Hey there! This guide will teach you how to setup, configure, troubleshoot, and get the fastest speeds out of your IPVanish VPN. By the end, you‘ll be a VPN pro ready to unlock the full potential of IPVanish.
Let‘s get started!
What is the IPVanish VPN Supercharge Guide?
This is an in-depth reference guide to help you:
- Learn how IPVanish works to protect your privacy and security
- Install and configure the IPVanish VPN on all your devices
- Tweak settings for maximum speeds and stability
- Use advanced features like port forwarding, split tunneling, etc.
- Troubleshoot any connection problems you encounter
- Become an IPVanish VPN expert!
I‘ll provide tips, how-tos, best practices, detailed settings walkthroughs, and expert troubleshooting advice based on my extensive experience as an online privacy advocate.
Let‘s start with an overview of online privacy, the value of a VPN, and how IPVanish is designed to safeguard your data.
The Online Privacy Crisis – How Does a VPN Help?
We live more of our lives online than ever before. But every search, click, and download leaves a trail of data that‘s tracked and logged.
According to a 2019 survey [1], over 80% of US adults feel they have no control over their personal data online.
Here are some privacy risks to be aware of:
- ISPs monitoring your browsing history and selling data to advertisers
- Hacking of unsecured public WiFi networks
- Sites tracking you with cookies to serve targeted ads
- Government surveillance of online activity
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates an encrypted tunnel that hides your IP address and online activity from prying eyes.
Research by Security.org found that [2]:
- 28% of US adults currently use a VPN
- Another 45% are interested in signing up for one
So millions have turned to VPNs for better privacy, but not all VPNs are equal.
The IPVanish VPN Difference
IPVanish was built from the ground up to provide maximum privacy along with great speeds.
Here are just some of their key security features:
- 256-bit AES encryption secures your connection
- Strict zero-log policy for complete anonymity
- 3,000+ anonymous VPN servers in 75+ locations
- Apps to encrypt all your devices – Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, etc.
- Blocks trackers, ads, and malware across all apps and browsers
- Encrypted VPN tunnel keeps activities hidden from your ISP
With IPVanish, you can browse safely and access geo-restricted content on any device. Let‘s get it setup!
Installing the IPVanish VPN
One of the best aspects of IPVanish is the availability of easy-to-use apps for all major platforms:
| Windows | MacOS |
| iOS | Android |
| Linux | Chromebook |
| Fire TV | Routers |
I‘ll provide simple step-by-step instructions to get IPVanish installed on popular devices:
Windows PCs
Downloading the IPVanish Windows app only takes a couple minutes.
- Go to ipvanish.com and click Apps > Windows.
- Click the Download button and wait for the IPVanish setup file to finish downloading.
- When ready, launch the installer .exe file. Make sure to run as Administrator.
- Follow the setup wizard prompts to install IPVanish.
- Launch the IPVanish app and enter your username and password to log in.
That‘s all it takes to get protected on your Windows desktop or laptop with IPVanish!
The app will run silently in your system tray securing your connection.
iPhone and iPad
Adding IPVanish to your iPhone or iPad only takes a minute.
- Open the App Store and search for "IPVanish."
- Tap GET to download and install the official IPVanish app.
- Launch the app and enter your account credentials to log in.
- Select CONNECT and the app will automatically activate the VPN tunnel.
The IPVanish icon will display at the top letting you know your iOS connection is now encrypted and secured!
Android Mobiles & Tablets
It‘s just as quick to install IPVanish on any Android device:
- Open the Google Play Store app.
- Search for "IPVanish" and tap Install.
- Launch the app once installed. Enter your username and password.
- Tap Connect to activate the Android VPN and encrypt your mobile traffic.
With IPVanish, all your devices can browse safely behind a secure VPN shield.
Now that you have IPVanish installed, let‘s go over some tips to customize the configuration.
IPVanish VPN Settings and Configuration
The IPVanish apps provide many advanced settings to help customize your VPN connection including:
1. Protocol – Choose between protocols like OpenVPN, L2TP, IKEv2, SOCKS5, etc. OpenVPN offers the best speeds and security for most users.
