The Complete Guide to Setting Up Surfshark VPN on Your iPhone or iPad

Surfing the internet on your iPhone or iPad can feel risky at times. You never know who might be spying on your browsing activities or stealing your personal information. The solution? Adding an extra layer of protection with a VPN like Surfshark.

In this detailed guide, I‘ll explain what a VPN does, why Surfshark is a top choice, and walk you through the entire setup process step-by-step. Let‘s get started!

What is a VPN and Why Should I Use One?

Essentially, a VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet. This protects your online traffic from being tracked or intercepted.

Without a VPN, your internet service provider can see every website you visit. The same goes for hackers on public WiFi, shady apps collecting your data, and government surveillance programs.

Once connected to Surfshark, all of your internet activity is secured and anonymous. Your iPhone or iPad will be given a new IP address, hiding your identity and location.

Here are the main benefits of using Surfshark on your iOS device:

• Encrypts your internet connection to block tracking and spying.
• Hides your IP address so you can browse privately.
• Changes your virtual location to access geo-blocked sites and content.
• Secures your data on public WiFi hotspots.
• Bypasses internet censorship and firewalls.

Research shows that 79% of US adults are concerned about their personal data being accessed by hackers or companies. Surfshark puts you back in control of your online privacy.

Why Surfshark is the Best VPN for iPhone and iPad

There are loads of VPN services out there, but Surfshark consistently ranks among the top iPhone VPNs due to these key advantages:

Powerful encryption – Your connection is secured using AES-256 data encryption. This meets the standards used by banks and the military.

No activity logging – Surfshark retains no logs of your browsing history or online activities.

Bypasses geo-restrictions – Unblocks access to region-locked websites and streaming content. You can virtually hop between over 100 countries.

Fast connection speeds – Surfshark has 3200+ worldwide servers optimized for speedy streaming and downloads.

Unlimited device support – Use one Surfshark account on as many of your gadgets as you want.

Malware and ad blocking – Surfshark‘s CleanWeb feature filters out dangerous content.

24/7 customer support – Help is available around the clock if any issues arise.

Affordable pricing – Just $2.49 a month for full VPN protection.

With advanced security, great performance, and helpful features, Surfshark is my top recommendation for an iPhone VPN.

Step 1 – Sign Up for a Surfshark Account

Ready to get started? First, you‘ll need to sign up for a Surfshark account:

1. Go to Surfshark‘s website and click on Get Started.

2. Select a plan. The 2 year deal at $2.49 per month is the best value.

3. Enter your email address and create a secure password.

4. Choose your payment method and complete the checkout process.

And that‘s it! Your Surfshark account is now active and ready to use. The signup process takes just minutes.

A single account can be used to protect all your devices, including iPhones, iPads, desktop PCs, laptops, routers, and more. One subscription covers them all.

Step 2 – Install the Surfshark App on iPhone or iPad

With your account created, it‘s time to download and install the Surfshark app from the App Store:

1. Open up the Apple App Store on your iPhone or iPad.

2. In the search bar, type "Surfshark" and hit enter.

3. Tap the Get button to download the Surfshark VPN app.

4. Once the download is complete, open the Surfshark app.

5. Tap Log In and sign in using the credentials you set up earlier.

That‘s all it takes to install Surfshark! The iOS app provides a quick way to connect to the VPN right from your iPhone or iPad.

Step 3 – Connect to a Surfshark Server Location

Connecting to the VPN hides your IP address and secures your internet connection:

1. Launch the Surfshark app you just installed.

2. Tap Connect to establish a VPN connection.

3. By default, Surfshark will select the fastest server based on your location. This provides optimal speeds.

4. You can also choose from 3200+ servers in over 100 different countries.

Once connected, the VPN status indicator will display your new virtual location. All internet traffic is now being routed through the encrypted Surfshark tunnel.

According to Surfshark, their VPN servers provide an average increase in internet speeds of 10.4% due to their high-performance network. Speeds remain fast enough for HD streaming even while connected to the VPN.

Step 4 – Configure Your Surfshark App Settings

The Surfshark app includes a bunch of advanced settings to customize your VPN experience:

Quick Connect – Choose a favorite server location to connect with just one tap.

MultiHop – Chain together VPN connections through multiple countries for enhanced privacy.

Whitielder – Exclude specific apps from using the VPN tunnel.

Kill Switch – Shuts down your internet access if the VPN connection drops.

NoBorders mode – Helps bypass restrictive networks and firewalls.

CleanWeb – Blocks ads, trackers, and malware while browsing the web.

