How To Use Android PIA VPN App!

thisisme786thisisme786
edited October 2014 in VPN Setup Support
Hello,
Here is a simple guide which will allow you to use the private internet access app available via android google play. 

Step 1:
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Enter your Private Internet Access Account details. If you are going to connect often, than I would recommend saving your account credentials. 

Step 2:
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In settings you should be able to change your connection settings. Autostart settings will allow you to start your device to connect on boot and also 1 click connect. 1 click connect is a great feature as it will allow you to connect by tapping on the icon, however, you would still need to minimize the app. I have a suggestion for the app developers, could you guys please include a 1 click connect widget.

Step 3:
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Before connecting you may choose what server you had like to connect to. The app is set to 'Automatic Server selection', in order for you to select a particular server, you would need to tap onto 'Automatic Server selection' and this will bring the above list to you. 

Step 4:
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Finally, you may click on Connect. If for any reason it does not connect you may need to check for TUN driver on your Android 4.0+ device. 

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I have successfully tested the app on Galaxy S2, S3, Galaxy TAB 10.1, Galaxy Tab 2 7, Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (above), Galaxy Note 10.1, HTC Sensation, HTC One X. All these devices are fully updated and have Android 4.0+. 

You may download it by clicking here or searching for "VPN by Private Internet Access" on Google Play.  If you like it, please give us a "high five!" (5 star rating)

If the app is not available on Google Play for your device then you may download it manually by clicking on the image below.
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Download by scanning QR code or clicking on the image below.
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Review by me. Original thread.
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Comments

  • rainbowmanrainbowman
    Each time the device boots, the apps asks for permission to make a vpn connection. Could you guys fix that in the next update.
  • thisisme786thisisme786
    Each time the device boots, the apps asks for permission to make a vpn connection. Could you guys fix that in the next update.
    Google has no fix for that, not unless if your device is rooted.
    http://code.google.com/p/ics-openvpn/issues/detail?id=28
  • AffirmativeAffirmative
    The app wont connect, using galaxy s2 with custom Rom 4.1.1
  • leoOKleoOK
    edited April 2013
    *
  • tlipurtlipur
    Sweet all we need is a proxy app aswell
  • thisisme786thisisme786
    Use proxydroid for proxy, however, root required.
  • tlipurtlipur
    Yes but how can i set it up to only have my broswer to go through the proxy?

    I still want access to local RDP....
  • thisisme786thisisme786
    Yes but how can i set it up to only have my broswer to go through the proxy?

    I still want access to local RDP....
    On your android device, right?
  • WiZlonWiZlon
    Other than the simplicity (your App looks real easy), are there any advantages to using it over, say, OpenVPN for Android?

    I am thinking of the auto-connect to lowest-latency server as one, but I am not certain even that applies, as OpenVPN may be doing the same thing.

    Regards,

    Andrew
  • thisisme786thisisme786
    Other than the simplicity (your App looks real easy), are there any advantages to using it over, say, OpenVPN for Android?

    I am thinking of the auto-connect to lowest-latency server as one, but I am not certain even that applies, as OpenVPN may be doing the same thing.

    Regards,

    Andrew
    This app functions somewhat like the window client, its all pre-configured, therefore it doesn't require you to set up anything. All you have to do is login into your account.
  • Icy_MountainIcy_Mountain
    Just signed up for the forum to see if something like this was available from PIA!!!  I was on vacation two weeks ago and kept forgetting to connect to VPN on my tablet.

    Great work PIA.  This kind of service is why I chose you to provide me with VPN.
  • tlipurtlipur
    Yes but how can i set it up to only have my broswer to go through the proxy?

    I still want access to local RDP....
    On your android device, right?
    Yes on android
  • thisisme786thisisme786
    Yes but how can i set it up to only have my broswer to go through the proxy?

    I still want access to local RDP....
    On your android device, right?
    Yes on android
    There is no way to do that. Even if your device is rooted, there is no known way which will work.
  • thisisme786thisisme786
    edited April 2013
    Android app has been updated, please update the app using the market or use the link above in the first post.
  • toolbandtoolband
    hey does this app give anyone else severe battery drain when the phone is idle? (in deep sleep). wish there was some way to have it only connect when screen is on. maybe I'll play around with Tasker.
  • thisisme786thisisme786
    hey does this app give anyone else severe battery drain when the phone is idle? (in deep sleep). wish there was some way to have it only connect when screen is on. maybe I'll play around with Tasker.
    First, you should try this method: Go to Widow settings and set the device to not use widow when idle/ sleep. The app will reconnect once a connection has been re-established.
    Second, if you do work out a solution of your own, then please do let us know.
    Thanks
  • toolbandtoolband
    Where is 'widow settings'? do you mean window settings? either way cant find either.

    That being said, while this is not a direct solution, I have found that using proxy droid and using PIA's proxy provides for a continuous connection and does not drain the battery nearly as bad (at least not on my S3).
    Running a custom CM based rom 4.2.2
  • thisisme786thisisme786
    Where is 'widow settings'? do you mean window settings? either way cant find either.

    That being said, while this is not a direct solution, I have found that using proxy droid and using PIA's proxy provides for a continuous connection and does not drain the battery nearly as bad (at least not on my S3).
    Running a custom CM based rom 4.2.2
    I meant to say wifi, autocorrect changed it, sorry.
  • corumcorum
    edited May 2013
    Installed on my rooted HTC Sensation which is running a cyanogenmod based rom. The app gets passed the authentication stage, then states 'getting client configuration', then flashes something else up too quickly to read before finally disconnecting. This happens over wi-fi and mobile broadband.

    Any suggestions?

