When using the PIA desktop application, an easy-to-access tray icon appears in the system tray. If the icon is not visible, ensure the application is installed correctly.
On Windows, the system tray is located in the bottom-right corner. On macOS, the icon appears in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
The tray icon allows you to:
- Open the main application menu
- Connect or disconnect using the Power button
- Access Settings
It also indicates whether the VPN is connected.
With version 1.0 and later, the tray icon was updated from the classic robot icon to a lock icon.
In Settings, you can change the tray icon style to:
- Dark
- Light
- Colored
- Classic
- System
The System style adjusts automatically based on your device’s theme.
Note: Some options may not be available on all OSs.
The tray icon appearance changes depending on connection status and selected style.
Disconnected:
Dark: Gray lock with a slash
Light: Gray lock with a slash
Colored: Red lock with a slash
Classic: Red robot with an “X”
Connecting:
Dark: White lock with a rotating arrow
Light: White lock with a rotating arrow
Colored: Yellow lock with a rotating arrow
Classic: Yellow robot with a rotating arrow
Connected:
Dark: Gray lock with a green indicator
Light: White lock with a rotating arrow
Colored: Yellow lock with a rotating arrow
Classic: Yellow robot with a rotating arrow
While the tray icon does indicate that you are connected to the VPN, you can confirm that the app is masking your IP by visiting our What's My IP Address? page; a stats message will appear to indicate whether you are protected (green) or not (red).