Your Android phone joins a lot of networks you don’t run. The airport, the hotel, the café between meetings. A VPN adds one quiet layer to those connections, and with the Arresti app from Google Play it takes a few minutes to set up.

Here’s how to do it, how Android’s VPN settings fit in, and how to switch it off.

The short version

  • Download Arresti VPN from Google Play.
  • Open the app and log in, or sign up and choose a plan.
  • Pick a server location and tap CONNECT.
  • The first time, Android may show a connection request. Tap OK.
  • Keep it on for public Wi-Fi at airports, cafés and hotels.
  • Optional: turn on Always-on VPN under Settings > Network & internet > VPN. Wording varies by phone maker.
  • A VPN encrypts your connection. It doesn’t stop scams or phishing, and it doesn’t make you anonymous.

Why use a VPN on Android

A properly configured VPN encrypts traffic between your phone and the VPN server. On Wi-Fi you don’t control, that reduces what people on the local network can observe.

That matters most on public networks: airports, cafés, hotels and holiday apartments. A VPN won’t make a phishing page safe, and it won’t replace updates, strong passwords or multi-factor authentication.

The Australian Cyber Security Centre’s guidance on securing your online activity is to confirm the network name with venue staff or signage, prefer a personal hotspot where you can, and avoid sensitive tasks such as banking on public Wi-Fi when possible. A VPN helps when you still need that network. For work, follow your employer’s rules.

If you also use an iPhone, see How to use a VPN on your iPhone.

How to set up a VPN on Android

Step 1: Install Arresti from Google Play

Open the Arresti VPN listing on Google Play, or search "Arresti VPN" in the Play Store, and install it. The app is a free download. A subscription is needed to connect. Only install from Google Play or a link that starts on arresti.com.

Step 2: Log in or sign up

Open the app.

  • Already have an account? If you subscribed on arresti.com, enter your details and tap Login.
  • New to Arresti? Tap Sign-up and follow the prompts to choose a plan and create your account. In-app subscriptions are billed through Google Play, and you’ll see the price before you buy.

Step 3: Choose a server

Once you’re signed in, tap the server options button and choose a location. For everyday use in Australia, a nearby server is usually the quickest.

Step 4: Connect

Tap CONNECT. Some devices show a "Connection request" dialog — tap OK. That’s a standard Android step, once per install.

When you’re connected, the status changes to CONNECTED and shows speeds. Android also shows a key or VPN indicator in the status bar. Our Android installation guide has the same steps in short form.

Always-on VPN and blocking connections without it

Android can keep a VPN running after reboot. Google’s help for connecting to a VPN on Android puts the controls under Settings > Network & internet > VPN.

On many phones: open that screen, tap the gear next to Arresti VPN, then turn on Always-on VPN. Optionally turn on Block connections without VPN, which stops apps using the internet until the tunnel is up again.

Labels vary by manufacturer. If you can’t find VPN, search Settings for it. If Always-on isn’t offered for an app-based VPN on your phone, reconnect from the Arresti app after reboot when you need it.

Caution: "Block connections without VPN" can block hotel or café sign-in pages. Turn it off temporarily, finish the sign-in in your browser, then reconnect the VPN.

Wi-Fi, mobile data and when to keep it on

On Wi-Fi you don’t control, a VPN matters most. On mobile data the gain is smaller, but the tunnel still works. Leave the app connected, or use Always-on, so it comes back when you switch networks.

Keep it on at airports, cafés, hotels and holiday apartments. Finish any sign-in page first, then connect. Confirm the network name with staff before you join. For lookalike hotspots, see Fake airport Wi-Fi: how evil twin hotspots work. More on public networks: Public Wi-Fi in Australia: what to know.

How to turn the VPN off

  • In the app: tap CONNECTED. Status returns to Not Connected.
  • In Settings: open Settings > Network & internet > VPN and disconnect Arresti.
  • To sign out: open the sidebar menu and tap Logout. That also disconnects the VPN.

Cancel Google Play subscriptions in the Play Store under Payments & subscriptions. Web subscriptions cancel from your Arresti account.

Quick troubleshooting

Won’t connect. Tap CONNECT again, or try a different server.

Public Wi-Fi shows no internet. Finish the sign-in page first, or turn off "Block connections without VPN" briefly, then reconnect.

Connection request never appeared, or you denied it. Tap CONNECT again. If it still won’t show, reinstall from Google Play.

Another VPN is installed. Only one can be connected at a time. Check Settings > Network & internet > VPN.

Still stuck? Restart your phone, update Android and the app, then try our VPN troubleshooting guide or contact support. We reply within one business day.

What a VPN doesn’t do

A VPN protects the road, not the destination. It won’t stop scam websites or phishing, make you anonymous, replace updates or multi-factor authentication, or protect you if a company you use is breached.

Get Arresti on Android

Arresti is an Australian-owned VPN service. One plan, all servers, up to 5 devices at once. AUD $3.99 a month or $43 a year on the web, GST included. Cancel anytime. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee: if Arresti VPN isn’t right for you within 30 days of signing up, contact us and we’ll refund you.

Install it before your next trip, connect before you join public Wi-Fi, and keep the habits above for everything a VPN can’t cover.

See Arresti plans and pricing

FAQ

Does Android have a built-in VPN?

Android has built-in VPN settings, but not a full VPN service of its own (aside from Google’s optional VPN on some Pixel devices). You need a VPN provider app under Settings > Network & internet > VPN.

Should I leave the VPN on all the time?

You can. It matters most on public Wi-Fi. On home Wi-Fi or mobile data the risk is lower, so leaving it on is preference. Always-on VPN helps after reboot without opening the app.

Does a VPN work on mobile data?

Yes. It encrypts traffic on mobile data as well as Wi-Fi. The gain is usually smaller than on public Wi-Fi.

What does "Block connections without VPN" do?

It stops most internet traffic until the VPN is connected, which reduces leaks if the tunnel drops. It can also block captive portal pages, so turn it off briefly when hotel or café Wi-Fi needs that first browser step.

Can I use one Arresti account on Android and other devices?

Yes. One subscription covers up to 5 devices at once across Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux. For iPhone setup, see How to use a VPN on your iPhone.

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