You may have seen the VPN on your phone turning on by itself even if you had thought you had turned it off. It usually occurs in normal situations like connecting to a public Wi-Fi in a coffee shop, or restarting your phone. This can cause a feeling of confusion and irritation, particularly when you are not clear about the reason behind it and how to master it.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
Why your VPN keeps turning on automatically on iPhone, Android, and work devices
What settings or security features trigger it
When it’s safe to disable your VPN and when you shouldn’t
Let’s begin with the main question: why does my VPN keep turning on?
A VPN can activate automatically due to a mixture of system settings, installed profiles, or organizational security policies that are in place. The majority of mobile operating systems are built in such a way that secure connection is retained without the user having to reconnect manually.
This does prevent risks of data leaks, unencrypted traffic, or accidental exposure when switching networks.
In case you are interested in discovering more practical guides about VPN installation and troubleshooting, you can find detailed tutorials at Safelyo.
On iOS, there are several reasons why VPN connections return automatically:
Configuration profiles: A VPN profile may be installed with instructions to automatically connect. Such profiles can be associated with workplaces, schools, or particular applications. After they are activated, the system makes sure they are applied to all Wi-Fi and cellular networks.
Connect On Demand: The iOS feature monitors network activity and brings the VPN back up when certain domains, apps, or types of traffic are detected. For instance, bank apps or corporate services can lead to reconnection of the VPN to ensure the security of information.
System integrity rules: Certain profiles can only be removed or altered through admin access. Apple’s enterprise documents state that such restricted users are the only ones who can change these enforced VPN settings.
The result is that even if a user disables the VPN, the device may bring it back online the next time it detects traffic that matches the profile.
For smoother control and stronger privacy, many iOS users rely on providers from the Best VPN for iPhone list, which are optimized for Apple devices.
Android also includes mechanisms that restart VPN connections:
Always-on VPN: When enabled, this setting forces the device to maintain a VPN tunnel at all times. If the connection drops, Android immediately attempts to re-establish it.
VPN kill switch: This setting blocks all internet traffic if the VPN disconnects. To prevent interruptions, the system reactivates the VPN automatically.
Manufacturer and app rules: Some device makers (Samsung, Xiaomi, etc.) or security apps add their own VPN management layers. These can restore VPN connections during device startup, after OS updates, or when certain apps are opened.
Together, these settings ensure that traffic does not leave the device without encryption, even if the user tries to turn the VPN off.
Managed devices are configured differently from personal devices. Workplaces and schools often rely on mobile device management (MDM) to enforce strict policies. These include requiring VPN connections for all traffic, limiting access to specific networks, and blocking user attempts to disable protection.
The purpose is compliance and risk reduction. Regulations such as GDPR in Europe or HIPAA in the United States require organizations to protect sensitive data against leaks. According to CISA (2024), enforced VPN use is one of the core safeguards for protecting remote devices that connect through untrusted networks.
In practice, this means that users cannot fully disable VPNs on managed devices. The VPN will continue to restart automatically until the policy is changed by the IT administrator.
If your VPN keeps switching on automatically, the cause is usually in the profile or security settings. iOS devices allow some user control, but restrictions apply if the profile was installed by an organization. Below are the main fixes you can try.
Many VPN apps install a profile that controls when the VPN connects. If you have multiple profiles, or one from work or school, the system may be forcing auto-connect.
How to check and remove profiles:
Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management.
Review installed profiles under the “Configuration Profiles” section.
If the profile belongs to an app you no longer use, delete it by selecting Remove Profile.
Restart your device and confirm that the VPN no longer turns on by itself.
Note: If the profile is marked as “supervised” or has a lock symbol, only an administrator can remove it.
Some iOS VPN apps include a kill switch feature. This prevents any data from being sent outside the VPN tunnel. If the VPN disconnects, the kill switch will immediately trigger reconnection.
Fix: Open the VPN app you are using and check its settings. Look for “Kill Switch” or “Block Internet Without VPN” and toggle it off if you want full manual control. Keep in mind this reduces protection when the VPN is disconnected.
Occasionally, a VPN app may not release connections properly after updates or crashes. This can result in the app repeatedly re-enabling the VPN.
Fix steps:
Update the VPN app in the App Store to the latest version.
If the issue continues, uninstall the app completely and reinstall it.
After reinstalling, configure the settings again and avoid enabling auto-connect features unless you need them.
These steps often reset buggy configurations and stop the VPN from turning on unexpectedly.
On Android, VPN auto-connect is usually tied to system settings or security features. The good news is that these can often be adjusted directly in the phone’s settings or within the VPN app.
If Always-on VPN is enabled, your device will immediately reconnect to the VPN whenever it is disconnected.
Steps to turn it off:
Go to Settings > Network & Internet > VPN.
Select the VPN app you use.
Toggle off Always-on VPN.
Once disabled, your VPN will only connect when you manually launch it.
Android allows the use of a Private DNS service for encrypted domain lookups. However, some VPN apps conflict with Private DNS settings. When the system detects an error, it may force the VPN to reconnect.
Fix options:
Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Private DNS.
Switch from “Private DNS provider hostname” to Automatic.
Restart your device and test again.
This resolves cases where DNS conflicts keep restarting the VPN.
Some Android devices include battery optimization features that aggressively manage background processes. If the VPN app is restricted, the system may attempt to restart it every time you reconnect to Wi-Fi or mobile data.
