Why you need a VPN on iPhone
A smartphone is the main tool for accessing the internet. We check email, chat in messengers, watch videos, and work with documents. And almost all of it happens over public Wi-Fi networks or the mobile internet of a provider that has full access to your traffic.
A VPN on iPhone solves several tasks at once. First, it encrypts data — even if you're connected to Wi-Fi in a café, no one will be able to see your passwords or messages. Second, it hides your real IP address — sites see the VPN server's address, not your home address. Third, it lets you bypass restrictions — if some resource is unavailable from your network, the VPN routes traffic through a server in another region.
In this guide, we'll look at how to set up a VPN on iPhone and iPad using the AmneziaWG app — a modern and fast client that works on iOS 16 and higher.
What you'll need for the setup
Before you start, make sure you have:
- An iPhone or iPad with iOS 16 or newer
- Access to the App Store
- An active VPN service subscription
If you've already purchased a Plan B subscription through the Telegram bot, you have a configuration file or QR code — that's the key to connecting. The rest is just details.
Step-by-step instructions
Purchase a subscription through the Telegram bot
It all starts with the bot. Open Telegram and go to the bot @paln_b_vpn_bot. Press "Start" and follow the instructions — the bot will offer to choose a plan and pay for the subscription. After payment, you'll get a configuration file or QR code.
On iPhone, it's most convenient to work with the QR code — you can scan it right from the AmneziaWG app. If you received a file with the .conf extension, save it to Files or send it to yourself any convenient way.
Install AmneziaWG from the App Store
Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad. In the search, type "AmneziaWG" and find the app with the logo. Tap "Get" and confirm the installation with Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple ID password.
AmneziaWG is a free client based on WireGuard, adapted for users who need to disguise VPN traffic. The app doesn't require registration and doesn't store connection logs.
After installation, the app icon will appear on your home screen. For now, it doesn't start automatically — you'll need to open it manually.
Import the configuration
Launch AmneziaWG. On the main screen, you'll see two options for adding a configuration: "Scan QR code" and "Import from file".
Option A — QR code: Tap "Scan QR code" and point the camera at the QR code you received from the bot. The app will read the configuration automatically — nothing needs to be entered manually. This is the fastest way, especially if the QR code is shown on another device's screen.
Option B — Configuration file: If you received a .conf file, open it via Files or tap "Import from file" in AmneziaWG. Select the downloaded configuration file — the app will recognize it and create a connection profile.
After the import, you'll see a profile with the server name. All parameters — server address, encryption keys, ports — are already filled in. Nothing needs to be changed.
Connect to the VPN
A switch will appear on the main screen of AmneziaWG. Tap it to connect. In a couple of seconds, the status will change to "Connected", and a VPN icon will appear in the iPhone status bar.
If the switch doesn't respond or immediately returns to the off state, check that the configuration was imported correctly and that you gave the app the necessary permissions (more on this in the "Solving problems" section below).
Check that the VPN works
The connection is established — now it's important to make sure the traffic really goes through the VPN server. There are several ways to check this:
- iPhone status bar: A "VPN" icon will appear at the top of the screen next to the signal indicator. This confirms the connection is active.
- IP address check: Open any browser and go to an IP checking site (for example, whatismyipaddress.com). The displayed IP address should differ from your real one — it's the VPN server's address.
- Ping: In AmneziaWG, you can view connection statistics — the amount of data sent and received, ping time. If data is being transferred, everything is fine.
If the IP changed and the VPN icon is visible — congratulations, your iPhone is now connected through an encrypted tunnel.
iOS settings for comfortable VPN use
VPN configuration permission
When you first add a VPN profile in AmneziaWG, iOS asks for confirmation. If for some reason you declined or don't see the prompt, check the settings:
Open Settings → General → VPN & Device Management. The AmneziaWG profile should be displayed here. If it's not there, import the configuration again.
