Double-hop is a Premium VPN feature that routes your internet traffic through two VPN server locations instead of one. By adding a second VPN server to the connection path, Double-hop provides an additional layer of privacy and makes it more difficult to associate your online activity with your original connection.
Bitdefender App for Windows and macOS offers two types of Double-hop routes:
- Predefined Double-hop routes – ready-to-use routes provided by Bitdefender.
- Custom Double-hop routes – routes you create by selecting your own first and second VPN locations.
Regardless of whether the route is predefined or custom, the process for connecting to it is the same.
This article explains how to find, select, and connect to any available Double-hop route in Bitdefender App for Windows and macOS.
Step 1: Open VPN
- Open Bitdefender App
on your Windows or Mac computer. - In the left-side navigation menu, select Services.
- Select VPN.
The VPN dashboard opens and displays your connection status, map view, and VPN controls.
Step 2: Open the Location list
- On the VPN screen, click Locations.
- A panel opens on the right side of the app.
This panel contains all available VPN locations and Double-hop routes.
Step 3: Switch to the Double-hop tab
At the top of the location panel, click Double-hop.
The app displays all available Double-hop routes, including predefined routes provided by Bitdefender and any custom routes you have created. These are shown as paired locations, for example:
- Austria > Germany
- Canada > United States
- Ireland > United Kingdom
The arrow between the two countries shows the route order.
Step 4: Connect to a Double-hop route
Browse the available Double-hop routes and click the one you want to use.
- For example, select Canada > United States if you want your traffic to pass first through Canada and then through the United States.
If you want to use a custom Double-hop route, ensure that the route has already been created. For instructions, see – How to create a custom Double-hop route in Bitdefender App for Windows and macOS.
After the connection is established, the VPN screen shows that your connection is secured. The selected Double-hop route is displayed on the VPN screen, together with connection details such as secured traffic and hidden IP information.