A widget is an interactive icon that will let you operate a program from a display screen without having to completely open the application. The Private Internet Access app provides five different widgets that you can add to your home screen. To add a PIA widget to your screen please follow the below instructions:

Step 1: Main Screen

First, hold down on the screen you want to add the widget. This will change the screen and present an option at the bottom of the screen labeled “Widgets”.

Step 2: Widget Options

Select the “Widgets” option. This will bring you to a screen that will have widget options for all the apps that support them on your device. Swipe to the right or left until you locate the PIA VPN widgets.

Step 3: Widget Placement

Select the widget you would like to add to one of your screens by holding it down. After about a second, you will be hovering over the screen with the ability to place the widget in the location you would like it.

Step 4: Connection

Once the widget is placed, simply tap it to initiate a connection. You will usually see the PIA icon briefly in the notification bar at the top left of your screen.

It may take a short time to establish the connection. As the connection is being established, the PIA icon will appear at the top.

Once the connection is established, the widget will change to indicate connection.

Step 5: Disconnect

You can then tap the widget again when you want to disconnect.