Connect to the VPN

Avast SecureLine VPN can be used any time you want to connect to the internet with extra security and privacy, and is especially recommended when you are connected to a public or unsecured Wi-Fi network.

To connect to Avast SecureLine VPN:

1. Open Avast One, hover your cursor over the side menu and select SecureLine VPN.
2. Click the red (OFF) slider so that it changes to green (ON).
3. The first time you connect to the VPN, you are prompted to add VPN configurations. Click Allow on the permissions dialog that appears.

You are now connected to the Avast SecureLine VPN default server. You can connect to a different location if needed.

Connect to a different location

Avast SecureLine VPN has servers in several locations, meaning you can bypass geolocation restrictions and access your favorite content while traveling.

To connect to a different location:

1. Click the drop-down arrow beside the currently selected VPN location.
2. Optionally, use the menu to search for a specific server, or view servers that are optimized for P2P file transfers.
3. Optionally, use the menu to search for a specific server, or select one from the list.
4. Select a country. For countries that offer multiple cities, click the down arrow and select your preferred city.

Your location now shows as the country and city that you selected.

Manage VPN Mode

To specify how Avast SecureLine VPN behaves when you connect to an untrusted Wi-Fi network or visit vulnerable websites, follow the steps below:

1. Open Avast One, then go to ☰ Menu ▸ Preferences.
2. Select VPN in the left panel.
3. Ensure that the VPN Mode tab is selected, then use the following settings to customize VPN behavior:
   1. Always turn on VPN when: Switch the slider next to an option to ON if you want Avast SecureLine VPN to automatically connect each time you perform this action. For information about adding the trusted networks which are excepted from your connection rules, refer to the Add trusted networks section.
   2. Turn on VPN when visiting these websites: Click Add website to add websites that always trigger VPN connection. Enter the website domain (such as example.com) and optionally select a specific server location that VPN will always connect to for this domain. Click Add to confirm your custom rule.
   3. Don't turn on VPN on these websites: Click Add website to exclude specific websites from VPN connection. Enter the website domain (such as example.com) and click Add. Avast SecureLine VPN never connects when you visit a trusted website, regardless of your other VPN Mode settings.

Add trusted networks

When you connect to a trusted network Avast SecureLine VPN will not prompt you to secure your connection. To add your network to the list of Trusted networks:

1. Click Edit... under Connecting to untrusted networks.
2. Click Trust while connected to the trusted network you want to add.

Your current network is added to the list of trusted networks.

To remove a network from the trusted networks list, hover the cursor over the network's panel and click the X icon.

Manage Advanced Settings

To manage advanced VPN settings:

1. Open Avast One, hover your cursor over the side menu and select SecureLine VPN.
2. Go to Settings (the gear icon).
3. Select Advanced Settings.
4. Use the following settings to customize Avast SecureLine VPN behavior when Manual VPN mode is enabled:
   1. Activate Kill Switch: Block your internet connection if Avast VPN servers unexpectedly disconnect. This ensures that your online activity always remains private.
   2. Enable local device access when using VPN: Specify if you want access to local devices and shared drives while you are connected to a Trusted (private) network.
   3. VPN Protocols: Customize the VPN protocols:
      • Automatic (Recommended): Avast SecureLine VPN automatically selects the best protocol for maximum speed and security.
      • WireGuard: Avast SecureLine VPN always connects using WireGuard.
      • Mimic: Avast SecureLine VPN always connects using the Mimic protocol. This is useful in countries with restrictions on VPN use, where OpenVPN may be blocked.
      • OpenVPN: Avast SecureLine VPN always connects using the OpenVPN protocol.
      

1. Open Avast One, then go to ☰ Menu ▸ Preferences.
2. Select VPN in the left panel.
3. Select Advanced Settings.
4. Use the following settings to customize Avast SecureLine VPN behavior when Manual VPN mode is enabled:
   1. Kill Switch: Block your internet connection if Avast VPN servers unexpectedly disconnect. This ensures that your online activity always remains private.
   2. Access Local Devices with Kill Switch: Specify if you want access to local devices and shared drives while you are connected to a Trusted (private) network.
   3. VPN Protocols: Customize the VPN protocols:
      • Automatic (Recommended): Avast SecureLine VPN automatically selects the best protocol for maximum speed and security.
      • IPSec: Avast SecureLine VPN always connects using IPSec.
      • Mimic: Avast SecureLine VPN always connects using the Mimic protocol. This is useful in countries with restrictions on VPN use, where OpenVPN may be blocked.
      

Troubleshooting

If Avast SecureLine VPN is unable to establish a connection, try the following troubleshooting steps:

• Check that your internet connection works when Avast SecureLine VPN is disconnected. If your internet connection is not working, check your network configuration.
• Select a different Avast server location.
• Disconnect other VPN services that may be running on your Windows device. If you are connected to another VPN, it is likely that Avast SecureLine VPN will not work properly.
• Restart your Windows device and try connecting to Avast SecureLine VPN again.
• Confirm that your subscription is active. Open Avast One, hover your cursor over the side menu and select Account. Ensure Active appears next to Avast SecureLine VPN.
• Refer to the following article for more troubleshooting steps: Troubleshooting common issues with Avast SecureLine VPN.

If Avast SecureLine VPN is still unable to establish a connection, try to uninstall and reinstall the Avast One application. For detailed instructions, refer to the following articles:

• Uninstalling Avast One
• Installing Avast One