< Blog |
January 13, 2021

How to Setup VPN for Chromebook

Google Chromebook has been in the market since 2009. But it was only a couple of years ago when Google rejuvenated its line to provide a more modern and sleek look to its Chromebook and its operating system. It worked with other manufacturers to introduce a variety of laptops. For students looking for capstone help, Chromebooks offer a streamlined, cloud-based environment that can support extensive research and writing tasks. Chromebook is Google’s take on lightweight and ultra-low power laptops, offering powerful productivity in thin and small form factors.

Chromebook is Google’s take on lightweight and ultra-low power laptops. It runs Chrome OS and offers powerful productivity in thin and small form factors. Starting from $399, Chromebooks come in all types of configurations.

As a device that’s built with the cloud at the center, the need to have a safe and secure experience runs in parallel. If you want to get a VPN on Chromebook, let us show you how.

What Can Chromebook Do?

Google Chromebook runs Chrome OS, which is based on Linux – it can even run Android apps. Because of its capability to run Android apps natively, it has access to thousands of apps from the Google Play Store.

What makes Chromebook particularly different is its cloud-based approach. Instead of using the machine to store files, it uses Google Cloud to save your files. As a user, you can still save files such as documents, video files, music files on your Chromebook, but the Chromebook is designed to leverage Google Cloud for work.

To make it simple, all your data sits in the cloud. If you want to use spreadsheets, you will use Google Sheet. If you want to view photos, you will use Google Photos. And personal files will be saved in Google Drive. And if you want to browse the web or watch videos, Google Chrome and YouTube apps are available.

Certain apps work offline, but progress will have to be synchronized with the cloud if you wish to access the latest revisions.

Why Do You Need a VPN for Chromebook?

Security is one of the touted features of Chromebook. But anti-virus and other device-level securities cannot prevent the inevitable activity-tracking that Internet Service Providers do. Security measures in the Chromebook cannot make your online activities private or allow you to bypass geo-restriction.

You may find websites and services inaccessible if you travel a lot to other regions. Hence, a VPN not only hides your online activities against surveillance but also bypasses any firewalls, like the Great Firewall of China.

The ISP is your gateway to the public internet. It knows what websites you visit and the exact timestamps. Some ISPs may record activities to sell it to advertisers. A VPN is a tool that ensures that when you connect to the web, your data is encrypted, so any third-party cannot see what websites you visit.

iProVPN utilizes AES 256-bit to secure internet communication from your device to the VPN server. So, whether you are at home or using public Wi-Fi on the go, you can connect knowing that your sessions are safe. iProVPN is committed to user privacy. That means we never track or record your online activities and never sell your data to third parties.

VPN for School Chromebook

The various options within Chromebook have allowed greater accessibility. It has been marketed as a device for education. If you have a Chromebook managed by your school, you can use a VPN to bypass restricted websites.

We highly recommend complying with the school’s rules and regulations while accessing the web.

How to Get VPN for Chromebook

There are two ways to get a VPN for Chromebook. The first is most straightforward, requiring only an app install that will get you running VPN in no time.

Setup VPN for Chromebook Through Chrome

iProVPN supports a VPN extension for Google Chrome web browser. Your Chromebook comes preloaded with the web browser.

  • Go to Settings > Apps > Google Play Store. Enable the option Install apps and games from Google Play on your Chromebook.
  • Launch Google Chrome.
  • Go to Chrome Web Store and search for iProVPN.
  • Add the extension to the web browser.
  • Enter your credentials to sign in.
  • Select any server and tap connect.

Your IP will be spoofed once the connection has established. The extension only protects traffic of the web browser; it will not use the VPN server for other apps on your Chromebook. To truly protect internet traffic, we highly recommended the next approach.

Setup VPN for Chromebook with Android App

Although Chromebook’s operating system is based on Linux, Google brought support for Android apps. The only catch is that not all Chromebooks support Android apps. Head to the link here to find out if your device can run the Android app from Google Play Store.

  • Launch Google Play Store.
  • Search for iProVPN.
  • Install iProVPN for Android.
  • Launch iProVPN.
  • Connect to any server. If prompted, confirm the setup of the VPN profile.

You are now connected to iProVPN. All internet traffic is now encrypted and passing through the VPN server.

Setup VPN for Chromebook Manually

For those who cannot run VPN for Chromebook through an Android app, follow this method. Chrome OS allows you to add a VPN connection manually. You can establish a VPN connection using LT2P/IPsec or OpenVPN. We recommend using OpenVPN.

  • Open Settings.
  • Go to Network > Add connection.
  • Click on the “+” icon next to OpenVPN.
  • First, head to the link here to find iProVPN’s OpenVPN server. Copy the server address of your choice. Paste the address in the Server hostname
  • Choose a name for your VPN connection. It can be anything that you want.
  • Select OpenVPN as Provider Type.
  • Enter your iProVPN credentials in the username and password
  • Download iProVPN’s server certification here. Select that as Server CA Certificate.
  • Click on the Connect

Setup VPN for Chromebook with OpenVPN

If a manual connection is an intimidating process, there is an easier way to get OpenVPN working on Chromebook.

  • Go to Settings > Apps > Google Play Store. Enable the option Install apps and games from Google Play on your Chromebook.
  • Launch Google Play Store.
  • Search for the OpenVPN Connect app by OpenVPN and install it.
  • Head to the link here and download iProVPN’s OpenVPN configuration files. Extract the folder and you should now have two folders TCP and UDP.
  • Launch OpenVPN Connect.
  • Load a .ovpn file of the server of choice from the TCP and UDP folder that you previously extracted.
  • Toggle the VPN switch to connect.

Wait for the connection to establish. You should now be able to browse securely.

Conclusion

Chromebook offers powerful productivity and everyday web browsing, but the built-in security measures are not capable of protecting your privacy on the web. To truly protect your data, connect to iProVPN’s global VPN network for safe and secure browsing.


Start Browsing Privately!

iProVPN encrypts your data for protection against hackers and surveillance. Unblock your favorite streaming platforms instantly with the best VPN for streaming.

Valentine VPN Deal

Affordable VPN at Just $1.26/Month

  • Get 2 Years + 1 Year Free
  • Enjoy Fast Speeds, Global Streaming & Unblocked Content
  • No Logs. 30-Day Risk-Free Trial
Get iProVPN

You May Also Like

February 29, 2024

Does A VPN Protect You From Hackers?

If you want to protect your important data, you have to stay one step ahead of hackers. Hackers have a...

Top 15 Uses of a VPN? | iProVPN

"Virtual Private Network" defines the capacity to establish a safe network connection over public networks. VPNs encrypt your online activity...

October 10, 2023

Using VPNs For A Safer And More Exciting Experience Online

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help users stay anonymous online, as well as provide enhanced security. This is important...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *