Privacy Hero supports Proton VPN through WireGuard and OpenVPN using the Custom VPN provider option.
WireGuard is recommended for most users. It uses a downloadable .conf configuration file. OpenVPN uses a downloadable .ovpn file and a separate Proton VPN OpenVPN username and password (not your regular Proton Account login).
Privacy Hero is cloud-managed. You can configure the VPN from a computer, smartphone, or tablet connected to any internet network; you do not need to be on the Privacy Hero WiFi to change settings.
Proton VPN WireGuard Setup (Recommended)
WireGuard uses a configuration file generated by Proton VPN. You do not need an OpenVPN username and password for this method.
Generate Your Proton VPN WireGuard Configuration
- Open your Proton VPN account and sign in.
- Go to Downloads → WireGuard configuration.
- Enter a recognizable configuration name and select Router as the platform.
- Choose your preferred VPN options and an available server or country. For a straightforward setup, select a standard server configuration.
- Click Create, then Download to save the generated WireGuard .conf file to your device.
Important: A WireGuard configuration contains a private key. Keep the downloaded file private; do not paste its contents into public posts or unprotected support messages. For detailed Proton account instructions, see Proton VPN: Download WireGuard Configuration Files.
Upload WireGuard to Privacy Hero
- Open app.privacyhero.com and log in to your Privacy Hero account.
- Open the VPN section, click Change beside the VPN provider, and choose Custom.
- Select WireGuard and upload the Proton VPN .conf file you downloaded.
- Click Save to apply the configuration and connect. Confirm that Privacy Hero reports Connected.

Proton VPN OpenVPN Setup
OpenVPN is an alternative to WireGuard. You need a Proton VPN OpenVPN-specific username and password and a server .ovpn configuration file.
Get Your Proton VPN OpenVPN Credentials
- Sign in to your Proton VPN account.
- Open Account → OpenVPN username to find your separate OpenVPN username and password.
- Copy these credentials or keep the page open. Do not use your usual Proton Account email and password for the manual OpenVPN connection.
For help locating these credentials, see Proton VPN: How to Sign In / OpenVPN Credentials.
Download Your Proton VPN OpenVPN Server File
- In your Proton VPN account, go to Downloads → OpenVPN configuration files.
- Select Router as the platform and UDP as the protocol (recommended starting point). If UDP does not work on your network, you can try a TCP configuration later.
- Select an available country or individual server from the standard configuration list, then click Download to save its .ovpn file.
For additional details about the file download options, see Proton VPN: Download OpenVPN Configuration Files.
Upload OpenVPN to Privacy Hero
- Open app.privacyhero.com and sign in to your Privacy Hero account.
- Open the VPN section, click Change, and select Custom as the VPN provider.
- Choose OpenVPN and upload the Proton VPN .ovpn file you downloaded.
- Enter your separate Proton VPN OpenVPN username and password into the Custom VPN fields.
- Click Save, then confirm Privacy Hero displays Connected.

Verify Your Proton VPN Connection
After Privacy Hero reports Connected, confirm that a device on the router network is using your Proton VPN connection.
- Connect your testing device to the Privacy Hero WiFi or LAN network.
- Disable any Proton VPN app or other VPN application running directly on that device, so it does not create a second VPN connection.
- Open a private/incognito browser window.
- Visit Proton VPN’s IP Address Checker.
- Verify that the public IP address and approximate location correspond to the Proton VPN server configured in Privacy Hero.
Important: You can manage Privacy Hero from another WiFi network or cellular data. However, the device performing the VPN IP test must be connected to the Privacy Hero network.
Streaming Relocation and VPN Location
If Privacy Hero Streaming Relocation is enabled for a supported streaming service, that service may use its Streaming Relocation location rather than the country selected in your Proton VPN configuration. See Privacy Hero Streaming Relocation.
Proton VPN Not Connecting?
If Privacy Hero displays Failed, remains on Connecting, or reports a timeout, work through these checks:
- Confirm that you selected Custom as the VPN provider in Privacy Hero and chose the protocol that matches your configuration file.
- For WireGuard, create and download a fresh Proton VPN .conf file for an available server, then upload it again. Do not use an OpenVPN .ovpn file in the WireGuard section.
- For OpenVPN, verify that you entered Proton VPN’s separate OpenVPN username and password, not your regular Proton Account login.
- Download a fresh configuration for a different Proton VPN server and reconnect. Proton VPN occasionally changes server configurations.
- If using OpenVPN UDP and the connection still fails, download and try a TCP .ovpn configuration file to test for a protocol-related issue.
- Temporarily disable the VPN Kill Switch while checking whether internet works without the VPN. Re-enable your preferred Kill Switch setting once testing is complete.
VPN Disconnects and Devices Have No Internet?
The VPN Kill Switch may be intentionally blocking normal internet traffic when the VPN connection is unavailable. See Privacy Hero VPN Kill Switch: No Internet or WiFi Troubleshooting.
VPN Connected but One Device Shows the Wrong IP?
Check the affected device for a second VPN app, iCloud Private Relay, Private DNS, browser proxy settings, or filtering software. See Device Settings That Can Interfere With Your Router VPN.









































































































