconds. The app will start automatically:
   

Log into the app

1. Once the app is open, log in as an existing user. If you don’t have a subscription yet, you can get it by clicking on the create account button:
   

   
   
   

2. Press log in and enter the email address and password you used when registering. Click log in again:
   
   
   
3. If you've enabled two-factor authentication for your account, you will need to enter a 2FA code. Enter your authentication code and press verify:
   

   
   

Connect to the VPN

Once you log in, you will see the main dashboard of the Surfshark app:

You can start by clicking on quick-connect. It will connect you to the fastest location, which is usually the closest to your country of residence:

Here, you can also see the recently used servers and all the locations you can connect to. Once you are connected, you can also disconnect or pause the connection.


The first way to change your preferred connection location is by pressing the change button:

The second way to change your preferred connection location is to go to the settings > VPN settings > quick-connect. Once you click on it, you'll find a list of locations to choose from, along with the nearest and fastest ones.

Once you make your choice, it will be reflected like this:

Manage Surfshark locations

Surfshark has 3200+ servers in 100 countries. Choose a server, click on it, and that's it.

To favorite a location, click on the star icon next to it:

Once you do so, the location will appear at the top of the list in the favourites section:

You can also see Static IP, Dedicated IP, and MultiHop tabs at the top of your Surfshark app:

• Static IP – you will get the same IP address each time you connect to the Static IP servers.
• MultiHop – you will be connected through two different VPN servers. You can also choose both of these servers.
• Dedicated IP – you will have a dedicated IP address that is yours only. You have to purchase it separately.

Running a speed and latency test will help you choose the best server to connect to. You can find Sufshark’s inbuilt speed and latency test at settings > VPN settings > Speed test:

Choose your preferred list of servers to test. You can test recommended, favorite, recently used, and other locations. Once you select the list, click run test at the bottom right of the window:


A few seconds later, test results will show up. Locations with higher Down/Up speeds and low latency will provide the best VPN performance. 

Manage Surfshark features

On the left side of the app, you can see 4 additional Surfshark features. You must have an active Surfshark ONE subscription to use them:


Here, you can find the following:

• Surfshark Alert – a tool that alerts you immediately if your personal information (such as email, identification number, or credit card details) appears in breached online databases.
• Surfshark Search – a tool that helps you search without leaving a trace. It offers purely organic search results and prevents tracking and targeted ads.
• Surfshark Antivirus – a tool that protects your device from viruses and malware (malicious software). It offers real-time protection, performs scans, and more.
• Alternative ID – a tool that generates a brand-new identity and an email to use online. Provides name & email protection, reduces spam emails, and more.

Manage Surfshark settings

You can customize the Surfshark app according to your preferences.

Open the settings tab and select app settings:

Here, you can do the following:

• Enable dark mode.
• Change the app language.
• See the current app version.
• Configure the notifications settings and send crash reports.

In VPN settings, you can make some more advanced changes:

Here, you can do the following:

• Enable Auto-connect.
• Enable Launch app on startup. The Surfshark app will launch whenever you turn on your computer.
• Change the connection protocol.
• Enable CleanWeb. It’s a feature that blocks ads, trackers, malware, and phishing attempts.
• Enable Kill Switch. It's a feature that protects you from unexpected VPN disconnections.
• Enable or disable the NoBorders. It’s a feature that helps you connect in network-restrictive environments.
• Access the Bypasser. It’s a feature that allows specific apps & websites to bypass the VPN tunnel.
• Enable the Rotating IP. This feature changes your IP address to the chosen location every 5 to 10 minutes without disconnecting from the VPN.
  
  
• Enable Discover on LAN (or Invisible on LAN in older versions). This feature makes your device undetectable by other devices on the same network.

Manage Surfshark Tray menu

Even if you close the Surfshark app's main window, its minimized version will stay active in the System Tray. It will remind you if the VPN is connected or not.

If the Surfshark icon is green, you’re connected.
If the Surfshark icon is gray, you’re disconnected.

You will find it in the Windows System Tray. You can drag it from the System Tray to the taskbar so that it always stays visible.

It also allows you to instantly switch to a different location or manage other settings, such as auto-connect or Kill Switch.

Ensure your connection is successful

Let’s see if your connection is successful after setting up a VPN. You can do it by performing an IP leak test and a DNS leak test on our website.

You may also be interested in:

• How to make sure if my connection was successful
• How to fix unable to connect issues on Windows
• How to reinstall the Surfshark application on Windows