How to Turn Off a VPN on Your iPhone
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If you’re using a VPN on your iPhone, chances are you’re already aware of its perks: secure browsing, privacy protection, and avoiding sneaky online trackers.
However, sometimes you just want to hit pause. Maybe you’re struggling with slow internet speeds, need access to region-specific streaming services, or perhaps you’re just trying to conserve battery life.
That’s why I’ve created this straightforward guide on how you can quickly and easily turn off VPN on your iPhone, along with a few useful tips to avoid unnecessary frustration.
How to Turn Off Your VPN Through the iPhone Settings
Apple makes most things easy, and turning off your VPN is no exception—well, at least most of the time.
Here’s how to turn off VPN quickly using your iPhone settings:
First, open the Settings app.
Next, scroll down and look for the VPN setting. Usually, it’s right there—if not, see below.
Tap on VPN. You’ll see a toggle next to the active VPN connection labeled Status.
Just slide the toggle from green (On) to gray (Off), and voilà, your VPN is now off.
Note: Depending on your iOS version or setup, your mileage may vary slightly. But rest assured, the process itself doesn’t fundamentally change.
When the VPN Setting Does Not Show
In case you cannot see the “VPN” button in the main settings menu, don’t worry—there’s an alternative route:
1. Open the Settings app again.
2. Tap on General, and then scroll down to VPN & Device Management.
Side note: On older iOS versions, it might simply say “VPN” without any extra frills.
3. Tap on VPN & Device Management again, then select VPN.
4. Finally, toggle off the switch next to your active VPN configuration.
How to Use a Third-party VPN App to Turn Off Your VPN
If you’re like me, the convenience of using third-party VPN apps is something you’ve probably gotten used to. Most of them are intuitive, user-friendly, and usually have big, colorful buttons that make managing them pretty easy. One of the simplest ways to disable your VPN on an iPhone is directly through the VPN app itself.
So, let’s have a closer look at how most VPN apps handle disconnecting (with some minor variations):
Open your VPN app (the one you’re subscribed to).
Look for a button labeled “Disconnect”, “Turn Off”, or something similar. It could also appear as a toggle switch or even a big power icon—developers get creative sometimes.
Tap this button, and within seconds, your VPN connection should shut off. Usually, you’ll get immediate feedback—like a color change, status message, or brief notification—to confirm it’s disconnected.
Occasionally, the app might ask you to confirm that you really do want to disconnect.
Example: Take NordVPN, a popular choice among privacy-conscious finance folks. If you’re checking stock charts and your connection is lagging, simply launch NordVPN, hit the prominent “Disconnect” button on the home screen, and you’re good to go. It even conveniently offers a “Quick Connect” option if you decide you need your privacy shield back up in a hurry.
The process is similar across other apps too, like Norton Secure VPN or ExpressVPN. Just open, tap off, done—quick, simple, and oddly satisfying.
How to Turn Off Your VPNs Installed Through a Configuration Profile (MDM or Workplace)
If you work in finance or corporate sectors, chances are your IT team remotely installed a VPN configuration profile onto your device (Mobile Device Management or MDM). This means turning off the VPN might involve removing the entire profile.
Well, here’s how to safely handle this (but make sure you’re authorized to do this by your IT folks):
Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management.
Look under the section titled “Configuration Profiles”—your VPN profile should be listed clearly here.
Tap the specific VPN profile, then select “Remove Profile” or “Delete Profile”.
Confirm the removal (you’ll likely need your device passcode).
Important: Removing this profile isn’t as casual as uninstalling an app—it can impact your access to work emails, company resources, or sensitive financial databases. Definitely chat with IT if you’re unsure.
Is There a VPN Toggle in the Control Center?
Great news: since iOS 18, Apple has introduced a native VPN toggle in the Control Center. That means you can now switch your VPN on or off directly from there—no more navigating through deep settings menus unless you really want to.
To check quickly:
Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner (Face ID iPhones) or up from the bottom (older iPhones with Home buttons).
Just tap and hold the tile in the top-left corner. It’ll show you controls for Airplane mode, Wi-Fi etc.
You can then switch on/off your VPN by tapping its icon (scan for a VPN icon represented by a small globe).
Alternatively, you can also add this VPN toggle (or your VPN app’s toggle) to the Control Center by pressing the “+” icon in the top-left edge and than tapping the “Add a Control” button.
If you’re particularly savvy (or just bored on a Sunday afternoon), you can even use Siri Shortcuts or Focus modes to add custom VPN toggles to your Control Center—more on that in the next section.
How to Use Siri to Turn Off Your VPN
Sometimes the built-in toggle isn’t enough, especially if you’re after more specific control for your favorite VPN app. Luckily, you can create a custom VPN toggle using Siri Shortcuts.
Open the Shortcuts App
Launch the built-in Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
Create a New Shortcut
Tap the “+” icon to start a new shortcut.
Search for “VPN”. If your VPN app supports deep linking, you can set it to launch specific in-app settings.
Customize Your Shortcut
Name your shortcut something memorable, for example, “Quick VPN Off”.
Optionally, assign a custom Siri phrase (e.g., “Hey Siri, disconnect my VPN”) for hands-free control.
