Google One VPN for Windows (Discontinued)

Google One VPN 1.9.0.6 was the Windows app of the VPN that Google included with certain Google One storage plans. It encrypted your PC's connection through Google's servers. Google discontinued Google One VPN on June 20, 2024, so the Windows app no longer provides a working service. There is no reason to download Google One VPN for Windows today other than historical interest.

Overview

Google One is Google's subscription for extra cloud storage and related benefits. For a time, some plans also came with a VPN: a simple app for Android, iPhone, Mac and Windows that routed traffic through Google's network with one switch. The pitch was protection on public Wi-Fi from a company many people already trusted with their email and photos, without buying a separate VPN subscription. The Windows client was small and had few settings beyond connect and disconnect. When Google ended the service, existing members kept their storage and other plan benefits, while the VPN part stopped working. Because the app relied entirely on Google's servers, installing an old copy now gives you a client with nothing to connect to.

Does Google still offer a VPN?

Google continues to provide "VPN by Google" on some of its own phones and through its Google Fi mobile service. According to Google Fi's help page, this requires a phone running Android 13 or higher, and on Pixel 7 or later devices with Android 15 QPR 2 or higher, users may see two "VPN by Google" profiles and should forget the duplicate one. None of this applies to Windows PCs.

What to do if the app is still on your PC

1. Uninstall Google One VPN from Windows Settings, Apps.
2. Check the network settings for leftover VPN adapters and remove them.
3. Choose a current VPN service if you still need one.

Key facts

Google's former information page was at one.google.com.

Lessons from a closed service

A VPN bundled with another subscription is convenient, but it can disappear when the provider changes its plans. If a VPN is important to your work or travel, choose a service whose main business is the VPN itself, and keep a note of how to cancel or switch before you need to.

Choosing a replacement

Consider why you used the VPN. For protection on public Wi-Fi, a reputable provider with a clear privacy policy is enough. For stronger privacy, look at providers that collect minimal personal data and publish their code. Avoid unknown free VPNs that finance themselves in unclear ways.

Pros and cons

• Pro: was included with some Google One plans at no extra cost.
• Pro: simple one-switch client.
• Con: discontinued, no longer works.
• Con: no direct successor for Windows.

Alternatives

Current VPN services in our listings include Proton VPN, Mullvad VPN, Windscribe VPN, TunnelBear and Hotspot Shield.