How to Disconnect VPN on iPhone?
🔍 Quick answer:
To disconnect a VPN on iPhone, go to Settings → General → VPN & Device Management and toggle the Status switch off. You can also open the VPN app and tap Disconnect, or swipe down to the Control Center and tap the VPN icon.
Method 1: Disconnect from the Settings app
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap General → VPN & Device Management.
- Tap VPN.
- Toggle the Status switch off. The "VPN" badge disappears from the status bar.
Method 2: Disconnect from the VPN app
Every major VPN app (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, ProtonVPN, Surfshark) has a big Disconnect button on the home screen. Open the app and tap it. The change reflects in Settings within a second.
Method 3: Use the Control Center
iOS lets you put a VPN toggle in the Control Center. Pull down from the top-right, find the VPN tile, and tap it once to disconnect. To add it, go to Settings → Control Center and add "VPN" from the controls list.
Removing a VPN profile entirely
Disconnecting keeps the configuration installed. To remove it:
- Open Settings → General → VPN & Device Management.
- Tap the VPN configuration.
- Tap Delete VPN and confirm.
How to confirm the VPN is off
- The "VPN" badge in the status bar (top of screen) is gone.
- Settings → General → VPN & Device Management shows status as Not Connected.
- Visit whatismyip.com in Safari — your real IP and ISP should show.
💡 Pro tip: iOS can automatically reconnect a "connect on demand" VPN as soon as the device wakes up. If you want to stay disconnected, delete the profile or open the app and tap Disconnect before locking the phone.
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