{"id":25411,"date":"2026-02-20T09:21:51","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T09:21:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/?p=25411"},"modified":"2026-02-20T09:32:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T09:32:39","slug":"what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is VPN Split Tunneling? How to Use a VPN and Local Internet Simultaneously"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you use a <a href=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/vpns-explained-how-they-work-and-the-best-secure-vpns-of-2025\/\">VPN<\/a> often, you might have seen this: with your VPN on, you try to print a document on your wireless printer. Nothing happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then you try to cast a YouTube video to your TV. The TV doesn\u2019t show up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You open your local banking app to pay a bill, and it immediately blocks you for \u201csuspicious login activity\u201d because you suddenly appear to be logging in from Zurich instead of your living room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the classic VPN struggle: security often comes at the cost of convenience. To access local devices or services, you usually have to turn the VPN off, exposing everything else in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Feb-20-2026-01_17_41-PM-1024x683.png\" alt=\"what is a vpn split tunneling\" class=\"wp-image-25413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Feb-20-2026-01_17_41-PM-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Feb-20-2026-01_17_41-PM-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Feb-20-2026-01_17_41-PM-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Feb-20-2026-01_17_41-PM-1200x800.png 1200w, https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Feb-20-2026-01_17_41-PM.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>But what if you didn\u2019t have to choose? What if you could tell your VPN to protect your sensitive data while letting your printer, games, and banking apps bypass the secure tunnel entirely?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This feature exists. It\u2019s called VPN split tunneling, and it is the bridge between hardcore <a href=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/vpn-privacy-are-you-really-anonymous\/\">privacy<\/a> and real-world usability. So what is VPN split tunneling, and how can it stop your games from lagging while keeping your browsing secure? Let\u2019s find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\ud83e\udde0 Also read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/how-to-set-up-a-vpn-at-home-beginner-friendly-guide\/?_gl=1*1ckvvxv*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTk2NDk4NjExMi4xNzcxMzI1OTE0*_ga_1EEJR9725E*czE3NzEzNTEyNjYkbzUkZzAkdDE3NzEzNTEyNjYkajYwJGwwJGg3NjMyMDA2MTk.\">How to Set Up a VPN at Home (Beginner-Friendly Guide)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Split_Tunneling_in_a_VPN\"><\/span>What Is Split Tunneling in a VPN?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To understand what the split tunneling VPN feature is, we first need to look at how a standard VPN operates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By default, a VPN creates a \u201cfull tunnel.\u201d Think of it like a detour on a highway. Every single car (data packet) leaving your house is forced onto this detour through the encrypted tunnel. This is great for security because nothing escapes. But it causes two major headaches:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Speed bottlenecks:<\/strong> Data that doesn\u2019t need encryption (like a video game connection) gets slowed down by the detour.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Invisibility to local devices:<\/strong> Your computer can no longer \u201csee\u201d devices on your local network (LAN) because it thinks it is in another country.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where VPN split tunneling comes in. It creates a fork in the road. Instead of forcing all traffic through the encrypted tunnel, it divides your internet traffic into two distinct lanes based on rules you set:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The secure lane (VPN):<\/strong> Sensitive traffic (like your web browser, BitTorrent client, or work email) travels through the encrypted VPN tunnel to the remote server. Your <a href=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/isp-throttling-do-vpns-help-streaming\/\">ISP<\/a> cannot see this data.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The direct lane (local internet):<\/strong> Non-sensitive traffic (like your video game, Spotify, or printer connection) bypasses the VPN entirely and travels directly to the internet or local network.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This means you can be downloading a <a href=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/vpn-the-state-of-torrenting-in-2026\/\">torrent file<\/a> anonymously via a server in Japan while simultaneously <a href=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/best-vpns-for-netflix-in-2026\/\">watching Netflix US<\/a> and printing a document in your home office\u2014all without toggling a single switch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\ud83e\udde0 Also read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/how-to-choose-the-best-vpn-for-your-device\/\">How to Choose the Best VPN for Your Device<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"VPN_Split_Tunneling_How_It_Works\"><\/span>VPN Split Tunneling: How It Works<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So, how does a split-tunnel VPN work? When you connect to a VPN, your device creates a virtual network interface (often called a TUN\/TAP adapter). In a standard full-tunnel setup, the VPN software tells your OS to send everything through a specific virtual interface, overriding your default gateway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a VPN split tunnel, the software gets smarter. Your VPN client injects a network filter driver deep inside your OS kernel, like placing a traffic cop at the exact intersection where data leaves your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every time an application\u2014say, Spotify or Chrome\u2014tries to send a data packet to the internet, this driver inspects it <em>before<\/em> it hits your network card. Here\u2019s the breakdown:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The driver identifies the packet\u2019s \u201ctag\u201d (usually the process ID of the app that sent it or the destination IP address).