Understanding Basic Settings on the PIA Client

This guide explains the settings available in the PIA app. Before you begin, make sure that you installed the latest version of PIA.

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How to Access PIA Settings

PIA Settings Explained

How to Access PIA Settings

To access the settings in the PIA app on desktop:

  1. Select the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the app, then choose Settings.
The three-dot dropdown menu and the "Settings" option highlighted in the PIA app for desktop.

PIA Settings Explained

The Settings menu contains the following sections:

Private Internet Access "General" settings screen with the sidebar menu highlighted in a green box.

General

Control how the app starts, behaves in the background, and looks, including language, theme, and dashboard appearance.

Protocols

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.

Network

Configure your DNS, enable port forwarding, and control whether local network traffic is permitted when the Kill Switch is active.

Privacy

Manage three key security features:

  • VPN Kill Switch: Blocks all traffic from going outside the VPN tunnel while the VPN is on, including during a connection loss. Find out how to use the kill switch here.
  • Advanced Kill Switch: Blocks all traffic from going outside the VPN even when the VPN is turned off.
  • PIA MACE: Blocks domains used for ads, trackers, and malware. Find out more about MACE here.

Dedicated IP

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.

Automation

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.

Split Tunnel

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.

Multi-Hop

Add an extra layer of encryption by routing your traffic through an additional proxy before it reaches the VPN server. You can choose between:

  • Shadowsocks: An encrypted proxy that obfuscates your traffic to make it look like regular internet traffic.
  • SOCKS5: An unencrypted proxy that masks your IP address. Requires manual setup with a server IP and credentials.

Account

View your account details and manage your subscription.

Help

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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