- To enable the Microsoft Defender VPN on Windows, install and open Microsoft Defender > Privacy protection, and turn on the “VPN” feature.
- The service provides 50GB of free data per month, at which point the data will reset.
- You can use the VPN service on Windows 11 as well as on Windows 10. Also, the service is available on other platforms, such as iOS and Android.
On Windows 11 (and 10), if you have a Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscription, you can also access a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service for free.The basic idea of a VPN connection is to provide an encrypted tunnel over the internet to connect a device to a remote network, offering access to the same organization resources as if the user were physically at the remote location. However, many companies, such as Microsoft, provide a VPN service to create a secure tunnel that protects your online activities instead. When you connect to a VPN server, your internet traffic is routed through this encrypted tunnel, making it difficult for others to intercept or monitor your data.
Although the Microsoft Defender VPN feature is included at no extra cost with your Microsoft 365 subscription, which allows you to browse the internet more securely, it’s not meant to bypass geographical restrictions or do heavy video or audio streaming. The service only offers 50GB of VPN data per month. Any unused data does not roll over, and you cannot change server locations.
If you want to take advantage of the free VPN service your Microsoft 365 Personal or Family offers, you will have to install the Microsoft Defender app to set up the feature.
In this guide, I will explain the steps to set up the Virtual Private Network included with your subscription on Windows 11 and 10. The service is available for subscribers in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada. It also works on iOSand Android.
- Install Microsoft Defender app on Windows
- Enable Microsoft Defender VPN on Windows
Install Microsoft Defender app on Windows
To install the Microsoft Defender app on Windows 11 (or 10), use these steps:
Click the “View in Store” button.
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Click the Install (or Get) button.
After you complete the steps, you can proceed to enable the privacy protection feature on your computer.
Microsoft Defender is not to be confused with the “Windows Security” app or the “Microsoft Defender Antivirus” that comes pre-installed on Windows. Instead, it’s a standalone app for Microsoft 365 subscribers that offers a dashboard to manage the security of your computers and mobile devices.
In the app, you can view the security status of your devices connected to your Microsoft account, enable and use the Microsoft Defender VPN service, and sign up to protect your identity with Microsoft’s special partnership with Experian.
Enable Microsoft Defender VPN on Windows
To enable and connect to the Microsoft Defender VPN feature on Windows 11 (or 10), use these steps:
Open Start.
Search for Microsoft Defender and click the top result to open the app.
Sign in with your Microsoft account connected to your Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription.
Quick note: If this is the first time, skip the offers and open the app dashboard.
Click on Privacy protection.
Turn on the VPN toggle switch to enable the feature.
Confirm the “Your location” setting now reads “Hidden.”
Once you complete the steps, the computer will connect to the Microsoft VPN service, hiding your public IP address from the world to make your connection more private. In other words, any service or application (such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, etc.) will connect through the Virtual Private Network to protect your online activities.
You can also follow these instructions in my video tutorial on my YouTube channel. (Remember to like and subscribe.)
You can always open the “Privacy protection” page in the Microsoft Defender app to check the data remaining in your account and how many days are left until the data resets.
If you want to disconnect or stop using the VPN, you can use the same instructions outlined above, but in step 5, turn off the “VPN” toggle switch. Alternatively, use the “Windows key + A” keyboard shortcut, click on “Microsoft Defender VPN,” select the connection, and click the “Disconnect” button.
If you don’t have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can use the free Microsoft VPN service through the Microsoft Edge browser. The feature works in the same manner, but it’s only available when using the browser, and you only get 5GB of free data per month.
Would you be using this service? Let me know in the comments.
