VPN for Windows 11: setup and first launch

Ben's VPN for Windows 11 is a desktop app with one window and a Connect button. Registration is optional. A subscription from your phone also works on the PC after you sign in to the same account.

Windows 7 SP1 to Windows 11 · version 1.21.1 · EXE, 85.0 MB

Other systems: all downloads.

Ben's VPN window next to a Windows laptop: connected to Germany, the Disconnect button, and the Location, Tunnel and Support tiles under the server card

Install on Windows 11 in 4 steps

  1. Run the installer

    Open the EXE file you downloaded from this page. The app installs its own network adapter, which can require administrator rights. Click Yes when Windows 11 asks for permission.

  2. Click Connect

    There is no sign-in screen on first launch. The app creates a guest account for this PC and opens the main screen with the Connect button.

  3. Pay or sign in

    A new account has no subscription, so this click opens the Buy Ben's VPN window. On Windows, the window lists the same plans and prices as our site. Choose a plan and pay. If you already pay for Ben's VPN on your phone, sign in instead. Click Already have a subscription? → Sign in to account at the top of the window. The sign-in options are described below.

  4. Check the location

    With an active subscription, Connect starts the VPN. The server card shows the country your traffic goes through. To change it, click Location under the card.

Sign in with an 8-digit code or by e-mail

Sign in to account at the top of the Buy Ben's VPN window opens the sign-in screen.

8-digit code from your phone. On a phone that is signed in, open Account → Sign in on another device. The code expires in 3 minutes. On the PC, choose Sign in with code and enter the 8 digits. You can also get this code on the account page of our site. If the phone app still runs in a guest account, link an e-mail to it first: Account → Link e-mail.

6-digit code by e-mail. Choose Sign in with Email and enter the address linked to your account. We send a 6-digit code to that address. Type the code in the app.

To install the app on a phone, see VPN for Android and iPhone.

3 tiles under the server card

  • Location

    Opens the Change Location window. It has the Fastest and Previous tiles, a Find location search and the full list. The list shows a speed tag next to each location, for example 10 GBIT or 100 MBIT. The Automatically connect when changing location box is ticked by default. With it, a location you choose connects at once. If the VPN is already on, the app reconnects to the new location.

  • Tunnel

    Opens Split tunneling. In Manual mode, enter IP addresses, subnets or domains, one per line. Traffic to them goes directly, without the VPN. A new mode applies after a reconnect.

  • Support

    Opens the chat with Support 24/7 inside the app.

Tray menu, autostart and theme

Closing the window does not quit Ben's VPN. It stays in the tray, and its icon has a right-click menu. In that menu, Open shows the window again. Quit closes the app completely.

To start the app with Windows, open Account → Settings. Under Autostart, enable Launch the app on system startup. On the same screen, Theme → System follows the light or dark mode of Windows 11.

Mirrors and server replacement are for connection problems. The app recommends changing them only when something does not work.

Plans with no device limit

All locations come with every plan. There is no device limit and no traffic limit. The trial can be bought once, and only by card.

Bonus months come with purchases on this site. Refunds follow our refund policy. Send the request within 14 days of payment.

Questions about the Windows 11 app

Support 24/7: the chat on this site, Telegram @bensvpn and [email protected].

Is there a separate Ben's VPN build for Windows 11?

No. One installer covers Windows 7 SP1 to Windows 11. The download button at the top of this page always gives the latest version. For older versions of Windows, see VPN for Windows 10, VPN for Windows 8 and 8.1, and VPN for Windows 7.

The app says “Administrator rights required”. What should I do?

Quit the app from the tray menu. Right-click its shortcut and choose Run as administrator. Right after installation, restart the PC as well. Sometimes the rights apply only after a restart. On a work PC without administrator rights, contact your IT department.

What if my antivirus blocks the connection on Windows 11?

The app then reports that the antivirus is interfering with the connection. Pause the protection and try to connect. If the connection works, add the app folder to the antivirus exclusions. Then enable the protection again.

Why does nothing happen after I click “Update available”?

The app downloads the new version, checks its signature and starts the installer. Windows 11 then asks you to confirm the installation. This prompt does not always appear on top of other windows. If you do not see it, click its button on the taskbar.

What does “Fix the problem” on the “Bad connection” banner do?

It opens the Server unavailable card. The card lists 4 steps: change the location, find a working server, restart the PC and reinstall the app. In step 2, Find working server tests the current server again and requests new IP addresses for it. As a last resort, it enables multihop through an extra server in a third country. The search takes up to 2 minutes. If it finds nothing, choose another location under Location.

I never registered. Will I lose access if I reset Windows 11?

You can lose it. Without registration, the app uses a guest account linked to this PC. A reinstall of the app can remove your access to that account. Before the reset, link an e-mail under Account → Link e-mail. After the reset, sign in with that e-mail.

Start for 3 days, then decide

The trial costs $0.50 and opens all 187 countries and every app.

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