Add the Shortcut to the Control Center
Swipe down from the top-right corner to open the Control Center.
Tap the white “+” icon in the top-left corner.
Press “Add a Control” at the very bottom and add your shortcut widget.
Test It Out
Open the Control Center and tap your custom VPN toggle to see it in action.
How to Use Focus Modes to Turn Off Your VPN
A very similar approach also works with Focus Modes.
Set Up a Custom Focus Mode
Open Settings and tap on Focus.
Create a new Focus Mode (e.g., “Work VPN” or “Leisure VPN”).
Configure an Automation
Launch the Shortcuts app and go to the Automation tab.
Create a new automation that triggers when your custom Focus Mode is activated or deactivated.
Add the VPN toggle action (either to connect or disconnect) as part of the automation.
Customize and Activate
Once your automation is set up, your VPN can automatically switch on or off when you change Focus Modes. This adds an extra layer of personalization and ensures your device adapts to your workflow seamlessly.
How to Stop Your VPN from Automatically Turning On Again
Ever turn off your VPN only to have it pop back on a few moments later? It’s not your imagination—it’s the “Connect On Demand” setting.
If your VPN keeps turning back on automatically, here’s how to put a stop to it:
Navigate to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > VPN.
Tap on the small (i) icon next to your VPN’s name.
Within these settings, find the Connect On Demand toggle and switch it off.
Once this setting is off, your VPN won’t randomly spring back to life without your say-so.
What to Do If the VPN Won't Turn Off
Sometimes your VPN might stubbornly cling on. It refuses to disconnect, no matter how many times you toggle the switch. Here’s what to try when you’re stuck:
Check “Connect On Demand”
As mentioned earlier, if your VPN keeps reconnecting itself, disabling “Connect On Demand” usually does the trick (Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > VPN > tap the “i” icon > toggle off).
Force Close the VPN App
Occasionally, apps running in the background become a bit clingy. Swipe up to open your app switcher, and swipe the VPN app away to force-close it.
Remove Persistent VPN Profiles
In corporate or educational settings, sometimes you have to manually remove VPN profiles (Settings > General> VPN & Device Management > remove VPN profile). Just make sure your IT department won’t freak out before you pull this trigger.
Restart Your iPhone
If nothing else, a quick restart can clear random glitches.
Reset Network Settings
Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset Network Settings
Note: This wipes saved Wi-Fi passwords—only do this if you’re comfortable re-entering network details.
Reinstall the VPN App
If your VPN app is buggy, deleting and reinstalling usually resolves software quirks.
Update Your iPhone Software
Always check for updates (Settings > General > Software Update). Bugs in apps are common—VPN apps are no different.
Contact VPN Support
If you’ve tried everything and your VPN still won’t turn off, your VPN provider’s customer support is your last (and usually helpful) resort.
Wrapping It Up
Turning off your VPN on an iPhone shouldn’t be a tedious, complicated, and unnecessarily stressful task. That’s why I hope this guide has been helpful to you.
How’s your experience been with VPN management on your iPhone? Got a favorite trick or lingering frustration? Drop your experience in the comments below—I’d genuinely love to hear them.
And if you’re into hands-on tech guides, performance tips, and deep dives into the tools that make our daily digital lives smoother, subscribe to my tech newsletter. No fluff, no clickbait—just useful insights for people who actually use this stuff.
Thank you very much for reading—take care, and I’ll see you around.
FAQ
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Great question—and probably the most common one. The culprit is usually the “Connect On Demand” feature, which automatically re-enables your VPN when the system detects certain types of network activity. To stop this from happening:
Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > VPN
Tap the “i” icon next to your VPN
Disable “Connect On Demand”
Once that’s off, your VPN will stay off—until you decide otherwise.
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Absolutely. If you’ve moved on from a VPN app or no longer need a corporate profile:
Head to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management
Under “Configuration Profiles”, locate the VPN profile
Tap it, then select “Remove Profile”
Note: If it’s an MDM-managed profile (often used in work environments), you might need a device passcode—or approval from your IT team.
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Yes—and there are multiple options:
Native iOS 18 toggle in Control Center (finally!)
Custom Siri Shortcuts
Focus Mode automation
You can even add a shortcut tile directly to your Control Center for one-tap access. Perfect for switching between secure trading sessions and streaming your favorite region-locked content.
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In short: yes, but context matters.
Turning off your VPN removes the encrypted tunnel that protects your data from prying eyes. If you’re on a public Wi-Fi network (think airports, cafes, hotels), leaving your VPN on is a good idea. But if you’re on a trusted network and need better speed or location-specific access, temporarily disabling it is totally fine.
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Functionally, they do the same thing: disconnect you from the VPN.
But there are some subtle differences:
In-app toggle: More convenient, especially if you use the same VPN daily. It might also include quick-connect options or advanced settings.
Settings toggle: Useful if your VPN was configured manually or through a profile, especially in enterprise environments.
If you’re not sure how your VPN was set up, try both methods. You’ll know it’s off when the VPN icon in your status bar disappears.
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Not really. iOS only allows one active VPN connection at a time. If you try to connect a second one, it’ll usually force-disconnect the first. So, choose wisely—whether you’re prioritizing speed, location access, or maximum encryption.
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