# Proton VPN

Application: Proton AG

Also called protonvpn, proton vpn windows

Proton AG, Security

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

Feex says

If ProtonVPN.exe is missing and you only have Proton Pass, I would download the VPN from protonvpn.com. The vault does not tunnel traffic. I would not call this Tailscale.

## 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?

**Consumer VPN with a Proton account**

Free and paid Proton VPN tiers. The exe is ProtonVPN.exe, not Mail.

**WireGuard or OpenVPN in the app**

Protocol picks live in Proton VPN. That is not the bare wireguard.exe client.

**Secure Core extras on paid plans**

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.

Free

Plus

Included in some Proton bundles

## 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 ](https://protonvpn.com/download)Official installer or vendor page |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Help          | [protonvpn.com/support ](https://protonvpn.com/support)Vendor support                      |
| Official site | [protonvpn.com/ ](https://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.

## Related

These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link.

[Windscribe: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/windscribe)[Proton Pass: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/proton-pass)[How to read Task Manager: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager)

## Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research).

- [Proton VPN official site ](https://protonvpn.com/)· Vendor product page
- [Proton VPN help ](https://protonvpn.com/support)· Vendor support
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

## Was this article useful?

A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note.

Quick facts

The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article.

- **Developer**: Proton AG

  **Category**: Consumer VPN

  **Process**: ProtonVPN.exe

  **License**: Freemium with a Proton account

  **First released**: 2017

  **Official site**: [protonvpn.com](https://protonvpn.com/)

  **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

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Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/software/proton-vpn/)

[Developer guide](https://feex.it/wiki/developers/) | [API policy](https://feex.it/developers/api-policy/) | [Agent guidance](https://feex.it/wiki/llms.txt)