Avoid VPN Restriction with Speedify’s Bypass Feature
Some apps work better outside a VPN. Split tunneling is the setting that lets you choose which apps send their traffic through the encrypted VPN and which apps use your internet connection directly.
Speedify is an app that encrypts your traffic like a VPN and runs that traffic across Wi-Fi, 4G/5G cellular, Ethernet, Starlink and satellite internet connections at once. That combining needs two or more internet connections; on one connection Speedify works as an encrypted VPN and can be a little slower. Speedify calls its split tunneling control Bypass.
Read on for what split tunneling is good for, how to switch split tunneling on, and how Speedify’s Bypass setting sends a banking site or a streaming service that blocks VPNs around the tunnel while the rest of your traffic stays encrypted.
Split Tunneling VPN Explained: Two Paths for Your Traffic
Split tunneling is a VPN feature that divides your internet traffic into two paths. Instead of routing all your data through the VPN tunnel, split tunneling lets you choose which applications, websites or IP addresses use the VPN connection, while other traffic goes through your standard internet connection.
Think of it as creating two lanes on a highway: one lane goes through a secure, encrypted tunnel (your VPN), while the other lane takes the direct route to your destination. You decide, app by app or site by site, which lane your traffic takes.
Split Tunnel and Full Tunnel VPN: The Difference
A full tunnel VPN sends all of your traffic through the encrypted tunnel, so everything is protected but every app takes the VPN route. A split tunnel VPN sends only the traffic you choose through the tunnel; the rest goes straight to the internet without the VPN’s encryption. In Speedify, everything goes through the tunnel except the services you add to Bypass.
App Bypass, which picks whole apps, is on Android (Speedify 12.1 or later). On other devices, Speedify’s Bypass works by service and website: choose from the list under Settings > Bypass, or add your own under Custom Bypass.
When Using a Split Tunneling VPN Becomes Essential
Split tunneling helps in four common situations:
Accessing Local Services: Many streaming platforms, banking websites, and local services block VPN traffic. Split tunneling allows you to access these services directly while keeping other activities protected through your VPN connection.
Optimizing Network Performance: Bandwidth-heavy apps like video conferencing, gaming or large downloads can go directly to the internet, while browsing and email stay encrypted in the VPN tunnel. With Speedify, keep video calls and games inside the tunnel if you want them to use combined connections and failover: traffic sent through Bypass goes directly from your device instead.
Workplace Compliance: Remote workers often need to access company resources through their local connection while maintaining privacy for personal browsing activities through a VPN.
Cost Management: If your VPN plan has a monthly data limit, traffic sent outside the tunnel does not pass through the VPN servers. That traffic still counts against your internet or cellular data plan.
How to Set Up Split Tunnel VPN
Configuring split tunneling varies depending on your VPN provider and device, but the general process follows these steps:
Choose Your VPN Provider: Select a VPN service that offers robust split tunneling capabilities. Not all providers include this feature, so research is essential.
Install and Configure: Download your VPN client and locate the split tunneling settings, often found in advanced or connection settings. In Speedify, for example, it’s called Bypass.
Select Your Routing Method: Most VPN clients offer app-based splitting (choosing specific applications) or website-based splitting (selecting particular domains or IP addresses).
Configure Your Rules: Add applications or websites to your bypass list (for direct internet access) or your VPN list (for encrypted routing).
Test Your Configuration: Verify that your settings work correctly by checking IP addresses for different applications and ensuring proper traffic routing.
How to Set Up Split Tunneling in Speedify with Bypass
- Download Speedify on your computer or phone (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Linux).
- Open Speedify and create a free account (the free tier includes 5 GB per month; Linux needs a paid plan), or sign in.
- When Speedify detects a service known to block VPNs, such as a streaming service, the dashboard asks whether to bypass it; confirm to send that service outside the tunnel.
- To manage the list yourself, open Settings > Bypass, turn services on or off, and add other sites under Custom Bypass.
- On Android with Speedify 12.1 or later, open App Bypass in the Privacy section of the menu to choose whole apps that skip the tunnel.
Why Speedify Stands Out for Split Tunneling
Speedify’s split tunneling differs from most VPNs in three ways:
Intelligent Bypass Feature: Speedify’s bypass functionality goes beyond basic split tunneling. When Speedify detects a connection to a streaming service or another service known to block VPNs, that service appears on Speedify’s dashboard, and you can confirm that it should go around Speedify. All other traffic stays in the encrypted Speedify tunnel. If Bypass does not work for a site, turn off Secure DNS (DNS over HTTPS) in your browser, which can stop Bypass from working.
Combined Internet Connections: Unlike traditional VPNs, Speedify can combine Wi-Fi, 4G/5G cellular, Ethernet, Starlink and satellite internet connections for the traffic that goes through the VPN tunnel, while selected services go directly over your normal connection.
Reliable Performance: For traffic inside the tunnel, Speedify keeps the same public IP address when one internet connection drops, so calls and logged-in sessions carry on.
Split Tunneling for Betting Apps and Other Services That Block VPNs
Betting and poker apps check your real location, and their terms decide where you may bet. Speedify does not change where you are legally allowed to bet. If a betting app blocks VPN connections, add it to Bypass so it uses your normal connection and sees your real location, while the rest of your traffic stays encrypted.
Banks, delivery and rideshare apps, freelance platforms and some streaming services also treat Speedify as a VPN. Check each service’s rules, use Bypass (Settings > Bypass, or App Bypass on Android) for the ones that block VPNs, and turn Speedify off for a proctored exam.
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