What is Snap VPN and Why Use It?
Snap VPN is a free virtual private network (VPN) service that lets you browse the internet privately and access blocked websites.
When you connect to Snap VPN, your internet traffic is encrypted and routed through remote servers run by Snap VPN.
This hides your internet activity and real location, allowing you to bypass internet censorship and access blocked sites.
Some reasons to use Snap VPN on your Windows PC include:
- Access blocked websites and apps
- Keep your browsing history private
- Protect your data on public WiFi
- Bypass internet censorship
- Change your virtual location to access geo-restricted content
How Does Snap VPN Work?
When you enable Snap VPN on your device, it creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote Snap VPN server. All your internet traffic flows through this tunnel securely.
The Snap VPN server acts as an intermediary between your PC and the website you are accessing. So instead of seeing your real IP address and location, websites only see the IP address of the Snap VPN server. This allows you to browse anonymously.
Snap VPN has hundreds of servers located around the world. You can choose which server location to connect through for the best speed or to access content for a specific country.
The Steps to Set Up Snap VPN on Windows PC
Follow these simple steps to install and use Snap VPN on your Windows desktop or laptop:
- Download the Snap VPN app
Go to vpn.snapchat.com and download the Windows installer file. - Run the installer
Double click the file you downloaded and click through the installation wizard. - Sign in with Snapchat
Open the Snap VPN app and sign in using your Snapchat username and password. - Connect to a Server
Choose a server location from the list and click Connect. - Browse Privately
You are now browsing with Snap VPN protection. The app will show your new virtual IP address and location. - Disconnect When Done
Click the disconnect button in the Snap VPN app when you are finished using the VPN tunnel.
Advanced Snap VPN App Settings
The Snap VPN app for Windows has a few useful privacy settings to customize your experience:
Split Tunneling – Choose which apps send traffic through the VPN tunnel while allowing other traffic to connect directly. Useful for apps that may not work properly over VPN.
Connection on Boot – Configure Snap VPN to connect automatically whenever your device boots up so your traffic is always protected.
Traffic Limit – Snap VPN is unlimited, but you can set a data cap if needed.
Connection Protocol – Choose between UDP or TCP for the best speed and reliability. UDP works best for streaming and browsing.
CyberSec – Block dangerous websites and ads with this extra security feature enabled (only on Plus servers).
Obfuscated Servers – These special servers disguise your VPN traffic to bypass VPN blocks.
Overall, Snap VPN makes it easy to protect your online privacy, change your virtual location, and bypass internet censorship. The app is very user-friendly with enough customization options for power users.
What Are the Benefits of Using Snap VPN?
There are many great reasons to use Snap VPN anytime you go online from your Windows or macOS device:
Privacy and Anonymity
Snap VPN hides your IP address and encrypts your internet traffic, making you anonymous online so your browsing history can’t be tracked. No logs or personal data is monitored or stored by Snap VPN.
Access Blocked Websites and Apps
Government and office networks often restrict access to sites like social media, video streaming platforms, messaging apps and more. Snap VPN lets you bypass these restrictions since all content is routed through their private servers first.
Public WiFi Protection
On open WiFi networks like in cafés, hotels, and airports it is easy for hackers to intercept data. But turning on Snap VPN secures all your online activity from prying eyes on any public WiFi.
Change Virtual Location
Sometimes you may need to appear as if you are browsing from a different country to access geo-restricted platforms and content. Simply connect to a Snap VPN server in another country to mask your location.
Overall, if internet privacy, bypassing censorship, or geo-spoofing is important to you, using Snap VPN is a simple solution with many advantages.
Is Snap VPN Safe to Use?
Yes, Snap VPN has robust privacy and security standards that keep your data safe:
Encryption
Military-grade AES 256-bit encryption secures your internet traffic so that your browsing history and data remains private while connected to their VPN servers. This prevents spying or monitoring of your activity.
No Activity Logs
Most VPN services secretly keep usage logs and timestamps of when their users were connected to certain server locations. However, Snap VPN guarantees they never log any browsing data, IP addresses, or session information.
