VPN split tunneling, also called Bypasser on the Surfshark app, is a VPN (Virtual Private Network) feature that lets you choose which traffic routes through the encrypted VPN tunnel and which goes directly to the internet.
Instead of disabling your VPN completely when a website or app requires IP-specific access, you can exclude it from the VPN tunnel with split tunneling — accessing it directly while keeping full VPN protection for all your remaining online traffic.
VPN split tunneling creates two separate paths for your internet traffic. One routes through the encrypted VPN tunnel, while the other connects directly to the internet without VPN protection. In your VPN app’s settings, you can choose which sites or apps use the VPN and which bypass it. This way, split tunneling allows access to apps and websites that need a local IP address to function while keeping the rest of your online activities secured.
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On the app’s side panel, click Settings, then VPN Settings, and finally Bypasser.
Toggle the switches on the right side to activate your preferred Bypasser option.
Click Select apps or Add websites or IP addresses to choose what bypasses the VPN.
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On the app’s side panel, go to Settings, click VPN Settings, and then Bypasser.
Tap Add website to enter the addresses of sites and Add app to choose apps for which you want your VPN disabled.
After typing in the addresses or selecting apps, tap Add. You’re all set! Your VPN is now disabled for your chosen site(s) and app(s).
Sign up for Surfshark and download our Android VPN.
On the app’s bottom bar, tap Settings, then VPN Settings, and finally Bypasser.
Toggle the switches on the right side to activate your preferred Bypasser option.
Tap 0 Apps selected or 0 websites selected to choose what bypasses the VPN.
Sign up for Surfshark and download our iOS VPN.
On the app’s bottom bar, tap Settings, then VPN Settings, and finally Bypasser.
Tap Add website to enter the addresses of sites where you want your VPN disabled.
After typing in the address, tap Add. You’re all set! Your VPN is now disabled for your chosen site(s).
Reverse Bypasser, also known as route via VPN, is a feature available on Android that allows you to select specific apps and websites to route exclusively through your VPN. On Windows, this feature is available on apps only.
You can also use split tunneling with our extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browsers.
There are three main types of VPN split tunneling:
App-based split tunneling can leave certain apps unaffected by a VPN connection. Say you’re a PC user and don’t want Steam to go over your VPN. Add it to the split tunneling list, and you’ll connect to Steam directly without being routed through a VPN server first.
URL-based split tunneling operates on a website-by-website basis. So, if you’ve designated one specific page to use split tunneling, your normal browsing will be protected by the VPN, while anything you do on this page will be transmitted over the internet directly.
Inverse split tunneling, unlike traditional split tunneling, encrypts only the data from selected apps or websites, while all other data bypasses the VPN. This lets you choose what to route through your VPN while the rest of your traffic goes directly to the internet.
Looking to protect your sensitive data without affecting your overall internet experience? That’s where split tunneling comes in. Balance security and efficiency by encrypting your most vital information while letting non-sensitive activities bypass VPN protection.
A VPN changes your IP address to that of a VPN server. When you choose to bypass some apps from VPN use, they’ll use your actual IP address. This allows you to use two IPs at once and access local content on specific apps while staying hidden on others.
Using a VPN can affect your phone or computer’s ability to connect to wireless home devices (e.g., printers). Enable split tunneling to keep all devices on your network synced while enjoying a secure connection for any web services you need.
A VPN connection may slow down your internet. While this speed drop is minor and usually goes unnoticed, it can sometimes interfere with your online activity. Split tunneling lets you exclude certain apps from encryption, helping them run at full speed.
Full tunneling means all your internet traffic is transmitted through a VPN tunnel. Your data is protected, and your online activity is encrypted through a secure VPN connection.
With split tunneling, you can choose which data is routed through the VPN tunnel and which remains unaffected. Any data that doesn’t go through the tunnel is unencrypted, and your IP address isn’t hidden from the apps and websites you include in your split tunneling list.
