Manual setup
How to set up OpenVPN GUI app on Windows? How to set up OpenVPN on iOS (iPhone/iPad)? How to set up OpenVPN client on Android? How to set up OpenVPN on macOS? How to set up manual OpenVPN connection using Linux Terminal? How to set up a manual WireGuard connection on Windows? How to set up a manual WireGuard connection on macOS? How to set up a manual WireGuard connection on Android? How to set up a manual WireGuard connection on iOS? How to connect manually using Surfshark Windows app?
  1. Surfshark Customer Support
  2. VPN Guides
  3. Getting started
  4. Manual setup

How to connect manually using the Surfshark iOS app?

Updated:

In this tutorial, you will learn how to manually connect to VPN servers on your iOS device.

You will learn how to:

 

To set up a manual VPN connection, you will need an iOS device running iOS 13 or later and an active Surfshark VPN subscription, which you can purchase here.


iOS_device_protected.png

 

Find the Manual connection configuration page

 

Let's assume that you have already installed the Surfshark app on your iOS device. If you haven't installed it yet, please follow this article on how to do that.

  1. Firstly, launch the Surfshark app.

    Surfshark_icon_appears_on_the_screen.png

  2. Choose to Log in as an Existing user.

    Existing_user_Log_in.png

  3. Instead of logging in, as you would usually do, select Manual connection.

    Choose_manual_connection.png

 

Find the Surfshark service credentials and server hostnames

 

  1. To set up a manual connection, you will need to get a hostname or an IP address of your preferred Surfshark VPN server, also Surfshark service credentials.

    To find those details, click Get credentials, and you will jump to the required page on surfshark.com. You may need to log in before proceeding to this page. In that case, enter your email address and your password, then click Log in.

    Get_credentials.png

  2.  Tap on the Files tab and you will find the list of servers.

    iOS_-_servers_list.png

  3. Find the server hostname under the name of each location.

    If you wish to connect to Poland, find the hostname for Poland - Warsaw or Poland - Gdansk. If you prefer connecting to Finland, find the hostname for Finland - Helsinki.

    You will need to enter this server address into the manual connection configuration window.

    iOS_-_servers_hostnames.png

  4. Tap on the Credentials tab and you will find the Surfshark service credentials.

    It is a good idea to keep this page open for now. You will need these credentials a bit later.

    iOS_-_credentials.png

 

Connect to the VPN

 

  1. Once you find all the necessary details, let's get back to the manual connection window.

    Fill in all the details:

    Username: Surfshark service username 

    Password: Surfshark service password 

    Hostname / IP: Hostname or the IP address of the server you want to connect to

    If you're not sure what credentials or hostname you should use, refer to the "Find Surfshark service credentials and server hostnames" part of this article.

    Protocol: You can leave the default protocol or choose your preferred one (OpenVPN UDP or OpenVPN TCP)

    Ports: Leave the default values unchanged


    Click Connect.

    Fill_in_the_details_and_click_Connect.png

  2. The next thing you'll see will be the connection status window. If the connection was successful, you should see the connection status in a green bar, also your new IP address, and a button to disconnect.

    To disconnect from the VPN, just click Disconnect.

    Status_connected.png

 

Congratulations - you have successfully configured a manual VPN connection! As long as you’re connected, your location is private, and your sensitive data is secure. 

 

 

You may also be interested in:

  1. How to make sure if my connection was successful?
  2. iOS slow speed troubleshooting
  3. iOS unstable connection troubleshooting
Was this article helpful?
Thank you for your feedback!