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VPN split tunneling: How it works and how to use it

  • Choose which apps use your regular connection.

  • Access local news and services without disconnecting from your VPN every time.

  • Reduce gaming lag by leaving games off the VPN.

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A woman using a VPN on her laptop with the split tunneling function turned on.

What is VPN split tunneling?

How does VPN split tunneling work?

Split tunneling works in several steps:

1. The VPN app encrypts the traffic you choose to send through the tunnel.

2. Apps and services routed through the VPN connect to the internet via a VPN server, so websites see the VPN server’s IP address and virtual location.

3. You use VPN split tunneling to choose which apps should bypass the VPN.

4. Traffic from those apps does not travel through the VPN tunnel. It goes directly through your ISP and uses your IP address.

Sometimes, split tunneling can also work in reverse. You choose which apps and services should use the VPN to connect to the internet. Other apps and services will use your regular connection.

How to use split tunneling with NordVPN

Split tunneling is available with NordVPN on Android, Android TV, and Windows devices. You can also decide which websites to exclude from a VPN proxy connection on browser extensions.

Why use VPN split tunneling

Enjoy faster speeds

Though NordVPN is the fastest VPN* on the market, encryption still takes time. While the slowdown is barely noticeable, activities like gaming require blazing internet speeds. With split tunneling, you can protect sensitive data without giving up a high-speed connection.

A meter showing NordVPN’s fast and stable connection.

Tailor your content access

While NordVPN’s apps are available on multiple devices, you can use split tunneling to access both home and local services when traveling on the same device simultaneously. For example, you may access work files on VPN-protected Google Chrome while reading the local news on Firefox at the same time.

A man traveling and using split tunneling for accessing files at home.

Connect to other LAN devices

VPN encryption may sometimes stop your device from connecting to other devices on your local home network (LAN). Split tunneling lets you access printers, smart home appliances, and other LAN devices without giving up your VPN protection.

Smartphone with the NordVPN app on it, split tunneling toggle turned on.

Types of VPN split tunneling

There are three widely recognized types of VPN split tunneling: policy-based, route-based, and app-based. While NordVPN also offers URL-based exclusions within browser extensions.

App-based split

App-based split tunneling means you choose which apps don’t need VPN protection. The rest of your internet traffic is encrypted.

URL-based split

You can choose which URLs you want to exclude from the VPN proxy connection. This feature is available on NordVPN’s browser extensions.

Route-based split

In route-based split tunneling, the traffic is divided based on predefined network routes. Routes can be static or dynamically learned.

Policy-based split

With policy-based split tunneling, routing is based on predefined policies that you or the network administrator set up.

Frequently asked questions