Quick answer
Install SecureNet from the App Store, open it, and tap the power button. On the first connection iOS shows a system prompt asking to add a VPN configuration; tap Allow and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. That is the entire setup. From then on, one tap connects and a VPN badge appears in the status bar. Automatic picks the best server for you; you can choose a country in the Servers tab if you prefer.
Key facts
- Setup is one system prompt, shown only the first time you connect.
- No manual settings, profiles or certificates to install.
- iOS 17 or later on iPhone and iPad; the same app and subscription also run on Mac.
- The VPN badge in the status bar confirms the tunnel is up.
- Automatic is the default server choice and the right one for most people.
Before you start
You need an iPhone or iPad running iOS 17 or later, and a minute. Do the first connection on a network you trust, such as home Wi-Fi, rather than in an airport queue. If you are also setting up a Mac, see SecureNet on Mac.
Step by step
- Install SecureNet from the App Store. Search for SecureNet VPN, or use the download button on this site. It is one subscription across iPhone, iPad and Mac.
- Open the app and go through the short introduction. Three screens, no account creation. SecureNet identifies your device with an anonymous identifier rather than asking for an email address.
- Tap the power button. The big button on the Connect screen. The first tap triggers the system prompt.
- Allow the VPN configuration. iOS asks: "SecureNet would like to add VPN configurations." Tap Allow and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. This is a one-time step.
- Wait about a second. The button turns to the connected state and a VPN badge appears in the status bar. You are done.
What the permission prompt means
iOS does not let apps route your traffic silently. Any VPN app must ask once for permission to add a VPN configuration, and the system records it under Settings, General, VPN & Device Management. Allowing it lets SecureNet bring the tunnel up and down when you tap; it does not give the app access to anything else on the phone. If you ever want to remove it entirely, that same Settings screen has a delete option.
Choosing a server
By default SecureNet uses Automatic, which picks the server with the lowest latency to you and the least load. That is the right choice for privacy on public Wi-Fi and for general use. If you need a specific country, for example to keep your banking app seeing your home location while you travel, open the Servers tab, pick a country, and the app reconnects. The server guide explains what the health and load indicators mean.
Checking that it works
- Look for the VPN badge in the status bar next to the signal indicators.
- Check the Connect screen. It shows the server you are on, its IP address, and a running session timer.
- Search "what is my IP" in Safari. The location shown should match the server, not your city.
- Run the speed test in Settings if you want to see the cost. It should be small; if it is not, see Does a VPN slow you down?
Habit worth building: on any Wi-Fi you do not own, connect SecureNet before you open anything else.
Settings worth knowing
- Connection history keeps a list of your sessions on this device only. Turn it off or clear it any time; it is never uploaded.
- Connection check warns you if the internet becomes unreachable while connected, so a dead tunnel does not sit there looking healthy.
- Speed test measures latency, download and upload through the tunnel.
- Theme switches between dark and light, or follows the system.
On iPad
Everything above is identical on iPad, including the one-time permission prompt. The app supports all iPad orientations and the same subscription covers it automatically once you are signed in with the same Apple ID.
If it does not connect
Most first-connection problems are the network rather than the phone. Try a different server, toggle Wi-Fi off and on, or switch to cellular. Our troubleshooting guide has the full sequence, and Settings has a Diagnostics log you can send us if it persists.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to create an account?
No. SecureNet identifies your device with an anonymous identifier. Your subscription is handled by the App Store.
Why does iOS ask for permission to add a VPN configuration?
Every VPN app on iOS must ask once. It lets the app manage the tunnel and is recorded in Settings under VPN & Device Management, where you can also remove it.
Does the VPN stay connected when I lock the phone?
Yes. The tunnel stays up in the background. WireGuard handles the phone sleeping and waking without a reconnect.
How do I remove the VPN completely?
Delete the app, then go to Settings, General, VPN & Device Management and remove the SecureNet configuration if iOS left it behind. Deleting the app also removes the connection history, which was only ever stored on the device. To have your pseudonymous device record removed from our side as well, email yayappsltd@gmail.com.