Take some time to dive into each setting and configure them to your liking.

Adding Surfshark‘s Kill Switch is highly recommended to prevent any data leaks if your VPN connection fails.

Step 5 – Add a Control Center Shortcut

Having quick access to turn the VPN on or off is really handy.

Here‘s how to add a Surfshark control center shortcut on your iPhone or iPad:

1. Open Settings and select Control Center.

2. Tap the green + icon next to the Surfshark icon.

3. This adds Surfshark connectivity controls to your Control Center menu.

Now you can easily connect, disconnect, or switch server locations without having to open the Surfshark app each time. Just swipe down from the corner to access Control Center.

Step 6 – Install Surfshark on Other Devices

Your Surfshark subscription lets you install the VPN service on an unlimited number of gadgets.

I recommend setting up Surfshark on any other phones, computers, streaming devices, gaming consoles, and smart home devices that connect to the internet in your home.

Surfshark has native apps available for all platforms:

• Windows and Mac – Protect desktops and laptops.
• Android and iOS – Mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.
• Fire TV and Apple TV – Secure streaming media players.
• PlayStation and Xbox – Game online privately.
• Linux – Install on Chromebooks and Linux devices.
• Web Extensions – Add VPN protection to Chrome or Firefox.
• Routers – For network-wide coverage.

With one account, your entire home can surf the web privately and access geo-blocked content.

Taking Full Advantage of Surfshark Features

The Surfshark app packs quite a few additional features beyond just changing your IP address and location. Here are some of the standout options available:

CleanWeb

Surfshark‘s CleanWeb feature blocks ads, trackers, and malware. This improves speeds while protecting your privacy as you browse. Over 1.47 billion malware threats are detected daily worldwide.

Whitelister

Choose specific apps to bypass the VPN tunnel. This ensures any geo-restricted apps still function properly.

MultiHop

Chain together connections through multiple countries for added layers of encryption and anonymity.

Camouflage Mode

Makes VPN traffic appear like regular HTTPS traffic to fool networking monitoring and censorship.

NoBorders Mode

Helps overcome restrictive networks, firewalls, and throttling when traveling or using public WiFi.

IPv6 Leak Protection

Prevents any IPv6 data leaks that could expose your IP address.

Onion Over VPN

Reroutes your connection through the Onion network for maximum anonymity.

Kill Switch

Shuts down your internet access if the VPN connection drops to prevent data leaks.

Is Surfshark Slowing Down Your Internet? Try These Tips

All VPNs can lead to a slight reduction in internet speeds due to encryption and routing your traffic through remote servers. However, Surfshark has an exceptionally fast and reliable network.

But if you notice slower than normal speeds, here are some tips to boost performance:

• Connect to the fastest server closest to your location.
• Try switching to a different server that‘s less congested.
• Change connection protocols like using WireGuard instead of OpenVPN.
• Adjust encryption levels in the app settings.
• Connect your device directly to the router via Ethernet instead of WiFi.
• Contact your ISP to ensure VPN ports aren‘t being blocked.
• Update your device software and Surfshark app.
• Reboot your iPhone/iPad and home router if speeds are unusually slow.

Following the above steps typically resolves any speed decrease issues when using the VPN. And remember, the minor impact on performance is worth it for the enhanced privacy and security you get with Surfshark.

Getting Help and Support

No matter how easy Surfshark is to set up and use, questions or technical issues may come up. Here are some options for getting assistance:

In-app support – Chat live with a Surfshark support agent through the iOS app.

Knowledge base – Search for setup guides, troubleshooting tips, and tutorials on Surfshark‘s support website.

Email – Send a help request to Surfshark‘s email support team.

Social support – Tweet issues to @surfshark on Twitter or post on their Facebook page.

Refund policy – Surfshark offers a 30 day money back guarantee if you‘re unsatisfied.

Don‘t hesitate to contact Surfshark‘s customer support. They have agents available 24/7 to help resolve any problems.

You‘re All Set! Enjoy Your New Internet Privacy

That covers everything you need to get up and running with Surfshark on your iPhone or iPad. Just follow these steps:

1. Sign up for a Surfshark account.

2. Download and install the Surfshark app from the App Store.

3. Connect to a Surfshark server location.

4. Customize settings like Whitelister, Kill Switch, and CleanWeb.

5. Add a Control Center shortcut for quick access.

6. Install Surfshark on all your other devices.

With an encrypted VPN connection, your online activities are now invisible to hackers, spying agencies, and prying ISPs.

Surf safely! The internet feels a lot more secure thanks to Surfshark VPN.