I found a secret Surfshark VPN setting — now I never connect without it

VPNs are one of the most effective tools for protecting yourself online.

VPNs create a secure, encrypted connection between your device and a server operated by the provider, so that ad platforms, hackers, and other nefarious individuals can’t track your every move across the internet.

On top of that, they offer a bunch of helpful security features, like pop-up blockers and private web search engines that make it a bit safer to surf the web.

However, none of those features or functionalities will work if you don’t remember to turn on your VPN, which is why this single feature from Surfshark is more important than all of them put together.

Turn on auto-connect immediately

You know, so it will actually work

If you have ever used a VPN — and given the state of online security in 2025, we hope you have — you know that one of the biggest points of friction is remembering to turn it on.

In many cases, I will be a full half an hour into replying to emails, scrolling social media, and researching my next Android Police article before I even recall having access to a VPN.

And at that point, I’ve largely defeated the purpose, because my online activity has already been notably less protected.

That is, until I discovered the exceptionally convenient auto-connect feature in Surfshark. With a simple toggle from off to on, I ensure that my online activity is always protected, whether I remember to turn it on or not.

Auto-connect makes it so that every time you log in to a given browser, the VPN turns on immediately, securing your online activity right out of the gate.

How to use auto-connect

It doesn’t get more convenient than this

It goes without saying that using the auto-connect feature isn’t terribly complicated, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to walk you through it just to make sure you get it right. Seriously, that’s how important this feature is.

All you do is find the gear icon for Settings in the app or browser extension, tap it, and scroll down to the Auto-connect feature. Toggle that feature to the on position, and you’re immediately connected to your desired server.

Haven’t set up your desired server yet? That’s simple too! Just click the small drop-down menu beneath the feature in the settings menu, and choose which server you want to automatically connect to when you open a browser.

Surfshark recommends a few server options for you, which, for me, include the closest country (Canada), and there is also a list of static IP servers to choose from.

Additionally, it recommends the Fastest location option, which will connect you to the server with the quickest load times, and provides a list of your most recent servers so that you can choose from them easily.

The benefits of auto-connect

It’s a whole new world with this feature

While the auto-connect feature might seem like an obvious go-to feature for millions of users, there are likely some who are still missing out on the undeniable convenience.

The reality is that auto-connect is vital to the usage of VPNs because it offers many obvious benefits.

For starters, it immediately improves your online privacy. Even just a few minutes of forgetting to turn on your VPN can be profoundly counterproductive for your security, leaving your online activity open to all, especially if you’re using free public Wi-Fi.

Auto-connect also helps you protect your identity, as it ensures that your IP is virtually never exposed online.

Beyond that, though, auto-connect can make your online experience more seamless.

If you use VPNs for content, for example, auto-connect will make it easier to access your favorite shows on the foreign version of certain streaming platforms without adding an extra step to the process.

Surfshark is filled with these kind of features

Auto-connect is just the tip of the iceberg

As far as secret settings that make your life easier go, auto-connect is very much not alone when it comes to Surfshark.

Options like Geo-spoofing and WebRTC settings are also available with the VPN, both of which can take you one step closer to a completely secure existence online.

Beyond that, Surfshark is chock-full of helpful features that can make your online experience more secure, including antivirus scanners, data breach warnings, and malware alerts.

Suffice to say, a bit of exploring can go a long way in terms of finding the right functionality to make Surfshark work even better.

This article was produced in partnership with Surfshark.