Kill Switch and local network access on Windows

Connected to VPN Super on Windows, and now a printer, network drive, smart TV, or game isn't working? The local network access setting decides whether your computer can reach devices on your network while you're connected. Kill Switch is a separate setting that blocks your internet if the VPN drops. This guide explains what each one does, what stays blocked to keep your real IP address private, and what to try if something on your network stops working.

How to find Kill Switch and local network settings

1. Open the VPN Super app.
2. Open the app menu (☰) and select Settings.
3. Find Kill switch (privacy protection) and Allow access to devices on the local network.

What does Kill Switch do on Windows?

Kill Switch blocks all internet traffic if your VPN connection drops unexpectedly, so your real IP address and the sites you visit aren't exposed. Your internet comes back once VPN Super reconnects, or when you select Unblock internet. It also blocks while VPN Super is connecting and while you switch locations, so your real IP address stays hidden until the VPN is up. If you disconnect yourself, Kill Switch doesn't block anything. To see whether it's on, check the toggle in Settings.

While Kill Switch is on, anything that doesn't go through the VPN is blocked, even when your connection is working. Your local devices are the exception when local network access is on.

Wi-Fi sign-in pages in hotels, airports, and cafes won't load while Kill Switch is on and VPN Super is connecting. To get online, disconnect, sign in to the Wi-Fi in your browser, then connect again.

What happens when Kill Switch blocks your internet?

If your VPN connection drops, the app shows Kill Switch active. Internet access will resume once the VPN reconnects. In most cases, VPN Super reconnects on its own and your internet comes back without you doing anything.

If VPN Super can't reconnect, you'll see Server Connection Failed. Choose what to do next:

• Try again: VPN Super tries to connect again. Your internet stays blocked until the VPN is back.
• Unblock internet: you get online without the VPN. Kill Switch stays on, so it still protects your next connection.

Kill Switch only works while the VPN Super app is open. If you quit the app (on Windows, right-click the VPN Super icon in the system tray and select Exit), VPN Super disconnects and your internet works normally again. Closing the window doesn't quit the app.

If you see Connection Failed with a message about a problem activating the Kill Switch, VPN Super couldn't turn on Kill Switch, so it stopped the connection to keep you protected. Select Try again, and contact Support if it keeps happening.

What does local network access do?

Allow access to devices on the local network is on by default. While it's on, you can keep using printers, network drives, other computers, and casting to devices like Chromecast or Apple TV while you're connected. Whether or not Kill Switch is on, Windows can't share updates with other PCs on your network, and some apps can't open ports on your router. A few other things stay blocked whatever your settings (see below).

Turn it off when you're on a network you don't trust, like public Wi-Fi. Other devices on that network then can't reach your computer while you're connected.

What stays blocked while you're connected?

Whatever your settings, VPN Super blocks a few things while you're connected, because they could expose your real IP address or the sites you visit:

• Name lookups through your router. Names that only your router knows, like nas.lan or a Pi-hole, don't work while you're connected. Names ending in .local still work while local network access is on.
• Secure name lookups through your router (DNS over TLS). If your router handles name lookups securely, they go through the VPN instead while you're connected.
• IPv6. VPN Super doesn't support IPv6 yet, so it's blocked while you're connected to keep your real IP address hidden.
• Windows sharing updates with other PCs on your network (Windows only).
• Some games and apps asking your router to open a port.

Everything works as usual again when you disconnect, or when you select Unblock internet.

Why isn't a device on my network working with the VPN on?

These steps might help:

1. Make sure Allow access to devices on the local network is on. With it on, VPN Super doesn't block anything on your local network except the items listed above.
2. Connect to the device using its IP address (for example, 192.168.1.20) instead of its name.
3. Check the device's IP address. Local network access covers addresses that start with 10., 172.16 to 172.31, 192.168, or 169.254. If your router gives devices a different kind of address, you can't reach them while you're connected.
4. If you use another firewall or antivirus app, check that it isn't blocking your local network while VPN Super is connected.
5. Disconnect from the VPN to check whether the device works without it.

For more details, see: How to use VPN Super's Kill Switch

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