Steps to adjust:
Go to Settings > Apps > [Your VPN app] > Battery.
Select Unrestricted or Allow background activity.
Reboot your device to apply changes.
This prevents Android from force-closing and then restarting the VPN app repeatedly.
If your phone, tablet, or laptop is managed by a workplace, school, or another organization, the VPN settings may be locked. These devices often use Mobile Device Management (MDM) or similar tools to enforce security.
Key points to know:
You may see a lock icon on the VPN profile, meaning it cannot be removed.
Attempting to disable the VPN will only result in it reconnecting automatically.
The configuration is in place to protect sensitive data and comply with regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA.
In these cases, the only way to change VPN behavior is to contact the IT administrator. End users cannot override these enforced settings.
Turning off your VPN can sometimes be safe, but it depends on the situation. The main concern is whether your data will travel over an unencrypted connection while the VPN is disabled.
It is generally safe to turn off your VPN if:
You are on a trusted private network at home that is secured with WPA2 or WPA3 encryption.
You only need to use apps or services that do not require added privacy (for example, local banking apps that already use HTTPS).
You are troubleshooting connectivity issues, such as streaming platforms that block VPN usage.
After disabling the VPN, you should always confirm that your device is no longer routing traffic through the tunnel:
Disconnect the VPN in the app or device settings.
Open your browser and search “What is my IP address?”
Verify that the IP shown is your regular ISP or mobile carrier, not the VPN provider.
Re-enable the VPN once you are finished to restore protection.
By checking your IP, you can confirm that the VPN has been fully disabled before proceeding.
If your VPN continues to turn on even after adjusting settings, deeper troubleshooting may be required. These methods reset underlying configurations that can cause the VPN to auto-connect.
Resetting network settings clears saved Wi-Fi, mobile, and VPN configurations. This can remove hidden triggers that cause automatic reconnections.
Steps on iOS:
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
Select Reset Network Settings.
Enter your passcode and confirm.
Steps on Android (may vary by brand):
Go to Settings > System > Reset options.
Tap Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
Confirm and restart your device.
Note: This will delete saved Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth pairings, so back them up before resetting.
Sometimes the VPN app itself is the source of the problem. A clean reinstall ensures that corrupted files or conflicting settings are removed.
Steps:
Uninstall the VPN app completely.
Restart your device.
Download the latest version from the official App Store or Google Play.
Reconfigure only the settings you need, avoiding auto-connect or kill switch features if you prefer manual control.
This process removes leftover files and restores the app to its default state, which often resolves persistent auto-connect issues.
In some cases, the issue does not come from your device but from the VPN service itself. Many VPN providers include auto-connect features that are enabled by default. These are designed to reconnect the VPN if it detects a drop or when you switch networks.
Situations where the provider may be responsible include:
The VPN app has a “connect on startup” option that forces activation whenever you reboot your phone.
A recent update changed default settings, re-enabling auto-connect without clear notice.
The provider uses aggressive fail-safe features to prevent traffic leaks.
What you can do:
Open the VPN app and check its settings for auto-connect or startup options.
Review the provider’s official support documentation for guidance.
If the problem persists, contact customer support to confirm whether it is a provider-enforced feature.
If the VPN forces auto-connect and does not provide an option to disable it, you may need to switch to a service that offers more flexibility in connection control.
Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management and check for installed profiles. If the profile is user-installed, you can remove it. If it was set by your workplace or school, only the administrator can change it. Also check the VPN app for an “auto-connect” option and disable it.
This is something that commonly occurs when the feature of Always-on VPN, a kill switch, or a connection profile having "Connect On Demand" activated is in use. These configurations are set to automatically recover the VPN when there is a return of the client traffic.
If your phone is managed through MDM policies then the VPN settings are under no circumstances locked. You have no permission to change the settings and the VPN will automatically reconnect. In such a case, the IT administrator will have to be contacted in case you want to bring about a change.
Yes it can. If you are on an Android platform and the custom Private DNS provider is being used, it can sometimes lead to a situation where the VPN app restarts repeatedly due to a conflict caused. Typically, switching Private DNS to "Automatic" will sort out the matter.
The answer is dependent on the specifics of the network in question. If it is a private home network with encryption levels high enough to be trusted, the risk will be minimal. However, if you are on public Wi-Fi or using mobile data, then turning off the VPN will reveal your IP address and your activities on the internet to be seen, which is considered a risky approach by the majority of the security experts.
If you have ever wondered why does my VPN keep turning on, the answer usually lies in device settings, VPN profiles, or enforced policies. Both iOS and Android include features like Always-on VPN, kill switches, and Connect On Demand that are designed to protect your data but can feel restrictive if you are not aware of them.
To recap, the main points are:
iPhone and Android systems include auto-connect features that restart VPNs.
VPN profiles from apps, work, or school can force constant activation.
Settings like kill switch, Private DNS, and battery optimization may trigger auto-reconnect.
On managed devices, only IT administrators can change VPN behavior.
Temporary disabling is safe on trusted private networks, but not recommended on public Wi-Fi.
By identifying which setting or profile is responsible, you can decide whether to adjust it, reinstall the app, or contact your provider for help. If your device is managed by an organization, the only option is to work with IT support.
For more simple and practical tech tutorials, explore the Privacy & Security Basics section at Safelyo.
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