VPN split tunneling

Give programs you trust direct access to the internet for better speed — without losing VPN protection for your sensitive data.

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What is VPN split tunneling?

Split tunneling is an advanced VPN feature that lets you choose which apps need VPN protection and which can access the internet directly. The first group benefits from the safety of the secure tunnel of your VPN, while the second group enjoys faster speeds and access to local services. Split tunneling is available on Windows, Android, and Android TV NordVPN apps.

How does VPN split tunneling work?

Woman uses split tunneling for secure entertainment and fast file sharing.

Split tunneling lets you maintain two connections at the same time. Your VPN app divides your internet traffic into two categories — one part gets encrypted and rerouted through secure VPN servers, while the other is left untouched and allowed to interact with the internet directly. You choose which apps can be trusted to bypass VPN protection in your VPN app’s settings.

Different types of VPN split tunneling

Inverse split

Inverse split tunneling encrypts your whole connection by default, with only trusted programs permitted access to the internet directly. It’s the safest form of split tunneling.

App-based split

With app-based split tunneling, only the selected apps will benefit from VPN protection. The rest of your internet traffic is unencrypted.

URL-based split

Normally, browser-based VPN extensions protect you on every website. However, URL-based split tunneling lets you specify the URLs you want to access with your real IP address.

Which split tunneling types do NordVPN apps use?

App-based split tunneling

Windows 8.1 and later

Inverse split tunneling

Windows 8.1 and later
Android
Android TV

App-based split tunneling

Inverse split tunneling

Windows 8.1 and later

Windows 8.1 and later
Android
Android TV

Do I need split tunneling?

It’s easy to track you if you go online without a VPN.

Since connecting to a VPN server can lock you out of your own country’s websites and services, you may be tempted to turn NordVPN off to see what’s happening at home. Don’t leave yourself exposed — use VPN split tunneling to protect the data that matters while you surf at your leisure.

However you use it, VPN split tunneling is a very handy tool — but just like every tool, it has its time and place. Keep in mind that others (including your ISP) may be able to see your unencrypted internet traffic, so always use VPN protection when handling sensitive data.

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When should you use VPN split tunneling?

People staying safe online with NordVPN on PC, mobile, tablet, and other devices

NordVPN protects user data by encrypting it.

Secure only what matters to avoid slowdown
NordVPN is the fastest VPN on the market, but encryption and decryption still take time. While the speed drop is imperceptible in most cases, some online activities (like FPS games) require you to push your internet connection to the limit — and that’s where split tunneling comes in handy. Protect the apps that handle your sensitive data and let others go full-throttle.
Access local and home content at once when abroad
Get the best of both worlds while traveling — literally. With split tunneling, you can enjoy your usual home services without losing access to the local version of the internet. For example, the split tunneling feature lets you work on Google Chrome over a secure connection while you browse local content on Firefox at the same time.
Connect to LAN devices while using a VPN
In some cases, encryption prevents your device from interacting with others on your Local Area Network (LAN). In this case, split tunneling lets you access printers, smart home appliances, and other useful tools without losing VPN protection for your sensitive data.

Secure only what matters to avoid slowdown

NordVPN is the fastest VPN on the market, but encryption and decryption still take time. While the speed drop is imperceptible in most cases, some online activities (like FPS games) require you to push your internet connection to the limit — and that’s where split tunneling comes in handy. Protect the apps that handle your sensitive data and let others go full-throttle.

Access local and home content at once when abroad

Get the best of both worlds while traveling — literally. With split tunneling, you can enjoy your usual home services without losing access to the local version of the internet. For example, the split tunneling feature lets you work on Google Chrome over a secure connection while you browse local content on Firefox at the same time.

Connect to LAN devices while using a VPN

In some cases, encryption prevents your device from interacting with others on your Local Area Network (LAN). In this case, split tunneling lets you access printers, smart home appliances, and other useful tools without losing VPN protection for your sensitive data.

How to enable split tunneling on NordVPN

NordVPN offers split tunneling for Android, Android TV, and Windows devices.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the benefits of split tunneling?

Split tunneling can really improve your online experience — by excluding some apps from the encrypted VPN connection, you’ll be able to access foreign and local services at the same time. For example, you can take advantage of our specialized P2P servers for file sharing while browsing your home country’s versions of websites. Split tunneling also lets you protect work-related apps without slowing down the rest of your connection — this way, you can benefit from improved internet speed and latency for browsing and games. Finally, split tunneling helps VPN-protected devices access things on your Local Area Network, like printers or smart home appliances.

What is the difference between a full tunnel VPN and a split-tunnel VPN?

A tunnel-mode (or full tunnel) VPN will encrypt all of your traffic and route it through a secure VPN server, whereas a split-tunnel VPN will only encrypt and route traffic you designate. Split-tunnel VPNs are more flexible, letting you browse faster or access services from multiple locations at the same time, but they’re not as secure as full tunnel VPNs.

How do I know if I have enabled VPN split tunneling?

The simplest way to check is to go to your NordVPN app Settings to see if split tunneling has been turned on. In the Settings, look for Split Tunneling in our Windows and Android apps, and Trusted apps in our Android TV app. If the option has been toggled, then split tunneling is active.

How do I turn off split tunneling on NordVPN apps?

By default, the split tunneling feature is disabled in NordVPN apps — this means that all of your traffic is protected right out of the gate. If you’ve turned split tunneling on, you can disable it again in your app’s settings.

Windows: click on the cogwheel icon in the top-right corner of the map screen, select Split tunneling, and set the blue slider at the top of the menu to the Off position
Android: click on the cogwheel icon in the top-left corner, tap VPN connection, select Split tunneling, then remove the apps from the Trusted apps list
Android TV: open the Settings, select Trusted apps, and remove the apps from the list

The other way is to connect by finding the Double VPN feature under the ‘Specialty servers’ options in the NordVPN app. Tap Double VPN to connect instantly or manually pick the servers you want.

Is VPN split tunneling safe?

Although generally safe, there are some VPN security risks associated with split tunneling. For corporate VPNs, split tunneling bypasses the DNS, intrusion detection, and threat prevention systems set in place to protect company data. For regular internet users, split tunneling comes at the cost of online privacy, as traffic outside the secure VPN tunnel will still betray your real IP address. As such, you should be extra careful about which information you send outside the secure tunnel, especially on public networks. Also, when you’re looking to choose the best split tunneling VPN, make sure to research your VPN provider’s logging policies, speeds, server locations, and additional features.