Always-on VPN
iOS lets you set up a VPN that stays active permanently — even after a device restart. To enable this option:
- Open AmneziaWG
- Tap the gear icon next to the profile
- Enable the "Always on" option
After this, the VPN will automatically reconnect on every internet connection. This is useful if you want encryption to work at all times, not just when you tap the button manually.
Battery consumption optimization
A VPN consumes energy because data is encrypted and sent through an additional server. On iPhone, this is noticeable, especially with a weak signal. Here are a few recommendations:
- Connect to the VPN only when necessary — don't keep it on 24/7 if you're not using it
- Choose a geographically close server — the farther the server, the more latency and energy consumption
- Check that there are no restrictions for AmneziaWG in the battery settings — sometimes iOS may pause background processes
Switching between networks
If you often switch between Wi-Fi and mobile internet, the VPN may disconnect for a second during the switch. This is normal behavior — the app automatically restores the connection. If disconnections are frequent, make sure that iOS settings allow AmneziaWG access to all network types.
Solving typical problems
The app won't install
If the App Store won't let you download AmneziaWG, check a few things:
- iOS version — the app requires iOS 16 or newer. Check the version in Settings → General → About
- Storage space on the device — make sure your iPhone has enough free space
- Apple ID — sometimes the App Store blocks installation if the account requires confirmation. Try signing out of Apple ID and signing in again
The VPN configuration doesn't appear
After importing the configuration, you don't see the profile in AmneziaWG or in the iOS settings. In this case:
- Delete the old profile if there is one (Settings → General → VPN & Device Management)
- Import the configuration again
- Make sure the QR code or configuration file isn't damaged — try getting a new one from the bot
The VPN connects, but the internet doesn't work
You tapped the switch, the status changed to "Connected", but pages don't load. The reasons could be:
- Server problem: The VPN server is temporarily unavailable. Wait a minute and try reconnecting
- DNS doesn't resolve: Sometimes DNS queries go through the tunnel but don't get a response. Try turning off the VPN, waiting 10 seconds, and connecting again
- Outdated configuration: The keys may have expired. Contact Plan B support or get a new configuration file through the bot
Low speed with the VPN connected
A VPN always adds some latency — data goes through an additional server. However, if the speed drops critically, try:
- Choosing a different server in the configuration settings (if there are several)
- Checking the speed without VPN for comparison — maybe the problem is your internet, not the VPN
- Restarting the app and reconnecting
- Making sure you're not downloading something heavy on several devices at the same time
Frequently asked questions
Is AmneziaWG free?
The app itself — yes, it's free and available in the App Store without payment. However, to connect to a VPN server, you need a configuration — you get it when you purchase a Plan B subscription.
Can I use one account on several devices?
The number of simultaneous connections depends on the plan and is indicated on its card. One profile can be installed on several devices, but it can't be used simultaneously — separate profiles are needed for parallel connections.
Are connection logs kept?
AmneziaWG doesn't keep logs on the app side. As for Plan B servers — we don't store data about your online activity. Your traffic is encrypted, and we don't have access to its content.
Does VPN work on iPad the same as on iPhone?
Yes. AmneziaWG is universal — the interface and functionality are identical. The instructions described in this article fully apply to iPad.
Do I need to turn off the VPN before using banking apps?
Some banks may block login attempts through VPN. If you run into this problem, temporarily turn off the VPN, do what you need, and reconnect it. This is standard practice for all VPN services.
Conclusion
Setting up a VPN on an iPhone or iPad takes literally a couple of minutes. All you need is to purchase a subscription, install AmneziaWG from the App Store, and import the configuration. No technical knowledge, no complex settings — the app does all the work for you.
Plan B uses the AmneziaWG protocol — a modified WireGuard with additional traffic masking. This means your VPN traffic looks like regular HTTPS — providers and system administrators won't be able to tell that you're using a VPN.
If you still have questions — write to Plan B support through the same Telegram bot you used to subscribe. We'll help you sort it out.