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How to set up Surfshark VPN on Android

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In this tutorial, you will learn how to set up the Surfshark VPN app on Android.
You will need an Android device running OS 5.0 or later and an active Surfshark subscription, which you can purchase on the Surfshark plans & pricing page.

 

Download and install the Surfshark app

  1. Find the Google Play Store app on your device and open it:
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  2. Type Surfshark into the search bar and choose the first result on the list.
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  3. The Surfshark VPN app page will open. Click download or install, and the installation will complete in a few moments:
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Log into the app

  1. Open the app immediately, or go back to your phone's home screen. The Surfshark VPN app will be there or in the applications list. Open the newly installed app:
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  2. If you have purchased your Surfshark VPN subscription already, press Log in:
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    If you do not have a subscription, tap on Create account or check our plans & pricing page.
  3. Enter the email address you used when registering and your password, and click log in:
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Connect to the VPN

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

  1. You can start by clicking the blue quick-connect button, and your app will connect to the fastest server available:
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  2. You can switch your default quick-connect server to a server of your choice by pressing change:
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    Choose the fastest server or the nearest country, or scroll down and pick a server from the locations list:
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  3. Once you tap the quick-connect button, you will be asked to allow Surfshark VPN to set up a VPN connection. This is necessary for Surfshark to create and manage the VPN tunnel. Tap ok:
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  4. When your app successfully connects to a VPN, you will see the connection status on the main screen.

    You may also notice     a key icon at the top of your screen. That indicates you're connected to the Surfshark VPN:
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    In order to disconnect from the VPN, click the disconnect button. To temporarily pause the connection, tap pause:
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  5. Tap on the highlighted area and drag it to the top for more information about your connection:
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Manage Surfshark locations

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

  1. Go to the locations section on your Surfshark app and pick any location:
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    Tap on the flag icon of your preferred country, and the app will instantly connect to that location.
  2. You can check location latency by tapping on the speedometer icon while disconnected. This will display the current latency for each location on the list. A lower number means a more stable connection to that location:
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  3. You may have noticed Static IP, Dedicated IP, and MultiHop tabs at the top of your Surfshark app:
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    Here’s what they do:
    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 choose either of these servers.
    Dedicated IP – you will have a dedicated IP address that is yours only. You must purchase it separately.
  4. If you want Surfshark to remember your favorite locations, press the star on the right side. This server will now appear in the list of your favourite servers:
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Manage Surfshark features

Open the Products section in your Surfshark app. You can see 4 of Surfshark's additional features. To use them, you have to have an active Surfshark ONE subscription:
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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 fine-tune your Surfshark app to your personal preferences. It also contains all the necessary settings to customize and troubleshoot your VPN connection.

Open the settings page on the Surfshark app:
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Tap on VPN settings. Here, you can fine-tune the Surfshark app to your preferences:
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Here, you can do the following:

  • Enable Auto-connect.
  • Configure which server you connect via the Quick-connect feature.
  • Change the connection protocol.
  • Enable CleanWeb. It’s a feature that blocks ads, trackers, malware, and phishing attempts.
  • Enable KillSwitch. 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.

In the VPN settings tab, you can also find advanced settings:
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Here, you can:

  • Enable the Discover on LAN (or Invisible to LAN for older versions). It’s a feature that makes your device undetectable by other devices on the same network.
  • 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 or disable the NoBorders. It’s a feature that helps you connect in network-restrictive environments.
  • Enable Override GPS location. This feature will match your GPS location with your chosen server's location.
  • Enable Small packets. This feature improves your connectivity when using slower networks.

 

Select app settings:
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Here, you can do the following:

  • Change app appearance.
  • Change the app language.
  • See the current app version.
  • Configure the Notifications settings and send crash reports.
  • Choose whether the app sends analytics of usage data.

 

Switch to the my account tab:

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Here, you can do the following:

  • Check your current subscription plan.
  • Log out of your account.
  • Change your password.
  • Enter login code.

Tap on get help:

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Here, you can:

  • Enter our Help Center by pressing Browse guides.
  • Read our Privacy policy and Terms of service.
  • Reset VPN profile when experiencing issues with connectivity.
  • Send diagnostics to the support team by pressing Report a bug.

 

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.




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