What Is a VPN? Virtual Private Networks Simplified
Learn how VPNs work under the hood, common use cases, and how to connect on Windows and macOS.
How VPNs Work at a High Level
A VPN client on your device establishes an encrypted tunnel to a VPN server, authenticating with a username and password, certificate, or key file. Once connected, most or all network traffic is routed through this tunnel, so websites and services see the VPN server’s IP address instead of the one assigned by your local network.
Protocols such as OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2/IPsec provide the cryptographic foundation, while split‑tunneling options let you choose which apps or destinations use the VPN and which connect directly to the internet.
Connecting to a VPN on Windows and macOS
Both Windows and macOS have built‑in VPN clients that work with common protocols, and many commercial VPN services offer their own apps on top. Using the native tools can be handy for connecting to work VPNs or simple IPsec or L2TP configurations provided by your organization.
Command‑line tools make it easier to script connections, quickly verify that a tunnel is up, or troubleshoot when the graphical interface fails to connect.
Use these commands from PowerShell or the Run dialog to jump into VPN settings and confirm your tunnel.
start ms-settings:network-vpn # Open Windows VPN settings
ipconfig /all | findstr /I "IPv4 Tunnel"
These commands use the built‑in network configuration tools to inspect and manage VPN interfaces.
scutil --nc list # List configured VPN services
scutil --nc status "My VPN" # Check status of a specific VPN
scutil --nc start "My VPN" # Connect
scutil --nc stop "My VPN" # Disconnect