How to Use a VPN on a Chromebook

Lee Stanton April 1, 2023

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Do you want to know how to use a VPN on a Chromebook? If you’ve ever researched network security or how to access a website or service not available in your country, you must’ve come across VPNs. A VPN, or virtual private network, allows you to create a tunnel between your Chromebook and a server, thus keeping your network secure.

If you’re not sure how to use a VPN on a Chromebook, look no further. In this article, we’ll show you several ways to do so, and discuss other features you might find useful.

How to Use a VPN on a Chromebook

Whether you want to protect your network or access websites and services otherwise unavailable, using a VPN is an excellent choice. There are a few ways to do it, one of which is manually configuring it within your Chromebook. If your Chromebook doesn’t support Android apps, this is your go-to option.

You can find plenty of VPN solutions online. We recommend using ExpressVPN since it’s reliable and easy to use.

Here’s how you can manually configure ExpressVPN:

If you haven’t already, buy ExpressVPN by visiting this page.
Once you’ve set it up, visit the ExpressVPN setup page and sign in.
You’ll receive a code via email that you need to enter on the next page.
Tap “L2TP/IP sec.”
You’ll see a username, password, and a list of server addresses around the world. Keep the page open since you will need this information later.
Tap the time in the bottom-right corner of the screen and then tap the gear icon.
Under the “Network” tab, tap “Add connection,” and then “Add OpenVPN/L2TP…”
Under the “Join VPN Network” tab, enter the following information:
- Server hostname: use the server address from Step 5.
- Server name: give a recognizable name to the server. For example, “ExpressVPN S.”
- Provider type: choose “L2TP/IP sec + pre-shared key.
- Pre-shared key: 12345678.
- Username: use the username from Step 5.
- Password: use the password from Step 5.
- Group name: don’t type anything here.
- Save identity and password: depending on your preferences, you can choose to save the settings.
Tap “Connect.” If you see a key icon next to the network, it means you’re successfully connected.
If you want to check your IP address, visit this page.

Although this is a great option if your Chromebook doesn’t support Android apps, the manufacturer states that manual configuration should only be used for anonymization and switching locations. Also, many consider that L2TP/IP sec isn’t secure enough.

How to Use an Android VPN App on a Chromebook

If your Chromebook supports Android apps, you’ll be happy to know ExpressVPN offers one. Here’s how you can set it up:

Go to the Play Store.
Search for “ExpressVPN” and tap “Install.”
Open the app.
If you don’t have an account, create one. If you do, sign in with your email address and password.
A pop-up message asking you to allow creating a VPN connection will show up on your screen. Tap “Ok.”
Tap the power button to connect to a VPN server. ExpressVPN will suggest a location thanks to its “Smart location” feature. If you want to choose another location, tap the three dots and select the one you prefer.
If your connection is successful, you’ll see “Connected” written below the power button.
You can check your IP address by visiting this page.

Using the ExpressVPN Android app is one of the easiest ways to set up a VPN on your Chromebook. You can be sure your network is protected.

Some of the advantages of using the ExpressVPN Android app on your Chromebook are:

You can choose the location – with ExpressVPN, you can select one of the 160 available server locations.
You can choose which apps use ExpressVPN – when connected to ExpressVPN, you can select the apps for which you want to use the VPN.
You can use the kill switch – ExpressVPN keeps you secured even when you lose the internet connection. In case this happens, ExpressVPN will block all traffic.
User-friendly service – ExpressVPN is available in 16 languages. If English isn’t your native language, you can choose other options.
Updated servers – ExpressVPN is always working on improving and optimizing its servers. This includes a fast and reliable connection.

How to Use a VPN on a Chromebook With a Chrome Extension

There is another way to protect the web traffic on your Chromebook: a VPN browser extension. In just a few steps, you can protect your web traffic by installing the extension.

ExpressVPN offers browser extensions, but only for Windows, Mac, and Linux. There aren’t any ExpressVPN browser extensions for Chromebooks. However, there are other VPN services you can use:

Visit the Chrome Web Store.
In the search bar, type “VPN.”
Choose one and install it.
The extension will appear on the right of the search bar in Chrome.

Additional FAQs

How do I know if my Chromebook supports Android apps?

As previously mentioned, installing the ExpressVPN app is only possible if your Chromebook supports Android apps. Although many do support them, there are exceptions.

The general rule is that all Chromebooks manufactured in 2019 or later support Android apps unless specified otherwise. However, some Chromebooks made before 2019 support Android apps, too. If you’re interested in checking the Chromebooks manufactured before 2019 that support the Android apps, visit this page.

Can I use a VPN on a school owned Chromebook?

The answer depends on the preferences the network administrator has set up. Usually, schools block websites and apps such as social networks or computer games. By using a VPN, students could access these without any issues.

However, the network administrator usually makes this option unavailable due to different settings. School-owned Chromebooks are meant to be used only for educational purposes, which is why all social networks and other websites are restricted.

Do Chromebooks Have a Built-In VPN?

Chromebooks only have built-in support for VPNs, but they don’t have the actual VPNs installed. If you want to use a VPN, you need to install one.

Final Thoughts on How to Use a VPN on a Chromebook

Using VPN has numerous advantages, but the most important one is keeping your network secured. Besides learning how to use a VPN on a Chromebook, we hope you’ve enjoyed checking out the other interesting features. If you want to use a safe and secure network and switch locations to get the best experience possible, don’t hesitate to get a VPN service. Our recommendation is ExpressVPN.

Have you ever used a VPN? What features do you like best? Tell us in the comments section below.