Proton VPN
Also called protonvpn, proton vpn windows
Proton's VPN client. The window is ProtonVPN.exe. It is not Proton Mail and not Proton Pass.
What you need to know
ProtonVPN.exe is the tunnel. Proton Pass.exe is the vault.
Proton VPN is Proton's consumer VPN. It is not Proton Mail and not Proton Pass. Windscribe is a different free-tier VPN. Tailscale is a mesh for your devices.
- What is it?
- Proton's VPN. Not Mail or Pass
- Same as Proton Pass?
- No. Different exe
- Same as Tailscale?
- No. Consumer VPN, not a mesh
What is Proton VPN?
Proton VPN is Proton AG's VPN. ProtonVPN.exe is the Windows client. Proton Mail and Proton Pass are other products.
If you have never used it
If you wanted Proton's tunnel, this is Proton VPN, not Proton Mail. Download it from protonvpn.com/download. ProtonVPN.exe is the Windows client. Proton Pass.exe is the vault. A Proton account signs both in. This is a consumer VPN, not Tailscale.
What is it used for?
Free and paid Proton VPN tiers. The exe is ProtonVPN.exe, not Mail.
Protocol picks live in Proton VPN. That is not the bare wireguard.exe client.
Secure Core is a Proton VPN feature name. NordLynx is Nord's name. Different vendors.
Who is it for?
- Proton Mail users who want the same account on a VPN
- People who opened Proton Pass looking for Connect
- Anyone comparing free-tier VPNs against Windscribe
Current status
Actively developed. This article is the Windows VPN app, not Proton Mail or Pass.
How old is it?
Proton VPN launched in 2017, after Proton Mail. Current Windows builds are the Proton VPN app. A 2018 OpenVPN config zip is an older manual path, not the usual app.
Versions
Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.
System requirements
Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.
Minimum
| Operating system | Windows 10 or Windows 11, per Proton VPN download |
|---|---|
| RAM | Light client |
Resource profile
- CPU demand
- Tunnel encryption
- Network demand
- All traffic while connected
Installed processes
These executables belong to this product when it is installed.
| ProtonVPN.exe | VPN client. Not Proton Pass.exe |
|---|
Startup components
ProtonVPN.exe can connect at logon from its settings.
File locations
| Typical install | C:\Program Files\Proton\VPN\ |
|---|
Common problems
Pass or Mail installed instead of the VPN
Those apps will not create the system tunnel. Install ProtonVPN.exe.
Free tier server limits
That is a Proton VPN plan limit, not a Windows firewall bug.
Getting unstuck
Install from protonvpn.com/download
proton.me/pass is the vault. proton.me/mail is Mail.
Sign in with the Proton account
A NordVPN token will not work here.
Disconnect another consumer VPN first
Two tunnels fight over the default route.
Alternatives
Proton Pass if you meant the vault. Windscribe if you want another free-tier VPN. Mullvad if you want an account-number VPN.
Official help and downloads
Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.
| Download | protonvpn.com/download Official installer or vendor page |
|---|---|
| Help | protonvpn.com/support Vendor support |
| Official site | protonvpn.com/ Start here, not a random exe host |
Related hardware
The client is light. Encryption uses CPU while connected.
Technical details
Technical details
Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.
- Proton VPN official site · Vendor product page
- Proton VPN help · Vendor support
- Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.
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