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How to Use ExpressVPN Split Tunneling on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and Android TV

Choose which apps use ExpressVPN and which bypass it, with platform-specific setup steps and Android override guidance.
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ExpressVPN split tunneling lets you choose which apps use the VPN and which connect directly. On Windows and Mac, configure app rules under Profile > Split Tunneling; Android and Android TV offer app-selection modes; Linux uses the ExpressVPN command-line tool. The available rules and steps differ by platform, and Android’s system-level “Block connections without VPN” setting can override app exclusions.

Choose whether apps bypass the VPN or use it exclusively

Split tunneling is a per-app routing choice. You can send selected apps through ExpressVPN while other apps connect directly, or restrict VPN use to selected apps and let the rest bypass it. The right mode depends on which traffic needs the VPN and whether you are willing to allow any traffic outside the tunnel.

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  • Bypass selected apps: useful when a particular app or site has trouble working through the VPN, while other traffic continues to use it.
  • Only VPN for selected apps: useful when you want a defined set of apps to use the VPN and are comfortable with other apps connecting directly.

App rules are available on the platforms covered below. ExpressVPN’s desktop guide also documents IP address and CIDR subnet rules; the Android and Android TV guides describe app-based choices.

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Set up split tunneling on Windows or Mac

  1. Open the ExpressVPN app and go to Profile > Split Tunneling.
  2. Turn on split tunneling, then select Add App and choose an application.
  3. Use the app’s rule dropdown to choose Bypass VPN or Only VPN.
  4. To set the default behavior for apps without individual rules, use All Other Apps and choose Bypass VPN or Use VPN.

ExpressVPN’s desktop guide also describes adding IPv4 or IPv6 addresses and CIDR subnets. IP rules can be unreliable for large websites: addresses may change or be shared by unrelated sites. ExpressVPN advises whitelisting only private IP addresses you trust, since allowing a public IP could expose traffic to unrelated sites. See the ExpressVPN desktop split-tunneling guide for the platform-specific rule details.

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When changes take effect

For WireGuard connections, disconnect and reconnect after changing split-tunneling settings. ExpressVPN says other protocols apply changes automatically.

Configure split tunneling on Linux with the CLI

Use the ExpressVPN command-line tool to enable the feature and assign rules to an app’s executable path. The following examples use Firefox; replace the path with the executable path for your app.

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  1. Enable split tunneling: expressvpnctl set splittunnel true.
  2. To bypass the VPN for Firefox, run expressvpnctl set split-app bypass:/usr/bin/firefox.
  3. To route Firefox through the VPN only, run expressvpnctl set split-app vpn:/usr/bin/firefox.
  4. To remove the rule, run expressvpnctl set split-app remove:/usr/bin/firefox.

These CLI instructions use app executable paths. Consult the desktop split-tunneling guide for ExpressVPN’s Linux instructions.

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Choose app rules on Android

ExpressVPN says split tunneling is available on Android 7.0 and above. Open Profile > Split Tunneling, choose a mode, and select the apps for that mode:

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  • All apps use the VPN: the default mode.
  • Do not allow selected apps to use the VPN: selected apps bypass it.
  • Only allow selected apps to use the VPN: only selected apps use it.

If you change the rules while connected, reconnect for the new settings to apply. The Android setup guide includes the current app-selection instructions.

Resolve the “Block connections without VPN” override

Android’s system-level Block connections without VPN option is available with Always-on VPN on Android 8.0 and above, according to ExpressVPN. When enabled, it blocks non-VPN traffic, taking precedence over ExpressVPN’s app-level exclusions. To make exclusions work, ExpressVPN instructs users to turn off that system option and reconnect.

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Turning it off can allow traffic to leave outside the VPN if the VPN connection drops. If you need to prevent all non-VPN traffic, keep the system setting on and do not use split tunneling.

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Use split tunneling on Android TV

On Android TV, open VPN tab > Options > Settings > Split Tunneling. Choose whether all apps use the VPN, selected apps are excluded, or only selected apps are allowed through it. If the VPN is connected when you change the setting, reconnect to apply the new rules. See ExpressVPN’s Android TV setup guide.

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Know what split tunneling does not guarantee

Desktop DNS queries

ExpressVPN says desktop DNS queries should go through its servers while connected, regardless of split-tunneling settings. This statement is specific to desktop; the cited guidance does not establish the same behavior for Android. The claim appears in ExpressVPN Support’s desktop guide, last updated July 2, 2026.

Access to a website or service

Bypassing the VPN for an affected app or site can help troubleshoot a VPN-related access problem, but it does not guarantee access. A service may independently check location for security, fraud prevention, regulatory compliance, or licensing. ExpressVPN describes this troubleshooting approach in its access troubleshooting guide.

Email and local network access

If an email app cannot connect, ExpressVPN’s troubleshooting guidance recommends enabling local network access in the desktop Internet Kill Switch settings when needed, then adding the email app as a bypass rule. On Android, it describes excluding the email app from the VPN. Follow the platform-specific instructions in the email troubleshooting guide.

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