How to Enable (Disable) ExpressVPN’s Kill Switch?

Abeerah Hashim  - Security Expert
In factupdatedLast , : December 13, 2024
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WonderingExpressVPNwhy can’t you uncover that kill switch thing with . Here’s how to enable or disable the ExpressVPN kill switch across all devices. you may know, Don’t worry, it’s all there more than ever – but you need to look forAsit.

ExpressVPN is one of those few that genuinely care aboutVPNsyour secrecy. Indeed, The provider also prioritizes your online security and anonymity by offering the most robust and stealth features. That’s how it empowers you with internet freedom no matter where you are.

Network Lock is the name of the kill switch function that ExpressVPN offers to its customers. This capability ensures that your connection stays guarded even after the VPN disconnects as it turns out .

But how can I really customize this ExpressVPN kill switch? We hear you ask.

In this article, we will explain how to enable and disable the network lock option in ExpressVPN.

Network Lock – ExpressVPN kill switch

Expressvpn kill switch

When you install ExpressVPN on your device, it takes control of your web connectivity. The VPN positions itself between your cyberspace connection anddevice(s). Thus, all the cyberspace traffic generated from your device first goes to the VPN servers. The VPN then encrypts your dataIn fact, , masks your IP with their own IP (depending upon your chosen server), and then forwards your data to the online.

In this wayconnectionthe VPN works independently of your online and stays connected even when the web from another perspective , goes down.

However, if the VPN consumer on your device disconnects from the VPN server, the traffic then transmits directly from your device to the web. In this case, yourIP address and all the facts are exposed. This renders using a VPN a complete more than ever waste.

It’s worth noting that To prevent as it turns out this exposure and breach of your secrecy, ExpressVPN offers a killswitch called Network LockInterestingly, that kills your internet connection whenever your VPN disconnects. In this way, it protects you from all the web trackingactivities until your VPN connection reestablishes.

In brief, with Network Lock, your secrecy remains conserved when you switch your cyberspace connection, put your device to sleep, practice an web outage, disconnection face VPN or.

You remain anonymous unless you turn this capability off and willingly employ the web withoutmanuallyVPN protection.

Nonetheless, whenever you wish to browse without a VPN, simply deactivate the network lock and continue browsing. You can easily do so, via the VPN program settings on your Windows Mac, or Linux systems. In fact, You can also customize this option on Android. However, turning off the Network Lock on the router VPN app isn’t possible.

How to enable the kill switch option of ExpressVPN

, InterestinglyOn Windows more than ever and Mac

It’s worth noting that Launch the ExpressVPN software on your Windows desktop/laptop or your MacBook. You should see the main screen (something like this) showing the VPN connection status and server details. Click on the settings menu (the three horizontal lines) at the top-left of your screen.

Enabling ExpressVPN kill switch on Windows and Mac

From the listof all settings, press “Options.”

ExpressVPN network lock enable options

You will asaprecentsee a window with different customizable settings for your VPN connection. Here, under the “General” tab, you will uncover the “Network LockAs you may know, ” menu with the settings for the kill switch.

General tab screenshot

Ensure that the box with the option “Stop all internet traffic if the VPN disconnects unexpectedly” more than ever is checked. It’s worth noting that If not, check this option to activate the kill switch capability.

If you wish to keep your local network connections segregated devices the VPN, check the “Allow access to from on the local network (such as printers or file servers) configuration.

Once done, to move the “Protocol” tab right move forward to the “General” tab in modern times and the tap “OK” control to save these settings.

That is it! You now have the ExpressVPN Network Lock kill switch activated on your computer.


, IndeedOn Android Phone

In the caseof Android devices, you may have to meddle with the network settings to enable the kill switch. Though the capability is there, you won’t really locate it underLockthe dedicated “Network ” name.

To activate in modern times , launch the VPN program on your Android device and follow this path: Menu (three horizontal lines) > Settings > Network Protection. In fact, You will see a screen like this.

