- Proton VPN has expanded its tunneling functionality to the Linux application
- Split Tunneling allows users to selectively buy their Internet traffic
- Proton plans to provide divided tunnelins to its macOS application
Proton VPN has expanded its Linux capabilities with the addition of a new divided tunneling feature, currently in beta.
Split Tunneling for Linux is available for subscribers using official Ubuntu and Fedora for Proton VPN applications, which is already one of the best VPN services available according to Techradar tests. Although it is not currently offered for the unofficial flatpak version of the application, Debian 12 support is on the way.
The latest update brings the Linux application of Proton VPN online with its Windows and Android applications by offering the functionality. Mac users do not need to feel excluded with a divided tunneling for macOS also on the VPN proton roadmap.
What is divided tunneling and why is it important?
Split Tunneling is a popular VPN functionality, offering users a greater degree of control and flexibility to manage their Internet connections. When you connect to a virtual private network server (VPN), your whole Internet traffic is encrypted and transported via a secure tunnel between your device and the VPN server.
Although it is undoubtedly beneficial to have all your encrypted data for the best possible security, Split Tunneling allows you to balance confidentiality with performance. For example, if you want to browse safely, but you have the fastest speeds for games – even the best game VPN can sometimes slow things down – you can use the divided TUNNONALIAL FUNCTIONS OF VPN VPN so that the game application bypasses the VPN connection.
Likewise, you may have difficulty accessing local network devices, such as a printer when connecting to a VPN. With a divided tunneling, you can access these devices via your local connection without disturbing your VPN connection and the protection it offers to the rest of your traffic.
The same is true if you need to access local websites such as your online banking services or government sites.
How to use divided tunnels on Proton VPN for Linux
If you are a Linux user with a Premium VPN VPN subscription and want to take advantage of this new feature, you will have to update to the latest version of the Linux application.
Beta functionality is currently gradually deployed, but you can soon find it via the application settings page. Simply access the features and switch to the split tunneling option.
For the moment, it is only possible to select applications to be excluded from the VPN connection via exclusion mode. To do this, click on “Add” and check the boxes of all applications whose traffic you prefer so as not to transport via the VPN tunnel (see the image above). Note that you will then have to reconnect to the VPN and restart all the excluded applications that have been opened before connecting to the VPN server.
A mode Include, to activate VPN protection only for selected applications, soon arrives, as is the rules based on IP for excluding modes and include.
Proton VPN is one of the best Linux VPNs that we have examined, but it is not the only VPN with a divided tunneling for Linux. ExpressVPN was also occupied and published tunnels divided for its Linux application in March 2025.