2. Encryption – Set the encryption cipher strength. AES-256 is preferred for max protection.
3. Data Authentication – Mandatory data authentication adds an extra layer of security.
4. Scramble – This obscures your VPN traffic to prevent throttling by your ISP.
5. Port Selection – You can select which port to use with TCP vs UDP configurations.
6. Server Selection – Connect to any of IPVanish‘s 3,000+ servers in 75+ countries.
Make sure to toggle these settings and find your optimal configuration. I recommend using OpenVPN on UDP port 443 with Scramble and Data Authentication enabled for the best speeds. AES-256 encryption should always be active for top security.
Try out different protocols and ports as network conditions change to sustain max VPN performance.
Advanced IPVanish Features
Let‘s explore some of the more advanced features that can help further safeguard your privacy:
Obfuscated Servers – These special servers disguise your VPN traffic to prevent VPN blocking. Useful in countries that restrict VPN usage.
Disable IPv6 – Disable IPv6 to prevent any IPv6 leaks that could expose your IP address.
Split Tunneling – Configure which apps send traffic through the VPN tunnel vs. outside the tunnel. Great for optimizing speeds.
Connection Permissions – Set which apps are allowed VPN access for an added layer of security.
SOCKS5 Web Proxy – Utilize the web proxy for P2P and torrenting traffic.
WireGuard Support – Latest VPN protocol offers improved speeds and scalability.
Take advantage of these advanced options to customize IPVanish to your specific needs and usage.
Troubleshooting Your IPVanish VPN
VPN connections can sometimes suffer speed or stability issues. Try these tips for troubleshooting problems:
-
Restart your device and router – This often fixes temporary glitches.
-
Make sure your OS and apps are updated – Outdated software can affect connectivity.
-
Try toggling different protocols like OpenVPN or IKEv2.
-
Adjust configuration settings like ports and encryption levels.
-
Clear app cache/data and reinstall if needed.
-
Connect to a different VPN server location.
-
Temporarily disable antivirus and firewalls to test if they are interfering.
-
Contact IPVanish 24/7 customer support who can further diagnose issues.
-
Consider switching routers or internet plans if speeds are consistently slow.
With some patience and trial-and-error, you can resolve most VPN problems. IPVanish also offers guides to troubleshoot specific issues on each platform.
Boosting Your IPVanish Speeds
To maximize VPN speeds, I recommend:
-
Connect to the fastest IPVanish server closest to your location.
-
If possible, use a wired ethernet connection which is faster than WiFi.
-
Limit streaming or torrenting when actively using the VPN which can choke bandwidth.
-
Enable IPVanish‘s Connection Permissions to prevent background apps from clogging the tunnel.
-
Select smaller servers with less users to reduce bandwidth congestion.
-
Adjust protocol and port settings to find your optimal configuration.
-
Quit other bandwidth heavy tasks like video calls when using the VPN tunnel.
-
Upgrade to faster internet if available in your area for fatter pipe to handle VPN traffic.
Tweaking your setup wisely allows IPVanish to reach blazing fast speeds. You can stream, surf, and download without buffering or lag.
IPVanish VPN Pricing & Savings Tips
IPVanish offers a few pricing tiers:
-
$10.99/month on monthly billing
-
$8.99/month on 1-year plan (saves 17%)
-
$3.99/month on 3-year plan (saves 64%)
I highly recommend going with the 3-year plan to maximize savings. Why pay more?
You can also watch for seasonal promotions like their limited time 74% OFF + 3 months FREE deal equating to just $3.25/month!
To find the best IPVanish deal, check their website, look for coupon codes online, and don‘t hesitate to ask if any unadvertised offers are available.
The pricing is very reasonable given the exceptional service, speeds, and privacy you get with IPVanish.
The Verdict on IPVanish VPN
IPVanish delivers an outstanding VPN experience with top-tier speeds, security, and platform support.
Follow this guide to properly setup, configure, troubleshoot, and boost your IPVanish connection for maximum performance.
Take the time to explore all the settings and advanced features available to customize IPVanish to your needs. The tips outlined here will help you unlock IPVanish‘s full potential.
IPVanish provides the complete privacy and streaming access package. Now you have the knowledge to use this powerful tool like a pro!
Have any other questions? Let me know in the comments and I‘ll be happy to help out! Stay safe online friend.
[1] https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2019/11/15/americans-and-privacy-concerned-confused-and-feeling-lack-of-control-over-their-personal-information/ [2] https://www.security.org/vpn/vpn-statistics/