This guide explains the settings available in the PIA app for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Before you begin, make sure that you installed the latest version of PIA.
To access the settings in the PIA app on desktop:
The Settings menu contains the following sections:
Control how the app starts, behaves in the background, and looks, including language, theme, and dashboard appearance.
Choose your VPN protocol and fine-tune how the connection is established, including transport type, port, and encryption. For more information about protocol and encryption settings, see Understanding Advanced Settings on the Desktop PIA Client.
Configure your DNS, enable port forwarding, and control whether local network traffic is permitted when the Kill Switch is active.
Manage three key security features:
A Dedicated IP is a paid add-on that gives you a static IP address from a country of your choice, assigned exclusively to you. In this tab, you can activate your dedicated IP address.
Set rules to automatically connect or disconnect the VPN when you join a particular network, whether that's open Wi-Fi, protected Wi-Fi, a wired connection, or a specific network. Learn how to use Automation here.
Control which apps or IP addresses bypass the VPN or use it exclusively. By default, all apps use the VPN. On Windows and Linux, split tunneling also applies to DNS traffic. Learn how to use Split Tunneling here.
Add an extra layer of encryption by routing your traffic through an additional proxy before it reaches the VPN server. You can choose between:
View your account details and manage your subscription.
View your current app version, enable debug logging, submit logs to the support team, opt in to beta updates, and choose whether to share anonymous usage data to help improve PIA.
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