Microsoft Privacy Protection Review 2025: What’s the Point?

We tested the VPN included with Microsoft Defender but were completely unimpressed. The Microsoft Defender VPN would completely drop our internet connection and we had to restart our computer to get it back.

This functionality is more often used for companies or schools that want to set up their own network and VPN to allow for remote access to the system. That means you can’t use it to unblock regional streaming content or mask your IP address. And you miss out on standard features such as a kill switch and split tunneling.

We detailed how our experience with Microsoft Privacy Protection and shared VPN recommendations that might make more sense for you.

Overview

Price	$8.33-$12.99/mo (included with Microsoft 365)
VPN protocol	PPTP, SSTP, L2TP/IPSec, IKEv2

Top alternatives

Microsoft Defender VPN is no longer available to use. So if you want access to a VPN that lets you watch Netflix in a different country, hide your IP address, and encrypt your traffic, then you can review our recommended alternatives:

What happened to Microsoft Privacy Protection?

As of February 28, 2025, Microsoft ended support for the Privacy Protection feature, also known as its virtual private network (VPN). Microsoft declared that it removed the VPN based on an evaluation of its usage and effectiveness.

The VPN was deprecated for existing users on this date. Action is not required by Windows, iOS, or macOS users, but Android users must remove the VPN profile from their device.^[1]

Our experience

We tested Microsoft Privacy Protection on our laptop running Windows 11. After signing up for a Microsoft 365 personal plan, we weren't sure where to find the VPN in our account. There was no clear guidance from Microsoft on this either. 

After doing some research, we found out the VPN is part of the Microsoft Defender app. After opening the Microsoft Defender app, we selected the Privacy Protection tab and found a simple service with a toggle to connect and not much else. 

We toggled on the VPN and waited for it to connect to the undisclosed server. First, we received a pop-up that the internet connection was lost. Then, Microsoft Defender let us know that the connection was lost. 

We tried to turn off the toggle but the option was greyed out. We also killed the app but our internet connection was still dead. 

After restarting our computer, we went through this whole process again and the same thing happened. This happened three times and there wasn't a way to contact Microsoft for help.

We're not sure why this happened and it may have been just us. But based on our experience, we wouldn't recommend this VPN. 

Who was the Microsoft Privacy Protection best for?

• Recommended for people or corporations who have Windows OS technical knowledge or already have a Microsoft 365 subscription

Microsoft Privacy Protection wasn’t like most of the VPNs we review. You might be able to use it to access files from a local network or something similar.

But you likely won’t be able to watch Netflix with the Microsoft Privacy Protection or hide your IP address and online activities from your internet service provider (ISP). So for unblocking streaming services and online privacy, there are better VPN options.

We also don't recommend purchasing Microsoft 365 just for the VPN. However, it could be handy if you already have a subscription (in case it happens to work for you).

How to use Windows's built-in VPN client

The Windows VPN client is included with a Windows 10 or Windows 11 operating system (OS). Many laptops and PCs already come with Windows 10 or 11 installed, which means the Windows VPN client is already there.

You need to create a VPN profile before you can connect to a VPN using Windows 10 or Windows 11. The steps to create a profile are basically the same in either Windows version:

1. Select the Start button on your desktop, then select or search Settings and choose Network & Internet > VPN > Add a VPN connection.

2. Fill in the required information to create your VPN profile:

• VPN provider: Select “Windows (built-in).”
• Connection name: Add a name for this VPN profile. It can be anything you want, such as “Nord” if you plan on using the NordVPN service.
• Server name or address: Enter the name or IP address of the network you want to connect via a VPN. This requires the network to already exist. Search whats my ip address in Google while connected to the VPN you want to route through Windows.
• VPN type: Choose the VPN protocol you want to use. If you’re connecting to a VPN service, that provider needs to support the protocol you choose.
• Type of sign-in info: Select your sign-in info option. This could be a username and password if you’re connecting to a VPN service.

