If you were relying on Microsoft’s Defender VPN, it’s time to find an alternative – Redmond is shutting it down at the end of the month.
The heartbreak might be limited: Users had a 50GB data cap per calendar month – after which speeds were throttled to a painful 256 Kbps. On Android and iOS, Microsoft automatically excluded certain apps from using the VPN tunnel, including WhatsApp, Facebook video, YouTube, TikTok, Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. Users also couldn’t use it to bypass region restrictions for major streaming services.
“Our goal is to ensure you, and your family remain safer online,” Microsoft said on its support page.
“We routinely evaluate the usage and effectiveness of our features. As such, we are removing the privacy protection feature and will invest in new areas that will better align to customer needs.”
Microsoft may be axing the privacy-focused VPN, but Defender’s web protection on iOS will still rely on a VPN for anti-phishing. Microsoft 365 subscribers in the US are still covered by credit monitoring, up to $1 million in identity theft insurance for legal and expert fees, and up to $100,000 in reimbursement for stolen funds.
For Defender VPN users, the next step is finding a new provider, probably one that allows more flexibility than Microsoft’s attempt. Windows, iOS, and macOS users don’t need to do anything – Defender VPN will just stop working. Android users, however, will need to manually remove the VPN profile from their device.
Microsoft’s not the only tech titan that has abandoned homegrown VPN services. In 2024 Google discontinued its own VPN service, citing lack of demand.