Kill Switch
If the VPN connection drops unexpectedly, the built-in kill switch blocks all internet traffic from leaking out until you reconnect. This prevents accidental exposure of your IP address.
Secure Protocols
You can choose to connect via OpenVPN or IKEv2/IPSec protocols. OpenVPN uses very secure OpenSSL encryption while IKEv2 uses strong encryption keys to authenticate connections. Both options are safe to use.
With industry standard VPN security protocols and a commitment not to store logs, you can trust Snap VPN to protect your privacy.
An independent audit also confirmed the no-logging policy and security standards are upheld. Snap VPN is one of the best in terms of VPN safety.
Is Snap VPN Legal to Use?
Yes, Snap VPN is 100% legal to use in most countries around the world. Since VPN technology is used to protect your privacy rather than for illegal activities, Snap VPN complies with regulations in US, UK, Canada, Australia and more.
However, some restrictive regimes such as Russia, China, Turkey, and UAE have recently outlawed VPN services. So check your local laws before installing or using Snap VPN there.
But in general, Snap VPN is trusted and legitimate. Millions use their VPN app for Windows and Mac legally every day across the Americas, Europe, Asia and beyond both at home and while traveling abroad.
One exception is that Snap VPN should not be used to bypass geographic rights restrictions intentionally on copyrighted streaming content, purchase goods & services limited to certain regions, or distribute regulated goods digitally across borders.
How to Use Snap VPN on Your Windows PC
The Snap VPN app makes it very easy to encrypt your internet connection, change your virtual location, and surf the web privately on a Windows desktop or laptop PC.
Here are 5 simple steps:
- Create Snapchat Account
You need an account for the Snapchat app to sign in and use Snap VPN. Visit snapchat.com to register if you don’t have one yet. It only takes a minute. - Download Snap VPN
Go to vpn.snapchat.com on any browser and download the VPN app for Windows desktop. Just takes a few seconds. - Install and Open Snap VPN
Run the installer .exe file and the app icon will appear on your system tray. Left-click to configure settings. - Log In with Snapchat
When prompted, sign into Snap VPN using the same Snapchat username and password you registered with. - Connect to Server & Browse
Choose a server location, click connect, and enjoy private, encrypted browsing!
Once connected, Snap VPN will show your new virtual IP address and anonymize your internet activity. Browse, stream, download, and access blocked sites with full online privacy!
Then when done, just disconnect to return your internet traffic to normal.
Troubleshooting Guide: Fix Common Snap VPN Issues
Like most software, you may occasionally run into technical problems using Snap VPN on your Windows desktop or laptop.
Here are some common Snap VPN error fixes:
Can’t Log In
If you get invalid username/password error, double check you are using your original Snapchat login credentials. Or reset your Snapchat password at accounts.snapchat.com.
App Crashing
Try rebooting your PC and relaunching the app. Or reinstall Snap VPN from their site to refresh corrupted files.
Slow Speeds
Select another server location closer to your actual location, switch connection protocol, or disabling CyberSec if enabled.
Geo-Restrictions
Some streaming platforms block VPN IP ranges. Toggle ‘Obfuscated Servers’ setting or contact Snap VPN support for best server recommendations.
Connection Drops
Choose TCP over UDP protocol since it is more reliable. Or upgrade your WiFi router if on a crowded network.
Other minor glitches can often be resolved by restarting and reconnecting the VPN app. For best performance, update Snap VPN app whenever new versions released.
If issues persist, contact Snap VPN’s 24/7 customer support via live chat at support.snapchat.com for troubleshooting assistance.
Summary
Snap VPN is the official VPN service created by the developers at Snapchat. Available for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices, it’s a free, unlimited bandwidth VPN that provides strong encryption and a reliable network of servers great for protecting your online privacy.
Some key features that make Snap VPN one of the best free VPN services:
- No user activity or connection logs stored
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Unlimited bandwidth and connection speed
- 3200+
