VPN hide.me guide

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a technology that establishes a secure, encrypted connection over the Internet between your device and a remote server. This protects your online privacy and keeps your data hidden from prying eyes, such as hackers or internet service providers.

How does a VPN work?

• Encryption: Your data is encrypted before it leaves your device, making it unreadable to outsiders.
• Hide IP address: A VPN masks your real IP address by using that of the VPN server, making it appear as though you are browsing from a different location.
• Secure tunnel: Data is transmitted through a "tunnel" between your device and the VPN server, protecting it from interception.

Advantages of a VPN

• Privacy: Protects your data in public Wi-Fi networks (e.g., in cafés or airports).
• Anonymity: Hides your identity and location from websites or trackers.
• Access to restricted content: Bypasses geographical restrictions (e.g., for streaming services like Netflix in other countries).
• Security: Prevents internet providers or governments from monitoring your activities.

Disadvantages

• Speed: Encryption may slightly slow down your internet connection.
• Cost: High-quality VPN services often require a subscription.
• Trust in provider: You must trust the VPN provider, as they could theoretically access your data.

Typical use cases

• Working from home (secure connection to corporate networks).
• Bypassing censorship in countries with restricted internet access.
• Protecting privacy while browsing or torrenting.

Important notes

• Not all VPNs are equally secure. Choose a trustworthy provider with a no-logs policy (does not store user data).
• Free VPNs may collect your data or display ads.

Guide to setting up and using hide.me VPN on Android

After opening the hide.me VPN app, log in with your credentials (email address and password) created during registration for the service. If you are using the free plan, you can connect directly without logging in, but with limited functionality (e.g., restricted server selection and a 10 GB monthly data limit). Once logged in, you will land on the app’s main screen, where you can start the connection and adjust settings.

Step 1: Connecting to a VPN server

• Main screen: The main screen displays a large “Connect” button (often labeled “Enable Protection”). Above it, the current connection status (“Not connected”) and the selected server location are shown.
• Server selection: Tap the currently displayed location (e.g., “Automatic” or a specific country) to open the server list.
  • Automatic selection: Lets hide.me choose the fastest available server based on your location and server load.
  • Manual selection: Choose a country or city from the list (e.g., Germany, USA, Japan). Premium users have access to over 2,600 servers in 91 locations, while the free plan is limited to a few countries (e.g., Germany, USA, Canada, Netherlands).
  • Favorites: Mark locations as favorites by tapping the star icon next to a server for quicker access later.
• Start connection: Tap “Connect.” The app establishes an encrypted VPN connection, which may take a few seconds. Once connected, the status changes to “Connected,” and your IP address is replaced with that of the selected server.

Step 2: Exploring and customizing the hide.me app settings

Settings are accessible via the menu, which you can open by tapping the “hamburger” icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left or via the “Settings” tab at the bottom of the screen. Below are all available options with explanations:

1. General settings

• Language: The app starts in English by default but can be switched to other languages. Go to “Settings” > “Language” and select your preferred language.
• Autostart: Enable this option to have the app launch automatically when your device starts. Useful if you want to stay protected at all times.
• Auto Connect: Automatically enables the VPN when your device starts or connects to the internet. You can specify whether this applies to all networks or only unsecured Wi-Fi networks.

2. VPN protocols

• Protocol selection: Under “VPN Protocol,” you can choose from various protocols. Hide.me supports:
  • WireGuard: The latest and fastest protocol with modern encryption (recommended for speed and energy efficiency on mobile devices).
  • IKEv2: Fast and stable, ideal for mobile data connections as it handles network drops well.
  • OpenVPN (UDP/TCP): Highly secure and adaptable. UDP is faster, while TCP is more reliable on unstable networks.
• Recommendation: Stick with WireGuard for the best performance unless you have specific requirements (e.g., OpenVPN for maximum compatibility).

3. Split Tunneling

• Function: Allows you to exclude certain apps from the VPN or route only selected apps through the VPN.
• Settings: Go to “Split Tunneling” and choose:
  • All apps use VPN: Default setting, all traffic goes through the VPN.
  • Only selected apps use VPN: Select apps (e.g., Netflix) to use the VPN, while others use regular internet access.
  • Excluded apps: Select apps (e.g., banking apps) that should not use the VPN.
• Use case: Useful for saving bandwidth or accessing local services without the VPN.

4. Kill Switch (Network Protection)

• Function: Blocks all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops to prevent data leaks.
• Settings: Enable “Kill Switch” under “Network Protection.” There are no additional adjustments—it’s either on or off.
• Note: Especially important for public Wi-Fi or sensitive activities like torrenting.

5. Always ON

• Function: Keeps the VPN connection active even when your device is in sleep mode and automatically reconnects when the device wakes up.
• Settings: Enable “Always ON” under advanced settings. This prevents unencrypted data transmission when your device switches networks (e.g., Wi-Fi to mobile data).
• Tip: Combine with the Kill Switch for maximum protection.

6. DNS settings

• Default: Hide.me uses its own uncensored DNS servers that do not log your traffic.
• Manual configuration: Under “DNS Settings,” you can enter custom DNS servers (e.g., Google DNS: 8.8.8.8) if desired. This is rarely necessary, as hide.me’s servers are secure and fast.

7. Auto-Reconnect

• Function: Automatically restores the VPN connection if your internet drops (e.g., switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data).
• Settings: Enabled by default and cannot be disabled. You can influence its behavior via “Always ON.”

8. Stealth Guard (advanced feature)

• Function: Prevents specific apps or your entire device from accessing the internet without an active VPN connection.
• Settings: Under “Stealth Guard,” you can:
  • Bind individual apps to the VPN (e.g., torrent clients).
  • Bind the entire device to the VPN (no internet without VPN).
• Use case: Ideal for maximum security during sensitive activities.

9. MultiHop (Double VPN, Premium feature)

• Function: Routes your traffic through two VPN servers for added security (e.g., Germany → USA).
• Settings: Enable “MultiHop” and select entry and exit servers. Note that this may reduce speed.
• Benefit: Increases anonymity with double encryption.

10. Streaming options (Premium feature)

• Function: Access servers optimized for streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or BBC iPlayer.
• Settings: Select a streaming server (e.g., “USA – Streaming”) from the server list. Available for 20 countries.
• Tip: Test different servers if a service is blocked, as not all geo-restrictions are consistently bypassed.

Step 3: Using and fine-tuning

• Test connection: Open a website or app (e.g., whatismyip.com) to verify that your IP address matches the selected server.
• If there’s no internet or the connection is slow, switch servers (open the hide.me app, go to location, select a different location from the list, and connect).
• Battery management: VPNs can drain your battery. Use WireGuard for lower energy consumption and disable “Always ON” when not needed.

Additional notes

• Premium vs. Free: The free plan offers fewer servers, no MultiHop, and no streaming access. Upgrading to Premium (starting at approximately €2.39/month) unlocks all features and allows up to 10 simultaneous connections.
• Support: For issues, find help in the app’s “Support” section or on the hide.me website (including live chat).

With these settings, you can optimally use hide.me VPN on Android—whether for anonymity, streaming, or security. Enjoy safe browsing!