With Hotspot Shield, you get access to multiple features depending on your platform. This features can vary from split-tunneling to killswitch. Please select what platforms features you want to know more about below:
Windows
Once you are signed in to the application on your Windows device, please select the on the left the gear icon and this will display your settings.
You will see options such as general, smart VPN, advanced, and shortcuts. Each category has a different set of settings within them. Let's go over the General settings tab.
Start on launch: When you initially launch your Windows device, Hotspot Shield will be already activated in the background.
Start minimized: Once your windows device boots up Hotspot Shield will start in a smaller, minimized window.
Auto-connect: With this enabled once you start up Hotspot Shield, the VPN will connect to the most recent virtual location you had selected prior to relaunching.
Notifications: Enable for any new features or updates that you would like to be notified.
Connection Quality Feedback: Enable this feature for after you disconnect the VPN and you would like to share your feedback on how the connection was performing.
Smart VPN
Moving on to the Smart VPN feature. With the Smart VPN feature (or, in other words, Split-Tunneling), you can choose which apps or websites to bypass the VPN tunnel, providing security and privacy to the apps or websites you choose. You just simply add the URL to this screen.
Protocols
You can easily change your protocols from this section which can help solve issues with connections or access. We highly suggest changing your protocol whenever you have a technical issue with our application. You can choose from 3 different protocols.
Automatic (Recommended)
This is automatically turned on when you connect to a virtual location. When this protocol is selected, we will pick the fastest and most secure protocol to connect to for your network or area.
Hydra
This is our company-developed protocol. It only can be found with us. This unique protocol is the fastest in the VPN industry and faster than our other protocols. It is the most secure of our protocols, so whenever you have a technical problem, please try changing to Hydra.
IKEv2 (IPSec)
While being less secure than the other protocols, this is one of our very fast protocols under our belt. If not at par with Hydra, this is still a reliable protocol that may help with certain technical issues.
Advanced
Moving on to the advanced section, we have 3 settings that can protect you while being connected or if you happen to disconnect.
Kill switch: If Hotspot Shield suddenly disconnects, enabling this feature will stop the data flow, protecting you by not allowing the internet traffic to run in the background once the VPN disconnects.
Auto-protect: Once you connect to a public network such as Starbucks, libraries, etc. With this feature Hotspot Shield will start running automatically once connected to that type of Wi-Fi environment.
Prevent IP leak: Allowing this will prevent your IP from being detected while connected to the VPN. Once connected to Hotspot Shield your public IP has already changed, but this feature can prevent any sites, cache or cookies from leaking your IP.
Once you are signed in to the application on your Android device, please select on the top left the gear icon which shortcuts you to your settings, or please select the person icon on the bottom right and navigate to settings.
We have a few categories we have to go over so please read the following for each for a brief explanation of what these settings mean and how they can protect your privacy.
Connection Center
Connection on startup: Enable this in case your device shuts off completely and you need to reboot using the options displayed on the screen or if you need to turn on the device, this option allows the VPN to connect immediately upon that.
Connect on app launch: Enable this for that once you start up the app the VPN will automatically connect to the most recent Virtual location.
Disconnect on sleep: Enable this option which will disconnect the VPN once you put your Android device into sleep mode.
Network: You have 3 options you can use to auto-connect the VPN when your device connects to one of these networks. Enable unsecured WiFi when you connect to a public network such as Starbucks, enable secured Wi-Fi in the event you connect to a more private network such as your home, and lastly enable the cellular network to auto-connect the VPN once your device connected to LTE or 4G.
Smart VPN
Similar to Windows, Android also has a SmartVPN feature. Once you manually add an app to this feature the VPN will automatically connect to that app once it has been opened. To disconnect the VPN once you have closed that app you will need to go back into the Hotspot Shield application and disconnect it manually.
VPN Protocol
You can easily change your protocols from this section which can help solve issues with connections or access. We highly suggest changing your protocol whenever you have a technical issue with our application. You can choose from 3 different protocols.
Automatic (Recommended)
This is automatically turned on when you connect to a virtual location. When this protocol is selected, we will pick the fastest and most secure protocol to connect to for your network or area.
Hydra
This is our company-developed protocol. It only can be found with us. This unique protocol is the fastest in the VPN industry and faster than our other protocols. It is the most secure of our protocols, so whenever you have a technical problem, please try changing to Hydra.
IKEv2 (IPSec)
While being less secure than the other protocols, this is one of our very fast protocols under our belt. If not at par with Hydra, this is still a reliable protocol that may help with certain technical issues.
Wireguard
This protocol has been designed for ease of use. While it is not entirely recommended, it is a faster protocol with a lower chance of it being compromised compared to other protocols.
Trusted Wi-Fi Networks
With this setting enabled the VPN will not connect or it will be disabled if your Android device is connected to a listed network on this setting.