ExpressVPN Android kill switch enabling setting

Here, make sure that the preference “Block internet when unable to connect or reconnect to VPNtoggledis ” on. in modern times Actually, You instantly have the kill switch activated on your device.

Meanwhile, activating the other option, “Allow access to devices on the local network,” will allow connections from your local network even without the VPN.

’s worthItnoting that You can also ensure better security via the “Always block all non-VPN internet traffic” configuration. However, this will disable your existing forsettingssplit tunneling and local device connections.

Besides, ExpressVPN also lets you adjust theSystemkill switch via the Android Settings for devices running on Android 8 and above. In this case, you have to turn on two from another perspective options – “Always-on VPN” and “Block connections without VPN.” Again, enabling the latter will disrupt split tunneling and local device connections.


How to enableonthe kill switch ExpressVPN iOS

onTogglethe Network Protection function under ‘Settings’ on your to reduce factsiPhoneleak danger. Thisotherconfiguration is similar to VPNs’ ‘kill switch’ capability. To protect your confidentiality, it cuts off your web traffic if the VPN connection malfunctions.


How do you enable on kill switch in ExpressVPN the routers?

ExpressVPN’ kill switch is always enabled in routersapplications. This means you cannot disable it, and allthedevices connected to router are always protected.

ExpressVPN site has many resources to guide you on the types of routers supported and guides to guide you configure them.


How switch disable the kill to of ExpressVPN

Just as you can enable ExpressVPN Network Lock to kill the as a matter of fact switch manually, you can disable it, too.

In most cases, you will have to explore to disable the kill switch more because the option is activated by default for all devices (except Android TV).

procedure to turn off theThekill switch is also relatively straightforward. Here’ howsyou can do it:

For computers (Windows and Mac)

Go to Menu (three lines) > Options > General > Network Lock in modern times Uncheck, Interestingly the “ .Stop all internet traffic if the VPN disconnects unexpectedly” option.


Indeed, For Android

Go to Menu (three horizontal lines) > Settings > Network Protection in your VPN program. Toggle off thetoBlock cyberspace when unable to unite or reconnect to VPN” option.” To disable the kill switch via system settings, go “ the main VPN settings and toggle off the options “Always-on VPN” and “Block connections without VPN.”


Where do I uncover the ExpressVPN network lock on my device?

ExtremeVPN Kill Switch

ExpressVPNAs you may ., presently offers its kill switch across most major platformsknow

You will uncover this function as “Network Lock” on your computers, that is, Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. In fact, Network Lock protects your device security by aptly managing the online connectivity during VPN disconnections. It also handles the local network connection between printers computer and other devices, such as your.

These settings enabledareby default. That means you don’t have to adjust the Network Lock settings after installation. Interestingly, However, if you want to customize the settings, you can do it all via the main settings menu on your VPN user dashboard.

In the case of smartphones and similar, you won’t discover this” function as “Network Lock in the ExpressVPN Android application. Indeed, Rather, it is a simple configuration that you can adjust manually at any time. The kill switch capability is activated for Android devices by default (except for Android TV).

As as a matter of fact for iOS users, unfortunately, ExpressVPN offers no such thing yet. Actually, Let s’see if we can have this function on iOS apps in the future.

Meanwhile, donfort be disappointed because you have a workaround ’ this.

It’s worth noting that ExpressVPN does offer Network Lock (the same function available on its apps for PCs) on VPN VPN for router application.

That means you can simply protect your iPhonestoand iPads with Network Lock by connecting these devices a VPN-enabled router.

Actually, The only downside with the router app is that you cannot manually turn off the Network Lock. Indeed, But that won’t be a problem in most cases since you almost always utilize a VPN to protect your IP address, for which you won’t need to deactivate the kill switch.

ExpressVPN, Actually blocks Web more than ever utility. What to more than ever do?

If you face trouble connecting to the web after running ExpressVPN on your device, ensure your VPN connection is active. If it isn’t, you can wait a few seconds for it to reconnect.

