Did you know that the network traffic from your Google Android device is mostly unencrypted and that a third party with the right tools and skills can easily view it? Believe me when I say you do not want that.
There are numerous ways to avoid this, such as using Private DNS. However, one of the best ways to secure data packets sent from your Android device is to use a VPN, and Android 13 includes one.
What exactly is a VPN? Simply put, VPNs encrypt and anonymize network traffic that leaves your device, making it more difficult for third parties to intercept and read. VPNs conceal your location, making it more difficult for people and services to track you.
Using a VPN slows down your device’s network traffic slightly. This is due to the fact that outgoing traffic is routed to different servers in various countries. Given the high speeds of modern networks, this is a reasonable trade-off because your network traffic will remain at an acceptable speed.
So, if a free, built-in VPN service sounds appealing, let me show you how to activate it in Android.
Requirements for Google One VPN
To use the free Google One VPN, you must have a device running Android 13 and the December update installed.
If you are unsure whether you have already installed the December update, go to Settings > System > System Update and check for it. If an update is available (which it should be), make sure to install it.
That is all you require. Let’s get that VPN set up.
Activating the Google One VPN
1: Launch the Google One app
The first step is to open your Android App Drawer and tap the associated launcher to launch the Google One app.
2: Enable the VPN feature
From the Google One page, tap the VPN tile to launch the VPN app. Tap the ON/OFF slider on the VPN by Google One page until it is in the ON position.
3: Turn on the VPN
A pop-up window will appear, asking you to approve the connection request. When prompted, tap OK, and then exit the Settings app.
Re-enabling and disabling the VPN
When the VPN is connected, a card will appear in your Notification Shade. You can disable the service by selecting Disable VPN from that card.
The Quick Setting tiles in the Notification Shade are the quickest way to enable and disable the VPN.
By default, the VPN tile does not appear in the Quick Tiles section. Drag the Notification Shade down twice and tap the pencil icon in the bottom right corner of the Quick Settings Tile to add it.
Scroll down until you see VPN by Google One on the Tiles page. Tap and drag that tile to the top of the page, then back out of the Quick Settings Tiles edit window by tapping the right-pointing arrow.
You can now enable or disable the VPN by opening the Quick Settings Tiles. And that’s the end of it.
Android users now have access to a free, built-in VPN service, which should be used whenever sensitive data is transmitted or when connecting to an insecure wireless network.
Google’s virtual private network service was previously only available to those with higher Google One tiers, but that may be changing now.
According to multiple reports, all Google One plans will include the VPN in the future. This means that Google One has added VPN to its $1.99/month plan.
However, GSM Arena reported that the rollout would take some time — possibly a few weeks. Google One members in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States benefit from Google One’s virtual private network service.
To read our blog on “Soon, Google Maps will allow you to search the entire world for locations and directions,” click here
