Guide
How to set up a VPN on Mac — step by step with FollowNet
Setting up a VPN on a Mac takes about two minutes: install the app from the App Store, allow the VPN configuration once and connect. This guide walks through each macOS prompt and the settings worth changing after the first connection.
Before you start
You need macOS 14 Sonoma or later and an Apple ID signed in to the App Store. If another VPN is already connected, disconnect it first — macOS runs one system VPN at a time. If you are on a hotel or airport network that shows a login page, complete that login in Safari before connecting.
The macOS VPN permission, explained
The first time you connect, macOS shows “FollowNet would like to add VPN configurations”. This is Apple’s standard prompt for every App Store VPN: it lets the app create a profile in System Settings → VPN. Click Allow and confirm with Touch ID or your Mac password. You only do this once; after that the app turns the tunnel on and off by itself.
Settings worth changing after the first connect
Open Settings in the sidebar. Turn on the kill switch if you do not want any traffic to leave outside the VPN while it reconnects. Set Auto-connect to Wi‑Fi only if your MacBook often joins public networks. Pick a DNS profile — Cloudflare, Google, Quad9 or AdGuard to block ads and trackers. Leave Protocol on Smart unless you have a reason to lock one.
Check that the VPN really works
A green status is a good sign, but test it: run Speed Test in the app, then open any “what is my IP” site in a browser — it should show the VPN server’s country, not yours. If pages do not load, switch to another location in the menu bar or let Smart Connect try a different protocol.
If it does not connect
Most problems come from the network, not the Mac. Finish any captive portal login, disconnect other VPN or proxy apps, and try another location. On networks that block VPNs, Smart Connect moves to AmneziaWG, Hysteria2 or VLESS Reality. To start over, remove the FollowNet profile in System Settings → VPN and connect again — the app will ask for permission once more.
Set up FollowNet on Mac
- Open the App Store on your Mac, search for FollowNet VPN and click Get.
- Launch FollowNet and sign in with your email — enter the one-time code from the email.
- Click Connect. When macOS asks to add VPN configurations, click Allow and confirm with Touch ID or your password.
- Wait for the shield in the menu bar to fill in — your Mac is now protected.
- Optional: in Settings turn on the kill switch, choose Auto-connect and a DNS profile.
Key points
- About two minutes from download to first connection
- One-time macOS VPN permission, then one click
- Menu bar shield shows the state at a glance
- Works on macOS 14 Sonoma or later
FAQ
Where are VPN settings on a Mac?
macOS lists VPN profiles in System Settings → VPN. FollowNet adds its profile there after you allow it, but you manage connection, protocol and kill switch inside the app.
Why does macOS ask for my password when I install a VPN?
Adding a system VPN configuration changes network settings, so macOS asks you to confirm with Touch ID or your password. It is a one-time step.
Can I use FollowNet and another VPN at the same time?
No. macOS runs one system VPN tunnel at a time. Disconnect the other VPN before connecting FollowNet.