Share this article

Improve this guide

Can VPN Mess Up Your Phone? Are VPNs Safe on Phones?

Find out all about this topic now

5 min. read

Updated onDecember 20, 2023

updated onDecember 20, 2023

Share this article

Improve this guide

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Key notes

Many misconceptions regardingVPNusage float unhindered on the vast Internet channels, such as whether or not a VPN can mess up your phone. It’s already common knowledge that mostVPNsaren’t PC-exclusive.

As a matter of fact, you can deploy aVPNon a wide range of devices, including but not limited to your router, tablet, phone, or even your gaming console.

However, one of these is not like the others. Your phone has most likely the most significant chunk of your personal data, so it makes sense that you’d be worried aboutVPNmessing up your phone.

Is it safe to use a VPN on your phone?

PopularVPNproviders such asPrivate Internet AccessandCyberGhost VPNhave severalappsthat are fit for various devices. Deploying a trustworthyVPNon your phone should be no different than installing the same service on your PC.

You’ll get more privacy, and your connection’s security will significantly improve. More so, remember those times when you tried watching US Netflix on your phone, and it didn’t work?

Well, if you’re in a non-US location, aVPNcan help youbypass the geoblock.

Now about safety. We’re quite aware that installing aVPNon your phone is a huge step, as it requires a lot of permissions. However, rest assured that yourVPNonly does that so it can be more effective.

How else couldSurfshark, for instance, spoof your GPS location without having access to your GPS in the first place? And how could PIA, for instance, secure your WiFi if you don’t grant it access?

World-class 24/7 support with 83% for a 3 years plan and 3 months free.

Amazing connection speed with 35% off and 3 months free for the 1-year plan.

Best security protocols with 83% off and 2 months free for a 2-year plan.

Can VPN mess up your phone?

1. If you install it from untrusted sources

This is unfortunately one of the gravest mistakesVPNusers do. Please try to always avoid downloadingVPNsfrom shady websites. As a rule, you should especially avoid those with no SSL certificates.

Furthermore, don’t attempt to download crackedVPNsfrom warez websites.

The odds are not in your favor, and you might end up installing a malware-ridden service that will force your phone into a botnet or grant your attacker full remote rights over your device.

Google’s and Apple’sappstores have various protections that will automatically detect if there’s something wrong with the product in their store.

Moreover, both Android and iPhone devices benefit from built-in scanners that can detect and preventappsfrom harming your devices. As long as you don’t mess with the default settings,VPNsshouldn’t be able to mess up your phone.

2. If you use free VPN

This is not by any means an opportunity to discredit freeVPNs. There are some trustworthy freeVPNs, but most of them are not exactly safe.

Think of it this way: you’re using a service that runs hundreds of servers (which, by the way, cost a lot of money to maintain) for free. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t.

Most freeVPNproviders run side operations to afford to run their service for free. More often than not, they implement ads within their service, which you likely have to interact with.

Now, it’s not exactly classified information that many ads are full of malware and/or spyware.

So before gleaming with joy about finding the perfect freeVPN, consider it might mess up your phone and harm your privacy rather than protect it.

3. If you root/jailbreak your phone

Rooting or jailbreaking your device isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Essentially it gives you more freedom over your device than you should have. It makes you run things with Admin rights if you want.

On the downside, many users choose to elevate their permissions on personal devices to engage in unlawful behavior, such as installing piratedapps(such as crackedVPNs) or overriding safe, default settings.

If you root/jailbreak your phone, you will most likely stop receiving OTA updates, and your device will be less secure than ever if you don’t have a clue about maintaining itssecurityby yourself.

Now to the main question. CanVPNmess up your phone if it’s jailbroken or rooted? Yes. In fact, if your device has been fully unlocked, it’s easier than ever for maliciousVPNappsto take over.

Don’t install sketchy apps on your phone

To sum it up, no,VPNappscan’t mess up your phones without additional assistance. Using official, trusted sources to downloadVPNappsshould pose no risk to your phone.

However, if you plan on rooting/jailbreaking your device, downloading crackedVPNapps,and installing them on your phones, you’re probably going to mess up your phone all by yourself.

Last but not least, you should avoid certain freeVPNsthat seem to offer a whole lot in exchange for nothing.

Remember, running aVPNoperation is pricey, and if you don’t pay for this service with money, you’ll definitely have to pay another way. And if one misconfigures the phone settings, you may encounter theNot connected to networkVodafoneerror.

Even more, it’s true that you canuse a gaming VPN to lower pingand we have all the details that you’re looking for.

Can VPN Mess Up Your Phone? Are VPNs Safe on Phones?#

Can VPN mess up your phone?#

1. If you install it from untrusted sources#

2. If you use free VPN#

3. If you root/jailbreak your phone#

Don’t install sketchy apps on your phone#