Connect Windows to the Internet securely through a VPN

If we install some vpn software we will be able to use it without problems to configure our own connection. We can do it from the program itself or from here, changing the provider option as we will see later.

Connect to a VPN from Windows 10

The process of configuring a VPN in Windows is found within the Windows 10 Configuration panel. Specifically within the section «network and internet«.

Here, the next step will be to select, in the panel on the left, the option of “VPN”.

Before entering the configuration process as such, we are going to see the two main options that we can find. Basically what they allow us is to choose if we want the VPN to also work when we use a metered data network, or if we want to be able to use it when Windows detects roaming on the network.

If we do not have special needs, it will not matter if they are activated or deactivated. But if we have limited connections, or a data network, we are still interested in deactivating them to avoid surprises.

Next, we click on the button «Add a VPN connection«, and we can see an assistant like the following.

The data that we must fill in here are:

• VPN provider: will be the one who will create the connection. It can be Windows itself, or a virtual private network client that we have installed on the PC.
• connection name: the name with which we want it to be saved on the PC. Useful to identify the connection.
• Server name or address: The IP, or domain, of the server to which we want to connect.
• Guy: the protocol we are going to use. We can leave it automatic, so that it is detected automatically, or choose the one we want to use ourselves (if we know it).
• Login Information Type: the login form. We can choose if we want to use the username and password, a smart card, a unique password or a digital certificate.
• User: the user to login.
• Password: the key with which we want to log in.

Fill in the data, click on “Save” and that’s it. We already have the VPN created. Now let’s see how it works.

Set up and connect to a virtual network

Once we have configured the new connection, it will appear just below the button to create a new connection that we have seen before.

As we will see, when clicking on the connection we will have three buttons that will allow us to work with it. The first of them, “Connect”, we know very well what to do: it will allow us to start the connection with the server.

The second, “Advanced Options«, allows us to access the advanced options of the connection.

Here we will be able to see a summary of all of it, with its information and all the parameters that we have entered. We can also edit the data, if necessary, from the corresponding edit button. The « buttonClear login information» It will allow us to delete all login records, useful to solve problems when we cannot connect to this network.

Finally, we will also be able to configure a proxy connection associated with the VPN.

Tip: connect to a network quickly

Every time we want to connect to this network we will not have to go to the Configuration menu, since it is a very impractical process. Windows 10 will add a access to all VPNs created on the network icon in the operating system taskbar.

If we click on the network icon, or Wi-Fi, we will be able to see how this connection appears to us. In this way, we will simply have to choose the connection that we want to establish and that’s it. Windows 10 will connect directly to it from there without having to go to other menus.

Remove a VPN in Windows 10

If what we want is for the VPN to disappear, because we no longer need it, all we have to do is, from the previous window, select the connection that will appear on the list and choose the third button that appears: Remove.

We just have to confirm the VPN removal from there and the function will automatically disappear from the list. In case you want to connect again later, we will have to recreate the connection from scratch following the steps that we have seen in the previous points.

How do I connect Windows 11 to a VPN?

If you are already using Microsoft’s new operating system, the process for connecting the system to a virtual private network is very similar, if not the same. To do this, the first thing we have to do is open the Configuration menu of the operating system, and go to the “Network and Internet > VPN” section.

Here we are going to find the VPN networks that we have created. And, if we don’t have any, we’ll just see the button to add one.

We click on this button and we will see the section from which we will be able to enter the data of the connection that we want to create. We enter the data (they are the same as in Windows 10, so we recommend you consult said entry to see what to choose in each case), save and that’s it. As in 10, we will already have the PC configured to connect to this network.

Now, as we will see, our connection will appear here. We can connect to it by clicking on the connect button that appears next to it. Also, if we click on the arrow icon we can open a panel from which we can see the advanced options of the connection, or delete it in case we no longer need it.

As we can see, a very simple process and similar to that of its predecessor that does not have any losses.