Internet Killswitch
Protect yourself even further with this feature enabled. Once toggled on the VPN will disconnect automatically if there was a loss of internet connection from the device. This prevents data leaking from the time you were using the VPN. Having this enabled will not be allowing the internet traffic to run in the background once the VPN disconnects.
Once you are signed in to the application on your iOS device, please select the person icon on the bottom right and navigate to settings.
VPN Protocol
You can easily change your protocols from this section which can help solve issues with connections or access. We highly suggest changing your protocol whenever you have a technical issue with our application. You can choose from 3 different protocols.
Automatic (Recommended)
This is automatically turned on when you connect to a virtual location. When this protocol is selected, we will pick the fastest and most secure protocol to connect to for your network or area.
Hydra
This is our company-developed protocol. It only can be found with us. This unique protocol is the fastest in the VPN industry and faster than our other protocols. It is the most secure of our protocols, so whenever you have a technical problem, please try changing to Hydra.
IKEv2 (IPSec)
While being less secure than the other protocols, this is one of our very fast protocols under our belt. If not at par with Hydra, this is still a reliable protocol that may help with certain technical issues.
Split-Tunneling
Hotspot Shield on iOS has a Bypass feature that can bypass specific websites. Once you manually add a site to this feature, the VPN will automatically connect to that app once it has been opened. To add an app or site, click the check mark next to bypass and click the add option.
You can also Route VPN access which will exclusively connect to the VPN always when the VPN is on. You can add apps to this feature by toggling it on via the check box, and clicking add next.
To disconnect the VPN once you have closed that site, you will need to go back into the Hotspot Shield application and disconnect it manually for both Bypass VPN and Route VPN.
Re-install VPN Profile
As with other Apple applications, this will help restore your account to premium status if the app recognizes you as a free member. If you have gotten charged recently, but you are showing free in the app, please try this setting to re-enable your premium access. This can help with payment or account issues not recognized by the app.
Always-on VPN (New)
This feature cannot turn off, and for your security, it stays on. This setting will help reestablish the VPN connection automatically if the VPN somehow gets disconnected.
Kill Switch (New)
This setting will help make everything more secure with you as it will automatically disable the connection to the internet if the VPN connection drops out of nowhere when you are connected.
Once you are signed in to the application on your Mac device, please select the person icon on the bottom right and navigate to settings.
From the main screen, you will see the first setting option you can toggle. It is called VPN Protocol. This can also be found in the advanced settings in the Hotspot Shield Preferences.
VPN Protocol
You can easily change your protocols from this section which can help solve issues with connections or access. We highly suggest changing your protocol whenever you have a technical issue with our application. You can choose from 3 different protocols.
Automatic (Recommended)
This is automatically turned on when you connect to a virtual location. When this protocol is selected, we will pick the fastest and most secure protocol to connect to for your network or area.
Hydra
This is our company-developed protocol. It only can be found with us. This unique protocol is the fastest in the VPN industry and faster than our other protocols. It is the most secure of our protocols, so whenever you have a technical problem, please try changing to Hydra.
IKEv2 (IPSec)
While being less secure than the other protocols, this is one of our very fast protocols under our belt. If not at par with Hydra, this is still a reliable protocol that may help with certain technical issues.
Wireguard
This protocol has been designed for ease of use. While it is not entirely recommended, it is a faster protocol with a lower chance of it being compromised compared to other protocols.
These settings shown above can be found in Hotspot Shield preferences. Let's go through each one.
Start on Launch: Enable this in case your device shuts off entirely and you need to reboot using the options displayed on the screen, or if you need to turn on the device, this option allows the VPN to connect immediately upon that.
Auto-connect: Enable this once you start up the app, the VPN will automatically connect to the most recent Virtual location.
Always-on VPN: This feature stays on because if the VPN losses connection when turned on the VPN will take the time to automatically go back to connecting.
Notify on public WiFi: Enable to notify you when the VPN is connected to a public Wi-Fi that is not as secure as private Wi-Fi.
Appearance: Choose how you would like Hotspot Shield to appear. Through the dock or even through both the menu and dock. You have the ability to customize.
Restore Purchase: You can restore your most recent purchase to activate your Premium status if the app believes you are not premium.
Split-Tunneling
Hotspot Shield on Mac has a Bypass feature that can bypass specific websites. Once you manually add a site to this feature, the VPN will automatically connect to that app once it has been opened. To add an app or site, click the check mark next to bypass and click the add option.
You can also Route VPN access which will exclusively connect to the VPN always when the VPN is on. You can add apps to this feature by toggling it on via the check box, and clicking add next.
To disconnect the VPN once you have closed that site, you will need to go back into the Hotspot Shield application and disconnect it manually for both Bypass VPN and Route VPN.