Windows 10

To connect to a VPN profile in Windows 10:

1. Select the Network icon in your taskbar.
2. Click on the VPN connection/profile you want to use and select the connect button.
3. You might have to enter a username and password if you chose not to have them remembered when you created your VPN profile.

Windows 11

To connect to a VPN profile in Windows 11:

1. Go to Settings and select Network & Internet > VPN.
2. Choose “Connect” next to the profile you want to use.
3. Enter your username and password if required.

Features

The Micrsoft VPN didn’t have many features. And in most cases, the Windows VPN client was being used to connect to a VPN service that does typically provide more features. However, this would cause you to lose access to any features available on the VPN provider’s app.

That could include using a kill switch to automatically disconnect your internet if you lose connection to your VPN server. This is an important feature found on many VPN apps that can help prevent any information leaks if you’re having connectivity issues.

You would also miss out on a split tunneling feature, which can allow you to bypass the VPN connection with certain apps or programs.

VPN protocol

Something you do have some measure of control over with the Windows VPN client is choosing the type of VPN protocol you want to use. The Windows VPN supports these protocols:

• IKEv2
• L2TP/IPsec
• Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)
• Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP)

IKEv2 and L2TP/IPsec are generally considered to be secure protocols. PPTP isn’t a secure protocol and SSTP might be secure, but could have some backdoors that compromise its security.

Note that the Windows VPN client doesn’t support some popular protocols, such as OpenVPN and WireGuard. 

IKEv2

IKEv2 is a fast and secure protocol that’s commonly used on mobile devices but can work on some other platforms as well. Native support is available on Windows PC, iOS, and macOS. But you can still get IKEv2 working on Android and Linux devices.

L2TP/IPSec

L2TP doesn’t provide any encryption alone, but it can be paired with other services (IPSec) to keep your connection secure. This includes being able to use AES-256 encryption, which is one of the best encryptions available. 

L2TP/IPSec has decent internet connection speeds but isn’t the fastest protocol available.

SSTP

SSTP is generally seen as secure, but it’s primarily used on Windows devices because it’s owned by Microsoft. The ownership presents some potential issues because Microsoft has worked with government agencies in the past to provide user information.

So if SSTP has any backdoors, anyone using this protocol could eventually have their information compromised.

PPTP

PPTP is fast but doesn’t provide high levels of security. Since it’s insecure, it’s only recommended for advanced VPN users that know what they’re doing.

Compatibility

Microsoft Privacy Protection was available on the following operating systems:

• Windows
• macOS
• Android
• iOS

The Windows VPN client is available in Windows 11. Support for Windows 10 is still available, but will be discontinued by October 2025. 

Note that this feature isn’t available in Windows 11 SE, which is a version of Windows 11 designed for students using school-provided laptops.

Customer support

There was no dedicated customer support team for Microsoft Privacy Protection. 

For guidance on the Windows VPN client, you can check out the official Microsoft guide to connect to a VPN in Windows. You can also review the Windows VPN technical guide to see how Windows works with VPNs.

For other Windows security features, check out our guides on the Windows Defender antivirus and the Windows Security app.

FAQs

Bottom line: Was Microsoft Privacy Protection good?

Microsoft Privacy Protection didn't work and was too bare bones, so it wasn't  worth purchasing Microsoft 365 just to use the VPN.

Windows' built-in VPN client is more of a way to connect to a VPN service you already subscribe to. So, really, you’re likely adding an overly complicated and unnecessary step to your process by using it.

It might make sense to use the Windows VPN client if you have the technical knowledge to do so and it’s useful for you. This could be the case if you don’t want any third-party VPN apps on your system that hog space or resources. Or you might want to access a local network from a different location.

But if you already have a VPN subscription, it likely makes sense to simply use the Windows app offered by your VPN provider. This will typically provide you with a better user experience and more features over the built-in Windows VPN client.

For our top VPN recommendations, check out our list of the best VPN services.