    Update - turns out I had to enable the tun driver in the kernel, my bad.
  • thisisme786thisisme786
    Installed on my rooted HTC Sensation which is running a cyanogenmod based rom. The app gets passed the authentication stage, then states 'getting client configuration', then flashes something else up too quickly to read before finally disconnecting. This happens over wi-fi and mobile broadband.

    Any suggestions?

    Update - turns out I had to enable the tun driver in the kernel, my bad.
    Could you tell us how you enabled it.
    Thankyou
  • corumcorum
    edited May 2013
    Yeah sure. Many custom android rom's have a plain text kernel configuration file which can be used to adjust certain functions within the kernal such as cpu frequencies and in this case the tun driver.
    The file can have different names but as far as I know is always located in a root folder called \etc\init.d\
    Opening the file with a text editor and changing the option from 0 (off) to 1 (enable), then saving the file and rebooting was all I had to do to get it working.

    I was eventually pointed in the right direction by the folks over on XDA forums, which is where most of the custom roms are developed and have their own thread.
  • thisisme786thisisme786
    Yeah sure. Many custom android rom's have a plain text kernel configuration file which can be used to adjust certain functions within the kernal such as cpu frequencies and in this case the tun driver.
    The file can have different names but as far as I know is always located in a root folder called \etc\init.d\
    Opening the file with a text editor and changing the option from 0 (off) to 1 (enable), then saving the file and rebooting was all I had to do to get it working.

    I was eventually pointed in the right direction by the folks over on XDA forums, which is where most of the custom roms are developed and have their own thread.
    Thank you, that should help out others who might have the same issue.
  • bdbdbdbd
    I too am having *severe* battery drain issues. The PIA app is using over 55% of my total battery usage today. The next closest app is the kernel using 1.5%. Even the screen has only been 10% of my total battery drain. WiFi turns off when I turn off my screen, but clearly the app doesn't like that. In it's current state, the app is unusable. Back to the manual OpenVPN setup I guess.
  • sturdsturd
    edited June 2013
    Installed on my rooted HTC Sensation which is running a cyanogenmod based rom. The app gets passed the authentication stage, then states 'getting client configuration', then flashes something else up too quickly to read before finally disconnecting. This happens over wi-fi and mobile broadband.

    Any suggestions?

    Update - turns out I had to enable the tun driver in the kernel, my bad.
    Could you tell us how you enabled it.
    Thankyou



    I had the same problem, and managed to get this to work having seen the comment about the tun module being enabled.
    I'm using a HTC Sensation (O2 UK), rooted with a Kang build of Cynaogenmod 10.1.  The XDA page for this ROM can be found here.  In the Kernel section of the original post, in this thread, there is a sub-section, named Kernel init script: Click show content to expand.  Clicking this, reveals the 99kernel, init script, located at /system/etc/init.d/  This file contains a boolean variable named TUN.  This value is zero, by default and needs to be set to 1, followed by a device reboot.  This fixed the connection problems on my phone.

    I'd suggest using the Es File Explorer in order to gain read-write privileges to the root filesystem, in order to allow modifying the /system/etc/init.d/99kernel config file.
  • AffirmativeAffirmative
    Installed on my rooted HTC Sensation which is running a cyanogenmod based rom. The app gets passed the authentication stage, then states 'getting client configuration', then flashes something else up too quickly to read before finally disconnecting. This happens over wi-fi and mobile broadband.

    Any suggestions?

    Update - turns out I had to enable the tun driver in the kernel, my bad.
    Could you tell us how you enabled it.
    Thankyou



    I had the same problem, and managed to get this to work having seen the comment about the tun module being enabled.
    I'm using a HTC Sensation (O2 UK), rooted with a Kang build of Cynaogenmod 10.1.  The XDA page for this ROM can be found here.  In the Kernel section of the original post, in this thread, there is a sub-section, named Kernel init script: Click show content to expand.  Clicking this, reveals the 99kernel, init script, located at /system/etc/init.d/  This file contains a boolean variable named TUN.  This value is zero, by default and needs to be set to 1, followed by a device reboot.  This fixed the connection problems on my phone.

    I'd suggest using the Es File Explorer in order to gain read-write privileges to the root filesystem, in order to allow modifying the /system/etc/init.d/99kernel config file.
    Es root explorer, I think there are two, the root one is to be used.

  • altierealtiere
    edited July 2013

    I noticed that if my wifi is turned off the android PIA app will continue trying to connect.  I checked the cpu usage with cpuz and it's up to 67% usage between 2-3 cores, when PIA app futilely tries to connect with no wifi, with no other app running.

    This kills the battery life of the cellphone.

    Is there any way to add in an option to stop connecting either:

    a) If wifi is disabled

    b) After a preset x number of times to try connecting to pia servers'

    I also notice that the green icon stays green even if it is not connected, which makes things very misleading.  Sometimes the icon disappears completely

    Other than that, this app is very solid!  Nice work!

  • defcondefcon
    edited July 2013
    this app really needs a ip-tables manager to prevent data/dns leakage, or another app that does this auto magically 
  • prizepatrolprizepatrol
    I have installed this app on my unrooted Samsung Galaxy Exhibit 4G (T-Mobile). When I click the icon, I only see the VPN settings screen and a choice of Add VPN. Do you have it documented somewhere what I do next? Thanks.

    BTW, if I click Add VPN, then the next screen has 4 choices:
    Add PPTP VPN
    Add L2TP VPN
    Add L2TP/IPSec PSK VPN
    Add L2TP/IPSec CRT VPN.

  • VPNVPN
    edited July 2013
    The OpenVPN component does not work on unrooted Android 2.x devices, only with Android 4.x. It intentionally redirects you to the VPN settings on Android 2.x.
  • gormaygormay
    Hi, new guy on the block here. I just set this app up on my Nook HD +. Geez, w/ your instructions it was easy and it works perfectly! Thanks!
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