What Is Split Tunneling

Split tunneling lets part of your traffic go directly to the internet while everything else stays encrypted inside the VPN tunnel. It helps when the VPN only gets in the way for services in your own region: they run slower, and some banks and marketplaces dislike VPN connections altogether.

How It Works in Astria VPN

The app has a single switch — “Split tunneling” — and it is an experimental feature: in some networks it may work incorrectly. It is off by default and never turns on by itself. When it’s on, local resources — sites and services of your region, as well as torrents — go without the VPN (faster, and they don’t load the tunnel), while external resources go through the VPN. There are no lists to maintain, and choosing resources manually isn’t available yet. The region is detected automatically while the VPN is off, so the switch can be turned on only with the VPN disconnected; the app asks you to disconnect first. Turn the switch off and all traffic goes through the VPN again.

Where It’s Available

iPhone and iPad — available.
Android — available.
macOS and Windows — not yet: all traffic goes through the tunnel.

The region is detected automatically (with the VPN off), and the service decides whether the mode is available there; where it isn’t, the switch is not shown.

What We’re Working On

We’re developing split tunneling for all devices, including macOS and Windows, along with the ability to choose the resources yourself — the apps and sites that should go direct or through the VPN. These features will arrive in app updates.

Local rules

Astria VPN exists to protect your data wherever you are. Rules on using a VPN differ between countries and can change, so check the local rules where you are — following them remains the user’s responsibility. Split tunneling only affects how your local traffic is routed and does not change your obligations. We do not offer or market the app in countries where such use is restricted.

Privacy Consideration

Traffic that goes direct is not protected by the VPN. Turn split tunneling on knowing the trade-off: speed and convenience for services in your region in exchange for that specific traffic being visible to your network.

On Android: Split Tunneling in Astria VPN for Android · Android guide