Hotspot Shield on Android has features and benefits not found on other devices, such as iOS and Mac. Please go through this summary, which describes each feature and where you may find it.

Once you are signed in to the application on your Android device, please select the person icon on the bottom right and navigate to settings.

We have a few categories, read on for a brief explanation of what these options mean and how they help protect your privacy.

1. VPN Protocol
You can easily change the VPN protocol in this section. While we recommend using the Smart option, you can manually choose any of the other protocols. Trying another protocol can help solve connection issues or access issues. We highly suggest changing your protocol whenever you have a technical issue with our application. There are three options available:

Smart
This is the default and recommended option. When this option 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. 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 issue, try connecting with Hydra.

Wireguard
Our newest VPN protocol. WireGuard is designed to be fast and easy to use. While it is not entirely recommended, it is a very easy to use protocol with a good balance between speed and security.

2. Connection Center

Connection on startup: With this option enabled, the VPN will automatically connect once your device turns on if it was ever powered down.
Connect on app launch: When enabled, the VPN will automatically connect whenever you start the Hotspot Shield app.
Disconnect on sleep: With this option enabled, Hotspot Shield will disconnect if your device goes to sleep. This is useful if you want to preserve your device battery.

Network: Under Network, you have three additional options. These options all control when the Hotspot Shield app should automatically connect to the VPN.

Unsecure WiFi: With this enabled, you will automatically connect to the VPN whenever your phone connects to an unsecure WiFi. Unsecure WiFi are public WiFi locations, such as at your local Starbucks.

Secured WiFi: Enable this option if you want to automatically connect to the VPN if your phone connects to a secured WiFi. Secured WiFi are networks like your home network.

Cellular networks: With Cellular Networks enabled, your phone will automatically connect to the VPN whenever you are roaming over cellular networks (LTE, 4G or 5G).

3. Split Tunneling

Like Windows, Android has a feature called Split Tunneling that allows you to bypass the VPN for specific websites and apps.

Bypass VPN: With Bypass VPN, any apps or websites you add will bypass the VPN connection. This means that all of the apps and websites on your Android will use the VPN, except for the ones you select. The apps or websites you add to the list will instead bypass the VPN and use your normal internet connection.

Route via VPN: With Route via VPN, only the websites or apps you select will go through the VPN. All other websites or apps will use your normal VPN connection.

4. Always-on VPN

With an always-on VPN, the user using the device can prevent any network connections that do not use the VPN. When this option is enabled, the VPN will try reconnecting to the VPN whenever a VPN connection is lost.

5. Internet Killswitch
Protect yourself even further with this feature enabled. Once toggled on, your internet connection will be blocked while you are disconnected from the VPN. This prevents your data from leaking. Having this enabled will not allow your internet traffic to run in the background once the VPN disconnects.

Please feel free to contact us via chat or email if you have any more questions or concerns.