Get the vpn.now app on your Windows PC
A native Windows app with one-click connect, built on a modern VPN protocol. Works on Windows 10 and 11.
51.6 MB · works with your free vpn.now account.
10 & 11
Built for current Windows
~5 min
From download to connected
1 click
Connect, after first setup
Installing on Windows, step by step
The installer bundles everything the app needs, including the tunnel component, so there is nothing else to chase down. Here is the whole path from download to a protected connection.
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Run the installer
Open the file you downloaded. This preview build is not code signed yet, so Windows SmartScreen may ask you to choose More info, then Run anyway. The app installs in a few seconds.
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Sign in
Launch vpn.now and enter your account email and password. Do not have an account yet? You can create a free one in under a minute, no card needed.
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Allow the one-time tunnel setup
The first time you connect, Windows asks for permission to add the VPN tunnel service. This is expected and happens once. The app uses no special access beyond managing that tunnel.
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Press connect
Click the round power button. The app selects the fastest server and protects your connection. The button turns green when you are protected.
What makes the Windows app different
This is a real Windows desktop app, not a wrapper around a web page. It runs our VPN protocol with modern ChaCha20-Poly1305 encryption, reconnects cleanly when you move between Wi-Fi and Ethernet, and stays light on resources in the background.
A fresh private key is delivered to the app over HTTPS and is not retained by vpn.now. We store only the matching public key. You can rotate keys any time from your dashboard.
System requirements
| Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit). |
| Administrator rights to install and manage the Windows tunnel service. |
Prefer to configure things by hand? Follow the Windows VPN setup guide or the full manual setup guide.
What our protocol gives you on Windows
The tunnel is built on one modern VPN protocol, and that choice shows up in daily use.
Quick to connect
The protocol we run is small and modern, so the app connects in a second or two. There is no long handshake to sit through. When you press connect, you are protected almost right away.
Roams with you
Move a laptop from Wi-Fi to a wired Ethernet dock and the tunnel stays up. Our protocol tracks the session, not the network, so it reconnects on its own without dropping your apps.
Light in the background
The tunnel uses little processor time and little memory when it is idle. On a laptop that helps battery life. You can leave it on all day and barely notice it running.
Want the technical side? Read about our VPN protocols or the full VPN for Windows guide.
Troubleshooting your first connection
Three prompts you may see the first time, and what each one means.
Windows SmartScreen showed a blue prompt
This is expected for the current unsigned preview. Choose More info, then Run anyway. Download only from this page and compare the SHA-256 checksum before running it.
It asked for permission the first time I connected
Windows asks once to add the VPN tunnel service. You approve it a single time, then future connects need no prompt. The app uses no access beyond managing that tunnel. It does not change other system settings.
My firewall or security tool flagged the app
Some security tools ask before letting a new app reach the network. Allow vpn.now through, or add it to the allowed list. The tunnel needs outbound access to reach our servers. If a connection still fails, check that your network does not block UDP, which our protocol uses.
Still stuck? Our manual setup guide covers the official Windows client as a fallback.
Verify your download
Every official build ships with its SHA-256 checksum. Matching the hash of your file against the value below confirms you have the genuine, untampered build and not a repackaged copy from anywhere else.
vpn.now-windows.exe
SHA-256: 9efd598c5286e7d454d69222b9b84f4d593fe1bc2cc5bc96863a450d6d74bc34
Check it with shasum -a 256 vpn.now-windows.exe on macOS or Linux, or certutil -hashfile vpn.now-windows.exe SHA256 on Windows.
Windows questions
Is the app safe to install?
Yes. Always download it from this page and check that the SHA-256 shown below matches your file. This early build is not code signed yet, so Windows SmartScreen may warn you about a new app; that is expected until signing is in place.
Why does it ask for administrator rights?
Windows requires elevated rights to install and control the WireGuard tunnel service. VPN Now uses those rights only for tunnel lifecycle operations.
Do I need anything else installed?
No. The installer includes the app, its .NET runtime, and the tunnel component. Run vpn.now-windows.exe and follow the prompts.
vpn.now on your other devices
One account covers them all.
See every option on the vpn.now apps overview, or set up by hand with the manual setup guide.