V2Box or Hiddify, then one mode switch
macOS has a VPN section in System Settings, but like on the iPhone it stays empty until a client app fills it. Install V2Box from the Mac App Store or Hiddify from the project's own page, paste your ViewPoint VPN key and pick the mode that covers the whole Mac. The same key you use on your phone works here and counts as one of five devices.
Setting up a VPN with a Mac
- 1
Install V2Box or Hiddify.
- 2
Open the Telegram bot, on the Mac or on your phone, and take the five free days.
- 3
Copy the vless:// line the bot sends.
- 4
In the client, import from the clipboard.
- 5
Choose the VPN or TUN mode if the client asks, rather than system proxy.
- 6
Connect and approve the prompt macOS shows the first time.
- 7
Open an IP check page and confirm the address is no longer your own.
Proxy mode or full-device mode
Many Mac clients offer two ways to run. In system proxy mode, macOS tells apps to send traffic through the client, and browsers and most apps listen. Some do not: command-line tools, some games and apps with their own network settings can go around it.
Full-device mode, called VPN or TUN in most clients, creates a network interface that every app has to use. It asks for your password once and covers the whole Mac, which is what you want on hotel or airport Wi-Fi.
Mac settings to change before hotel Wi-Fi
Turn on the built-in firewall in System Settings, Network, Firewall: it is off by default on many Macs and blocks incoming connections from other guests on the same network. On macOS Sequoia and later, open the Wi-Fi network's details and set Private Wi-Fi Address to rotating, so the network does not see the same hardware address on every visit.
When the hotel login window appears, finish it with the VPN off, then connect. After the Mac wakes from sleep, glance at the client's icon in the menu bar: some clients reconnect by themselves, others wait for a click.
Free VPNs for Mac and what they ask in return
Search for free VPNs for Mac and you get a long list of apps with no price at all. The FTC's advice for VPN apps applies on a laptop too: look up who makes the app, check what it asks to access, confirm that it actually encrypts traffic, and read whether it shares data with advertisers. ViewPoint VPN sells keys, so it has a stake in this question; the clients named on this page are free open source projects, and the key is free for five days before any payment.
This page was written by ViewPoint VPN with AI assistance, from how the service works and the FTC guidance linked below.
Sources
- In the market for a VPN app? (FTC)checked 2026-10-03
Questions
Can I use the same key on my Mac and iPhone?
Yes. Paste it into both; together they use two of your five devices.
Why does macOS ask for my password?
The client is adding a network interface for full-device mode. Every VPN client on a Mac asks for that once.
Do I need to turn off the Mac firewall for the VPN?
No. The firewall blocks incoming connections; the tunnel is an outgoing one.
Does it cover Safari only?
In full-device mode it covers every app. In proxy mode, apps that ignore proxy settings go around it.
What are the best VPNs for Mac?
Look for clear ownership, a stated price or limit, encryption, and a client you can inspect. We sell one option, so judge us by the same list.