How to Turn Off a VPN on an iPhone: An Easy Guide

Maybe you’re troubleshooting a slow connection, trying to access content that’s blocked while using a VPN, or just taking a break from it. Whatever the reason, turning off a VPN on your iPhone should be simple, but sometimes it’s not.

You might disconnect in the app, only to find it mysteriously turns itself back on. This usually happens because of a setting in iOS called “Connect On Demand,” which can automatically reconnect your VPN anytime your phone connects to the internet.

This guide will walk you through how to turn off your VPN completely (and keep it off), whether you’re using a third-party app or a system-installed VPN profile.

How to Turn Off a VPN on Your iPhone via the iPhone Settings

You can turn off your VPN directly through your iPhone’s settings. This method works for both manually added VPN configurations and those installed by apps.

1. Go to Settings > VPN.

2. Toggle the VPN Status switch next to your active VPN to Not connected.

How to Prevent the VPN Reconnecting in iPhone Settings

Some iOS versions (like iOS 14 and later) may automatically reconnect your VPN, even after you’ve manually turned it off. This behavior is due to the “Connect On Demand” feature in iOS settings, not the VPN app itself. 

To disable Connect On Demand:

1. Go to Settings > VPN.
2. Under DEVICE VPN, tap the information symbol next to your VPN.

3. Look for Connect On Demand, and toggle it off.

If the VPN was installed via a third-party app or Mobile Device Management (MDM), this option may be grayed out or hidden. In that case, you’ll need to open the VPN app itself and disable auto-connect or remove the configuration within its settings.

How to Turn Off a VPN on Your iPhone via the VPN App

Most VPNs make it easy to disconnect from their servers. While the process may vary slightly among apps, it’s very simple on the Private Internet Access (PIA) iOS app.

1. Open the PIA VPN app on your iPhone.

2. Tap the power button in the center of the screen to disconnect.

3. That’s it. You’re now disconnected. To reconnect, just tap the power button again to turn it back on.

Why Turn Off the VPN on Your iPhone?

There are several reasons to disable a VPN on your iPhone:

• Access local content: Some VPNs may not work properly with some services, especially those that require an IP address from your real location (like an online banking service). PIA is compatible with major sites and services around the world, so you won’t need to turn it off in most cases. 
• Improve speed: VPNs can slow down your connection, especially if the server is far away or overloaded. However, you probably won’t even notice the drop in speed if you use a high-quality VPN. PIA has a large network of 10-Gbps servers, so you can easily switch to a closer or faster location if your connection seems slow. You can also use the WireGuard or IKEv2 protocols or lower your OpenVPN encryption level to AES 128-bit.
• Reduce battery drain: VPNs run in the background and can use more battery. To minimize battery usage without turning off your VPN, you can use a lightweight protocol that uses fewer system resources, like WireGuard. 
• Using trusted networks: On secure, private networks (like your home Wi-Fi), you might not need a VPN constantly. PIA’s Automation feature lets you create rules to automatically connect or disconnect the VPN when you connect to a certain Wi-Fi network.
• Troubleshooting: Disabling the VPN can help diagnose connection issues or rule out VPN-related problems.

What Happens When You Turn Off a VPN on iPhone?

Turning off a VPN on your iPhone means your device stops routing traffic through a protected, private server. From that point on, your browsing, streaming, and app data travel over your regular internet connection. This makes it easier for your internet provider, apps, or even network filters to track what you’re doing or limit what you can access.

Here’s what happens when you turn off a VPN:

• Traffic stops being encrypted: Your data is no longer routed through the secure VPN server and encrypted. Instead, it goes directly through your normal internet connection (your ISP or mobile provider).
• Real IP address becomes visible: Websites, apps, and services will now see your actual location and IP address, not the one assigned by the VPN server.
• You may lose access to location-restricted content: If you were using a VPN to access certain services, those may no longer be available.
• Apps and services may behave differently: Some apps might load faster or reconnect to your regular network. On some networks, like at work or school, some services may stop working if they were configured to only work with a VPN.
• Privacy and security decrease on public Wi-Fi: Without VPN encryption, your data is more exposed on unsecured networks like coffee shops, airports, or hotels.

Why Use a VPN on Your iPhone?

iPhones are generally considered secure and less vulnerable to online threats than other devices, so you may think you don’t need extra protection. However, although your phone may be less vulnerable to malware, your browsing activity is still visible to anyone with access to your network, including your ISP and, sometimes, cybercriminals. 

Here are just some of the reasons to use a VPN on your iPhone:

• Protect your data on public Wi-Fi: Unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, such as those in cafes and airports, are vulnerable to hackers. A VPN encrypts your data and makes it unreadable to third parties on your network.
• Keep your IP address private: Websites and apps determine your location via your IP address. A VPN masks your IP address to prevent tracking.
• Bypass censorship: A high-quality VPN makes it possible to access blocked sites and services on restricted networks.
• Prevent bandwidth throttling: Some ISPs slow down your connection when you stream or download. A VPN hides your activity, eliminating this kind of throttling.
• Enable safer online transactions: When banking or shopping online, a VPN adds an extra layer of security to help protect your payment data from interception.

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