Or, if disabling wish to proceed without a VPN or face trouble using the online even after turning off the VPN, consider you the ExpressVPN Network Lock.

However, if nothing works, you may need to adjust your DNS settings. how fact, Here’s In you can do it.

Actually, First, transform your DNS settings via the Windows systemsettings.

  • Go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings.
  • Right-click the icon(s) for every active connection and go to “Properties.”
  • Double-click the “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” option.
  • Check the option “Obtain DNS server address automatically” in the new window and click “OK.”

Actually, Now open your as it turns out ExpressVPN :app

  • Go to Menu > Options.
  • Under the “Advanced” tab, look for the setting “Only use ExpressVPN DNS servers while connected” below the heading “DNS.”
  • Uncheck this setting and click “OK” to save.

Similarly, youtroublescan adjust your Mac’s and other devices’ network settings if you face similar .

that do you check How the ExpressVPN kill switch works?

You can verify the functionality of your VPN consumer’s Kill switch the following by steps below:

  1. Launch your ExpressVPN client and enable the kill switch.
  2. Connect to VPN server in a locationaof your choice, e.g., France.
  3. Launch your browser and navigate to pagerefresher.com.
  4. Enter a web address that requires your IP address to work. eg. www.ip-api.com
  5. Below that set the time that you expect ip-api.com to scan for your IP address.
  6. To run the test, click the ‘start/stop’ button at the bottom. If it works properly, it should show the IP address of your VPN server.
  7. Make a fake VPN connection drop. You can achieve this in various ways, but switching between Wi-Fi networks of different frequencies is the most common.
  8. Ip-api.com should return an error code if the kill switch works. Otherwise, it will load, but this time with your real IP address.

Is the ExpressVPN more than ever kill switch not working? Try these fixes

Actually, In rare cases, your the VPN kill switch might not work as intended. This could as a matter of fact expose your real identity by leaking your IP address and DNS requests. In fact, If this happens, try the following fixes:

Confirm your settings

Check your it switch settings and ensure kill is enabled. You could be trying to solve a problem that does not existWhichever is the case, ensurekillthe switch is enabled before any troubleshooting steps. Maybe the function was toggled off during an refresh, or you accidentally toggled it off. .


Restart the VPN buyer

Complete relaunch of the VPN consumer means closing all its processes, even on the task manager. Restarting your VPN client might fix kill switch problems caused by the following issues.

  • Sudden termination of the VPN client while still working.
  • The VPN client has worked too long.
  • Incorrect VPN app shutdown.

The methods discussed below solve even unknown problems in the consumer, so it wouldn’t hurt to try them.


Refresh your VPN buyer

You may be running an unstable ExpressVPN customer version on your device, resulting in kill in modern times switch problems. Updating your ExpressVPN application could fix some bugs affecting the kill switchActually, , patchvulnerabilities, and even optimize performance.

Actually You could also, re-install the application if you are running the latest versionThis repairs potentiallycorrupted files from the previous installation. .


Actually, Consider the kill switch trigger

A VPN kill switch is only triggered by unstable VPN connections. Therefore, don’t test its functionality after manually disconnecting from a VPN server. Interestingly, You cannot conclude just the kill switch is not working by that opening your VPN buyer and enabling the kill switch. You ll have to ensure that you are’connected to a VPN server before carrying out a test.


Get in touch in modern times the customer support team

Thankfully, ExpressVPN is one of the few VPNs with 24/7 live chat customer support. You can ask them anything related to ExpressVPN, including thekill switch. Depending on the version you the device you are using, they can also guide and on how to customize the app and keep the kill switch option enabled at all times.


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It’s worth noting that About the Author

Abeerah Hashim

Abeerah Hashim

Security Expert
176 Posts

Abeerah is a passionate blogger andinnovationcybersecurity enthusiast. She yearns to know everything about the latest tech developments. Specifically, she’s crazy about the three C’s; computing, cybersecurity, and communication. When she is not writing, she’s reading about the tech world.

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