Last Updated on August 25, 2026 by Walter
Your VPN keeps breaking your bank app, your printer, and your games. Split tunneling fixes that in minutes, and this guide shows you exactly where to click so you keep full protection without losing access to the things you use every day. Set it up once and the problem is gone.
Table of Contents
What Is Split Tunneling?
Split tunneling is a setting inside a VPN app that divides your traffic into two lanes. Apps you add to the list travel through the encrypted server in another country. Everything else keeps your home IP address and direct route. The concept sounds small, but it changes how a VPN fits into daily life, turning an all-or-nothing switch into a precise tool.
How Split Tunneling Works
Under the hood the app builds a second routing table. When you place a program in the split list, its packets skip the virtual network adapter the VPN created, while traffic from everything else continues down that adapter. Two details matter in practice. Some tools split by application, while browser extensions often split by website instead. Others flip the logic, letting you keep only a whitelist of apps inside the tunnel.
When Split Tunneling Helps Most
- Banking and payment apps that lock accounts when they see a foreign login.
- Local devices such as printers, network drives, and smart-home hubs that vanish when traffic leaves the country.
- Online games where a longer route adds latency, while chat and store traffic still deserve cover.
- Slower connections, because encryption adds overhead and moving big downloads outside the tunnel frees speed for browsing.
Anything you place in the bypass lane travels unencrypted and shows your real address. Treat that lane as traffic you are happy to have exposed, and keep sensitive sessions inside the tunnel.
Do You Really Need Split Tunneling?
The honest answer depends on how you use a VPN. If you simply want privacy for browsing and downloads, the default full-tunnel mode is fine and requires zero configuration. Split tunneling earns its keep when a constant tunnel actively breaks something: a banking app, a local server, or a game that refuses to connect. Think of it as an escape hatch rather than a daily requirement, and switch it on only when a specific app misbehaves.
How to Enable Split Tunneling in NordVPN
NordVPN offers the feature under the same name on Windows, Android, and Android TV builds.
Enable Split Tunneling in NordVPN
- Open the NordVPN app and tap your profile icon, then choose Settings.
- Select Split tunneling from the menu.
- Turn the mode on and pick Disabled apps or Only allowed apps, depending on the direction you want.
- Press Add app, tick the programs that should bypass or use the tunnel, and confirm.
- Reconnect once so the new routes apply.
How to Enable Bypasser in Surfshark VPN
Surfshark VPN ships the same capability under the name Bypasser on Windows and Android.
Enable Bypasser in Surfshark VPN
- Open Settings in the Surfshark VPN app and go to Bypasser.
- Turn it on and choose which apps or websites should bypass the VPN.
- Add the items you want in that lane and save.
- Disconnect and reconnect to refresh the routing rules.
Split Tunneling on Other Devices
iOS limits third-party apps from splitting traffic, so iPhone users get little or no support depending on the provider. MacOS users often rely on manual routing commands instead of a friendly toggle. Routers running VPN firmware take a different approach entirely: you split by device, pointing one physical box through the tunnel while the rest of the house stays direct. If you stream on a Fire Stick or a smart TV, router-level splitting is usually the simplest route.
Best VPNs for Split Tunneling [Complete Guide]:
Surfshark VPN
- Bypasser on Windows and Android
- Whitelist or blacklist by app
- Unlimited devices on one account
Pros: The Bypasser menu is straightforward and the unlimited-device plan covers every screen you own.
Cons: The split feature does not appear on the iOS app.
NordVPN
- Split tunneling on Windows and Android
- Also splits by app on Android TV
- Large server network
Pros: The toggle is reliable and easy to explain to non-technical users.
Cons: The mobile iOS build lacks the feature.
ExpressVPN
- Third-party support in the desktop app
- Fast Lightway protocol
- Strong privacy reputation
Pros: Useful when you already run ExpressVPN for other devices.
Cons: It costs more than the alternatives on this list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does split tunneling weaken my protection?
It narrows it by design. Anything in the bypass lane travels unencrypted, so only put traffic there that you do not mind having exposed.
Can I split tunnel on a Fire Stick?
Native Fire OS apps rarely expose the setting. The common workaround is router-level splitting, which covers the whole stick at once.
Is split tunneling included in my plan?
Both NordVPN and Surfshark VPN include it in standard subscriptions at no extra charge.
Final Thoughts
Split tunneling turns a blunt privacy tool into a precise one. If constant protection has ever broken your bank app or slowed a game, spend five minutes in these menus and set your own lanes. Start with the app above, test each lane, and adjust the list until only the traffic you care about stays covered.
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