How to turn on Microsoft Edge VPN for secure browsing

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Understanding Microsoft Edge VPN requirements

“I’ve heard that Microsoft Edge has VPN capabilities, but I can’t seem to find the option anywhere in my browser settings. How do I turn on the VPN feature in Edge to protect my browsing privacy?”

Enable VPN in Edge through Microsoft Defender settings

Microsoft Edge doesn’t include a built-in VPN service like some other browsers, but it offers VPN-like protection through Microsoft Defender SmartScreen and enhanced security features. The confusion often arises because Microsoft provides VPN services through different products in their ecosystem, including Microsoft Defender for individuals and enterprise solutions.

If you’re looking to enhance your browsing privacy, you can integrate VPN functionality with Microsoft Edge through security features and extensions. While Edge doesn’t have a built-in VPN, you can achieve similar protection by combining Microsoft Defender SmartScreen features with third-party VPN extensions from the Edge Add-ons store. This approach provides encrypted connections and helps protect your online privacy while browsing.

Today we will show you how to activate VPN on Edge through available Microsoft security services and third-party integrations. We’ll cover enabling Microsoft Defender’s network protection features, configuring browser security settings, and integrating external VPN services with your Edge browser for comprehensive privacy protection.

You will need: Windows 10/11 with Microsoft Edge installed, Microsoft account (for Defender features), and administrator access for system-level VPN configurations.

Turn on VPN Edge through security and network settings

To enable VPN functionality in Microsoft Edge, start by accessing Edge settings through the three-dot menu and navigating to “Privacy, search, and services.” Enable Microsoft Defender SmartScreen and secure DNS options to create a foundation for secure browsing. For full VPN protection, visit the Edge Add-ons store and install a reputable VPN extension like NordVPN or ExpressVPN. After installation, click the extension icon in your toolbar, sign in with your credentials, select a server location, and connect to establish a secure browsing session.

Activate VPN on Edge using Microsoft Defender integration

  • Navigate to Microsoft Edge settings by clicking the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner and selecting “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
  • Click on “Privacy, search, and services” in the left sidebar to access security and privacy configurations for your browsing experience.
  • Scroll down to the “Security” section and toggle on “Microsoft Defender SmartScreen” which provides real-time protection against malicious websites and downloads.
  • Enable “Block potentially unwanted apps” to prevent suspicious software installations that could compromise your network security and privacy.
  • Turn on “Use secure DNS to specify how to lookup the network address for websites” and select “Choose a service provider” to route DNS queries through encrypted channels.
  • Select a secure DNS provider like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Quad9 (9.9.9.9) from the dropdown menu to enhance your browsing privacy and security.

Enable Microsoft Edge VPN service through Windows security settings

  • Open Windows Security by pressing Windows key + I, then navigate to “Update & Security” and select “Windows Security” from the left panel.
  • Click on “Virus & threat protection” and scroll down to find “Virus & threat protection settings” where you can configure advanced security features.
  • Enable “Real-time protection” and “Cloud-delivered protection” to ensure your system receives the latest threat intelligence and network security updates.
  • Navigate to “Firewall & network protection” and click on your active network profile to configure network-level security settings that complement browser protection.
  • Turn on “Microsoft Defender Firewall” for your network profile and enable “Block all incoming connections” when using public networks for enhanced security.

Expert Tip: While Edge doesn’t have a traditional VPN, combining these security features with secure DNS creates a privacy-focused browsing environment similar to basic VPN protection.

Open VPN on Edge through third-party extension integration

  • Visit the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store by typing “edge://extensions/” in your address bar or clicking “Extensions” from the three-dot menu.
  • Search for reputable VPN extensions like “NordVPN,” “ExpressVPN,” or “Surfshark” that offer browser-specific protection and privacy features.
  • Click “Get” on your chosen VPN extension and follow the installation prompts to add the extension to your Edge browser toolbar.
  • After installation, click the VPN extension icon in your toolbar and sign in with your VPN service credentials to activate the connection.
  • Select your preferred server location from the extension’s server list and click “Connect” to establish a secure VPN tunnel for your browsing session.
  • Verify your VPN connection by visiting a website like “whatismyipaddress.com” to confirm your IP address has changed to the VPN server location.

Turn off VPN in Edge and manage connection settings

Turn off Microsoft Edge VPN through extension management

  • Click on the active VPN extension icon in your Edge toolbar to access the connection controls and server selection options.
  • Select “Disconnect” or “Turn Off” from the extension interface to terminate the VPN connection and return to your regular internet connection.
  • To temporarily disable the VPN extension without removing it, right-click the extension icon and select “Remove from toolbar” to hide the controls.
  • For permanent removal, navigate to “edge://extensions/” and click the “Remove” button next to your VPN extension to uninstall it completely from Edge.

VPN in Edge browser troubleshooting and connection management

  • If your VPN extension isn’t working properly, try clearing your browser cache by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Delete and selecting “All time” as the time range.
  • Disable other security extensions temporarily to identify conflicts that might prevent your VPN extension from establishing proper connections.
  • Reset your network settings by opening Command Prompt as administrator and running “netsh winsock reset” followed by “netsh int ip reset” commands.
  • Check your VPN service’s server status page to ensure the servers you’re trying to connect to are operational and not experiencing maintenance issues.

Important Tip: Some corporate networks block VPN traffic, so if you’re having connection issues at work, check with your IT department about VPN policies.

Troubleshooting VPN and Edge browser integration issues

  • VPN extension not appearing in toolbar: Navigate to edge://extensions/ and ensure the VPN extension is enabled, then restart Edge browser to refresh the extension loading process.
  • Connection fails repeatedly: Clear Edge browsing data including cookies and cached files, then disable Windows Defender Firewall temporarily to test if security software is blocking VPN connections.
  • Slow browsing speeds with VPN active: Try connecting to different server locations closer to your geographic region, or adjust the VPN protocol settings in your extension preferences.
  • DNS resolution errors: Manually configure your DNS settings to use your VPN provider’s DNS servers, or flush DNS cache using “ipconfig /flushdns” command in Command Prompt.