How to Use Bitdefender VPN for Windows: Interface, Connection, Settings, Subscriptions

Use any of these methods to access Bitdefender VPN’s main interface:

From your desktop

Double-click the Bitdefender VPN shortcut on your Desktop.

From the system tray

Click the white shield icon at the right end of the taskbar. | Or right-click on the same icon and select Show.

From the Bitdefender interface

You can launch Bitdefender VPN from the security solution already installed on your PC, such as Bitdefender Total Security, Internet Security, Antivirus Plus:

1. On the left sidebar of the Bitdefender interface, click Privacy.
2. On the VPN pane, click Open VPN.

The VPN interface indicates whether the app is connected or not. The server location for users with the free version is automatically set by Bitdefender to the nearest server. If you’re using the premium version and want to connect to a certain VPN server, tap on Locations and then pick a country from the list.

To connect or disconnect, simply click the ⏻ power button on the VPN interface.

• The system tray icon displays a green checkmark when the VPN is connected.
• The virtual server’s IP address is shown on the home screen while connected to Bitdefender VPN.
• A summary of your connection time, the amount of secured traffic, and the last 5 locations you connected to are also shown on the main dashboard.

Click Settings at the top of the Bitdefender VPN window to access additional settings.

General

Here you can modify the following:

• Open on Startup – Bitdefender VPN will launch automatically on device startup.
• Show latest locations – Display the most recent locations on the home screen, for quick access.
• Show dashboard data – Show trends, stats, and other helpful information on the VPN home screen.
• Clear dashboard data – All your dashboard data will be erased and all counters reset.
• Theme – Light/dark theme
• Language – Change the language of Bitdefender VPN.
• Notifications – Manage your notifications preferences.
• Local network – Allow access to devices on the local network.
• Help improve Bitdefender VPN – Submit anonymous product reports to help us improve your experience.
• Reset all settings – Reset the VPN to its original settings without reinstalling it.

Privacy

• Internet Kill-Switch – Stops all Internet traffic if the VPN connection is briefly lost.
• Ad blocker and Anti-tracker – Blocks ads and trackers to enjoy a cleaner and faster web.

Auto-connect

Here you can control when the VPN connects automatically:

• Device Startup – Connect Bitdefender VPN at Windows startup.
• Unsecured Wi-Fi – Connect VPN when using public or unsecured Wi-Fi networks.
• Peer-to-peer apps – Connect VPN when starting a peer-to-peer file sharing app.
• Specific applications or websites – Connect VPN when accessing certain apps and sites.
• Website categories – Connect VPN when visiting particular website categories.

Advanced

• Split tunneling – Select apps and websites to bypass the VPN and access the internet directly.
• Protocol – Manage the type of protocol you want to use for data transfer.
• App Traffic Optimizer – Prioritize internet traffic for apps you need the most when connected to Bitdefender VPN.

My Account

Details about your Bitdefender user account and VPN subscription appear here.

• Edit profile – Manage your account settings and info.
• Subscription – Displays your subscription type and expiration date.
• Manage subscription – Manage your subscriptions in Bitdefender Central.
• Switch Account – Sign in with another Bitdefender Central account.

Support

• Support Center – Browse the FAQ or reach out to our Support team if you need help with your VPN app.
• Ask the Community – Get answers and solutions on Bitdefender’s forum.

About

Indicates the VPN version installed on your Windows computer.

Here you can also consult:

• Subscription Agreement
• Privacy Policy
• Third party license terms

With Bitdefender VPN, you get 200 MB of data usage per day for each device included in your subscription (except for Bitdefender Small Office Security, which gets 500 MB per day). This daily traffic quota helps secure your connection whenever you need it, and it automatically connects you to the nearest server.

If you want even more benefits like unlimited traffic and the ability to access content from anywhere in the world by selecting your preferred server location, you can upgrade to the premium version. To learn how to upgrade to Premium VPN, just follow the instructions provided here – How to upgrade to Bitdefender Premium VPN on Windows.