How to set up VPN on Windows and Mac — guide for beginners

Why you need a VPN on your computer

A VPN is a tool that encrypts all your internet traffic and routes it through a secure server. On a computer, this is especially relevant: you work with files, banking apps, and corporate systems. Without a VPN, any of these channels can be intercepted — especially on public Wi-Fi networks, on someone else's internet, or when using unsecured connections.

Imagine a typical situation: you're sitting in a café, connected to free Wi-Fi. At that moment, someone on the same network could intercept your data — logins, passwords, card numbers. A VPN solves this problem: all traffic is encrypted, and even if it's intercepted, it's impossible to decrypt without the key.

There are other situations where a VPN on a computer is simply necessary. For example, if you work from home and connect to a corporate network. Or if you're traveling and want to access content that isn't available from your current location. Or if your provider blocks certain resources — a VPN helps bypass such restrictions.

Plan B uses the AmneziaWG protocol — a modified version of WireGuard that better hides the very fact of VPN use. This matters because standard WireGuard is easily recognized by providers and blocked. AmneziaWG bypasses these restrictions without losing speed. The protocol disguises VPN traffic as regular HTTPS, so even a technically savvy network operator won't be able to tell that you're using a VPN.

Another important advantage of AmneziaWG is performance. The protocol works at the operating system kernel level, which ensures minimal latency and high data transfer speed. You'll practically not notice the difference between a direct connection and working through VPN, even when downloading large files or making video calls.

How to get a VPN configuration

Before installing a client, you need to get a configuration file. It's the access key to the Plan B VPN server. Without it, the client won't be able to establish a connection. The process of getting a config takes literally a minute.

Open Telegram and find the bot @paln_b_vpn_bot. Press "Start" or "Connect". The bot will offer to choose a plan and pay for the subscription. After payment, the bot will automatically create a configuration file and send it to you in the chat.

The configuration file has the .conf extension and contains all the necessary parameters for connecting: server address, encryption keys, ports, and other settings. You don't need to understand the file contents — just save it to your computer and import it into the client.

Important: the configuration file is the access key to your account. Don't share it with third parties and don't publish it publicly. If you suspect the file has been compromised, contact tech support to create a new config.

Which client to choose: AmneziaWG or ResultV

To set up a VPN on your computer, you'll need a client — a program that establishes and manages the connection. It's like a video call app, but instead of a call, it creates a secure data channel. Plan B offers two client options, and the choice depends on your tasks.

AmneziaWG is a client created specifically to work with the AmneziaWG protocol. It's as simple as possible: install, import the config, press the button — and everything works. You don't need to understand settings, encryption parameters, or routing. Everything is already configured optimally.

ResultV is a more advanced client that supports the same protocol but adds smart routing. With it, you can configure which apps and sites will work through the VPN and which ones directly. This is useful if you don't need to encrypt all traffic.

Setting up AmneziaWG on Windows

Windows 10 and Windows 11 are fully supported. The installation process takes about 5 minutes and doesn't require special knowledge. Even if you've never installed a VPN before, you'll handle it without problems. Important: before installing, make sure you have a stable internet connection and enough disk space (the client needs no more than 50 MB).

Also pay attention to your Windows version. AmneziaWG officially supports Windows 10 (version 1903 and newer) and Windows 11. If you have an older version, it's recommended to update the system — this will also improve your computer's security level.

Setting up AmneziaWG on macOS

AmneziaWG is available for macOS 11 (Big Sur) and newer. The setup process on Mac is almost identical to Windows, but there are a few nuances related to the specifics of Apple's operating system. In particular, macOS is stricter about installing apps from third-party sources, so you may need to grant additional permissions.

There are two ways to install — via the App Store (recommended) or manually from GitHub. Both options work equally reliably, but the App Store is easier for most users, since the app is installed in the standard way and updates automatically.

Method 1: via the App Store (recommended)

Method 2: via GitHub (for advanced users)

ResultV: advanced setup with smart routing

If you need the VPN to work only for certain apps or sites, you need ResultV. This client supports smart routing, which lets you flexibly manage which traffic goes through the VPN and which goes directly.

Imagine you work from home. You need to connect to a corporate database through the VPN, but you don't want all your traffic — including YouTube, social networks, and updates — to go through the encrypted channel. ResultV solves this task: you specify only the apps and sites that need protection, and the rest of the traffic goes directly, without slowdown.

Another example is online games. Many game servers block VPN or significantly slow down connections through it. With ResultV, you can set up the game to work directly, while the browser and messengers go through the VPN. This gives you both security and good speed for games at the same time.

What is split tunneling

Split tunneling is the ability to choose which apps or sites use the VPN and which work without it. It's one of the most requested features among experienced users, because it combines VPN security with the high speed of a direct connection.

The principle is simple: the client analyzes network traffic and applies the rules you've set up. If an app or site is on the "through VPN" list, the traffic is encrypted and goes through a secure server. If it's on the "direct" list, the traffic goes the usual way, without encryption.

Examples of using split tunneling:

• The browser works through the VPN, while messengers work directly
• Online banking and corporate apps go through the VPN, while YouTube works without it
• Certain sites open through the VPN, the rest of the traffic goes directly

This is useful when you don't want to slow down the entire connection for access to a specific resource, or when some services don't work through VPN and need to be "bypassed".

When you should use ResultV

• You work with corporate systems that require a direct connection to certain resources
• You play online games and don't want latency when connecting to game servers
• You use streaming services that get blocked when the VPN is on
• You need part of the traffic to go through the VPN and part directly, for speed reasons
• You work with multiple accounts in different services and want to separate their traffic
• It matters to you that calling apps work directly to minimize latency

Setting up ResultV

Examples of split tunneling rules

Let's look at a few practical scenarios so you better understand how smart routing works in ResultV.

Scenario 1: Working from home. You're a remote employee and need to connect to a corporate VPN to access internal resources. But at the same time, you don't want YouTube, Spotify, and system updates to go through the VPN — that would slow them down. In ResultV, you add only the corporate apps to the "through VPN" list, and everything else works directly.

Scenario 2: Streaming and gaming. You want to watch Netflix through the VPN to access another region, but you also play online games where every millisecond of latency matters. In ResultV, you set Netflix to work through the VPN, and the game client — directly.

Scenario 3: Traveling. You're on a trip and using public Wi-Fi. You need to safely work with your bank and email, but don't want to slow down downloading movies on your tablet. Bank and email — through the VPN, everything else — directly.

Comparison: AmneziaWG vs ResultV

Solving problems

Even with a correct setup, problems sometimes occur. That's normal — VPN technology depends on many factors: the network state, operating system settings, antivirus software, and even the provider. Below we'll cover the most common problems and their solutions.

Important: before solving problems, make sure you've downloaded the latest version of the client and are using a fresh configuration file. Old versions may not support new server parameters, and outdated configs may contain revoked access keys.

AmneziaWG won't connect

This is the most common problem, and it's usually solved in a couple of minutes. Here's a step-by-step diagnostic algorithm:

VPN connects, but the internet doesn't work

This problem is less common but raises the most questions. You see that the VPN is connected (the icon is green), but pages don't open. Here's what to do:

Problems on macOS

macOS has its own quirks that can affect VPN operation. Here are the most common problems and their solutions:

Frequently asked questions