Your iPhone joins a lot of networks you don’t run. The airport, the hotel, the café down the road. A VPN adds one quiet layer to those connections, and on an iPhone it only takes a few minutes to set up.

Here’s how to do it with the Arresti app, how it behaves on Wi-Fi and mobile data, and how to switch it off when you don’t need it.

The short version

  • Download Arresti VPN from the App Store. It needs iOS 16 or later.
  • Open the app and log in, or sign up and choose a plan.
  • Pick a server location and tap Connect.
  • The first time, iOS asks to add VPN configurations. Tap Allow and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.
  • Keep it on for public Wi-Fi at airports, cafés and hotels.
  • A VPN encrypts your connection. It doesn’t stop scams or phishing, and it doesn’t make you anonymous.

How to set up a VPN on your iPhone

Step 1: Install the Arresti app

Open the App Store, search “Arresti VPN” and tap Get. The app is a free download. A subscription is needed to connect.

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 monthly or annual plan and create your account. In-app subscriptions are billed through your Apple ID, and you’ll see the price before you buy.

Existing Apple subscribers can use Restore Purchases if they’ve changed phones.

Step 3: Choose a server

Once you’re signed in, you’ll land on the home screen. Tap the server options button and choose a location.

For everyday use, a nearby server is usually the quickest. If you change your mind later, you can switch servers while connected and the app reconnects you to the new one.

Step 4: Connect and allow the VPN configuration

Tap Connect.

The first time you do this, iOS shows a “VPN Configurations” prompt asking whether Arresti VPN can add a VPN configuration. Tap Allow, then confirm with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. It’s a standard iOS step, and you only do it once.

When you’re connected, the status in the app changes to Connected and shows your current download and upload speeds. You’ll also see a small VPN icon in the status bar or in Control Centre.

Step 5: Check it in Settings

Open Settings. Once a VPN configuration is installed, iOS shows a VPN item in the main list. It’s also under Settings > General > VPN & Device Management. That screen shows Arresti VPN, its status, and a switch to connect or disconnect without opening the app.

Our iOS installation guide has the same steps in short form.

Wi-Fi vs mobile data: how it works

A VPN encrypts the traffic between your iPhone and the VPN server, whichever network you’re on.

On Wi-Fi, that’s where it matters most. On a network someone else runs, the local network and anyone snooping on it can’t read your traffic as it passes through.

On mobile data, your connection already goes straight to your carrier, which is generally safer than public Wi-Fi. A VPN still encrypts the path, but the gain is smaller. Plenty of people leave it on anyway.

Switching between the two is normal on a phone. Walk out of a café and your iPhone drops from Wi-Fi to 4G or 5G. The Arresti app is built to stay connected through that switch, and through a locked screen or a brief loss of signal, reconnecting on its own.

When to keep it on

Keep the VPN on whenever you’re on Wi-Fi you don’t control:

  • Airports. Busy, open networks, and easy places for a lookalike hotspot. We explain how that trick works in Fake airport Wi-Fi: how evil twin hotspots work.
  • Cafés. One password on a receipt, shared with everyone in the room.
  • Hotels and holiday apartments. Often one network across the whole floor.

The connection order matters. If the network has a sign-in page (accept the terms, enter a room number), finish that first, then connect the VPN.

And the habits still count. The Australian Cyber Security Centre’s advice for securing your mobile phone is to confirm the hotspot name with venue staff, turn off auto-join for public networks, consider a VPN on your phone when using public Wi-Fi, and use mobile data when you can. For more on that, see Public Wi-Fi in Australia: what to know.

How to turn the VPN off

You have two options:

  • In the app: tap the Connected button. The status returns to Not Connected.
  • In Settings: open Settings > VPN and switch the status off.

To sign out of your account, use the logout option in the app’s menu. Signing out also disconnects the VPN.

If you subscribed through Apple and want to cancel, do it in Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions. Deleting the app or your Arresti account doesn’t cancel Apple billing.

Quick troubleshooting

The app won’t connect. Tap Connect again, or try a different server location.

Public Wi-Fi shows no internet. You probably haven’t finished the network’s sign-in page. Disconnect the VPN, complete the sign-in in Safari, then reconnect.

Sign-in is stuck. Use the Cancel or Reset option the app shows, then try again.

The “Allow” prompt never appeared, or you tapped “Don’t Allow”. Tap Connect again so iOS asks once more. If it still won’t show, delete and reinstall the app.

Another VPN is installed. Only one VPN can be connected at a time. Check Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > VPN and make sure Arresti VPN is the one selected.

Still stuck? Restart your iPhone, update iOS and the app, then contact support. Our team replies within one business day.

What a VPN doesn’t do

A VPN protects the road, not the destination. It won’t:

  • stop you entering details on a scam website or a fake login page
  • block phishing emails or texts
  • make you anonymous. Sites you log into still know it’s you
  • replace iOS updates, strong passwords or multi-factor authentication
  • protect your data if a company you use is breached.

If you want to know what we do and don’t keep, read what “no-logs” actually means. Apple also explains how iOS handles VPN connections in its Platform Security guide.

Get Arresti on your iPhone

Arresti is an Australian-owned VPN service. One plan, all servers, up to 5 devices at once, so one subscription can cover your iPhone, iPad and Mac, or the family’s phones. 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 my iPhone have a built-in VPN?

iOS has built-in VPN settings, but not a VPN service. You need a VPN provider, usually through its app, which adds a configuration to your iPhone. You can see it under Settings > VPN.

Should I leave the VPN on all the time?

You can. It matters most on public Wi-Fi at airports, cafés and hotels. On your home Wi-Fi or mobile data the risk is lower, so leaving it on is a matter of preference.

Does a VPN work on mobile data?

Yes. It encrypts your traffic on mobile data as well as Wi-Fi, and the Arresti app is designed to stay connected when your iPhone switches between the two.

Why does my iPhone say the VPN may filter or monitor network activity?

That’s the standard iOS wording shown for every VPN app when it adds a configuration. Your traffic travels through the VPN provider’s servers, which is why it’s worth choosing a provider whose privacy policy you’ve read.

Can I use one Arresti account on my iPhone and other devices?

Yes. One subscription covers up to 5 devices at once, across iOS, Android, macOS, Windows and Linux.

How do I cancel an Arresti subscription bought on my iPhone?

Open Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions and cancel there. Deleting the app or your Arresti account doesn’t cancel Apple billing. Subscriptions started on arresti.com can be cancelled from your Arresti account.

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