How to Set Up a VPN Extension in Chrome
Here’s how to install a VPN plugin in Chrome using our preferred Chrome VPN, ExpressVPN, as an example. The process is very similar for all VPN extensions.
- Go to ExpressVPN’s Chrome Web Store listing. Then, click the Add to Chrome button to install the VPN extension.
- A browser notification will inform you of the permissions the extension needs in order to run. If you agree to the permissions, click Add extension.
- The button on the Chrome Web Store will now say Remove from Chrome, indicating that your VPN extension is now installed (don’t click it).
- In the top-right corner of your toolbar, you’ll see ExpressVPN’s icon. Click the icon once to open the extension’s interface. The plugin will display information about what it is. Click Skip to move through the slides.
- Click Ok or No Thanks to complete the setup.
- You’ll now see the extension’s main screen. The big connect button in the center lets you quickly connect to a server.
- Before connecting to a server, check your security settings. You can access these by clicking on the burger menu (three horizontal lines). Make sure ‘Spoof your location,’ ‘Block WebRTC,’ and ‘HTTPS Everywhere’ are enabled.
- Click on the three dots next Selected Location to find and select your preferred server location. Alternatively, click on Smart Location to automatically connect to the closest server.
- Click the connect button. ExpressVPN’s connect button turns green when it has successfully connected.
Note: Unlike other VPN extensions, ExpressVPN’s plugin requires the full software to run at the same time. As a result, you don’t need to log into the extension since it knows your login details from the desktop app.
Other VPN services may require you to enter your account credentials in order to use their VPN extension. For instance, here’s the login screen on NordVPN’s Chrome extension: