Google Fi has a VPN that you can use with their service, but I swear I remember some number of years ago Google made the VPN available to all pixels, regardless of which carrier they were used on. There was a setting to connect to open wifi automatically, and it would do so connected to the VPN.
Is this still around? I can’t find the setting for it, but I don’t remember reading anything about its removal.
For non-Google Fi users I think the only way you can get the VPN is if you subscribe to the 2TB Google One plan.
The VPN only enabled when the phone automatically connected to a hotspot Google deemed safe from it’s database of open wifi hotspots. There was no way to manually enable the VPN or initiate it by connecting to an open hotspot, it had to be 100% controlled by Google.
I can’t say if it’s still around, I disabled the feature in my devices because it would connect to low signal hotspots and constantly disrupt connection.
It’s still active on my Pixel 6. I use Google Fi. Go to the Google Fi app and select Privacy and Security. Make sure the 'Protect Your Online Activity is toggled on. Then you’ll see Fi VPN show up in your VPN settings. Mine is on and active as I type this.
Yes the pixels did have it. And it looks like it’s still there. But it never shows that it’s working nowadays.
its right there in the google one app, I also pay for 2tb as well
Mine has worked from day one and is still working
It’s in the Google Fi app now. You have to turn it on in the settings there
When did they get rid of it?
I found a little hack for one place I went to that got around the captive portal, but it probably wouldn’t work today with randomized Mac addresses.
Why do you say it looks like it’s still there?
Don’t understand why you are being voted down. I was curious as well. I know it used to automatically sign into the VPN but now the option is there but not able to be used.
Can you post screenshots? It’s not something you control.
It’s still available for 2TB+ Google One plans. I don’t recall it ever being free for Pixel users. I’ve owned the original Pixel XL, Pixel 3, and currently using a Pixel 4.
Where’s the option? I don’t see it in settings anymore.
There was a special name for it but I don’t remember, but Pixel (maybe even Nexus?) had a feature where if you connected to a public open wifi it would turn on a free Google VPN.
It was an option. It was google controlled, so to speak. It would “automatically connect you to high quality public wifi” while also utilizing a Google VPN to help keep it secure.
I definitely have screenshots from a while ago of the Google VPN being in use, and I know it wasn’t through the Fi app.
Yup, that’s the one!
Did you have Google Fi at the time? If so, I think if you connect to open wifi networks the VPN activates automatically. I know the option to enable the use of the VPN can be found within the Fi app (it states it uses an additional 10% of data I think). I personally haven’t used Fi on my Pixel devices and I have seen the option of Google’s VPN found in the settings (+ in the quick settings menu I think on Android 11), but I could never activate it.