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It compares that tag against the specific rules you set in your VPN app.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>If the rule says \u201cVPN\u201d:<\/strong> The packet is instantly grabbed, encrypted, encapsulated, and thrown into the virtual tunnel interface.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If the rule says \u201cBypass\u201d:<\/strong> The packet stays untouched and flows naturally to your standard Wi-Fi or Ethernet card, completely ignoring the VPN.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This decision happens in microseconds for every single packet, allowing you to be in two places at once. But how exactly does this driver know which tunnel to select? That depends on the type of VPN split tunneling you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\ud83e\udde0 Also read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/types-of-vpn-explained-how-each-works-and-which-is-best-for-you\/\">Types of VPN Explained: How Each Works and Which Is Best for You<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Types_of_VPN_Split_Tunneling\"><\/span>Types of VPN Split Tunneling<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all split-tunnel VPN implementations are the same. Depending on your goal\u2014security or speed\u2014and your VPN\u2019s capabilities, you can choose from three different sets of orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_App-based_split_tunneling\"><\/span>1. App-based split tunneling<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the standard version found in most consumer <a href=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/free-vs-paid-vpns-whats-the-real-difference-in-2026\/\">VPN apps<\/a>. You simply select which specific applications (their <em>.exe<\/em> files) should use the VPN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>How it works:<\/strong> If you want Chrome to be encrypted and <em>Call of Duty<\/em> to go fast, you just add <em>chrome.exe<\/em> to the list while leaving <em>CallOfDuty.exe<\/em> out.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Best for:<\/strong> Gamers and streamers who want specific apps protected without sacrificing speed elsewhere.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_URL-based_split_tunneling\"><\/span>2. URL-based split tunneling<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Usually found in browser extensions rather than desktop apps, this allows you to route specific websites through the VPN based on their address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>How it works:<\/strong> You add <em>netflix.com<\/em> to the list to route it through the VPN so you can watch UK shows but keep <em>google.com<\/em> out so it stays local.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Best for:<\/strong> Unblocking streaming content without slowing down your entire browser.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Inverse_split_tunneling\"><\/span>3. Inverse split tunneling<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the safest bet. Instead of picking what goes <em>in<\/em> the tunnel, you pick what stays <em>out<\/em>. By default, everything is encrypted, and you only manually exclude specific trusted apps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>How it works:<\/strong> Everything on your computer gets encrypted except for your banking app and printer that you\u2019ve added to the exclusion list.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Best for:<\/strong> Security-conscious users. It ensures that any new app you install is automatically protected unless you explicitly tell the VPN to ignore it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\ud83e\udde0 Also read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-a-vpn-can-and-cant-protect-you-from-in-2026\/\">What a VPN Can and Can\u2019t Protect You From in 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Use_VPN_Split_Tunneling\"><\/span>Why Use VPN Split Tunneling?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Why go through the trouble of configuring a VPN with split tunneling? Because it solves specific performance and access issues that full encryption creates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"For_gamers\"><\/span>For gamers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Gaming over a VPN can be a nightmare due to latency (lag). With a split VPN setup, you can encrypt your Discord voice chat (to <a href=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-does-a-vpn-hide\/\">hide your IP<\/a> from angry opponents) while letting the game itself connect directly to the server for the lowest possible ping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"For_remote_workers\"><\/span>For remote workers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are working from home, being on a VPN usually makes local network devices invisible. VPN split tunneling allows you to stay connected to your corporate server securely while still being able to cast music to your smart speaker or send a file to the wireless printer in the hallway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"For_banking\"><\/span>For banking<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Banks are paranoid. If you log in from a <a href=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/100-gbps-vpn-servers-are-here-surfshark-sets-new-industry-standard\/\">VPN server<\/a> IP address that is flagged as \u201canonymizing,\u201d they often freeze your account. Excluding your banking app from the VPN tunnel keeps your connection looking \u201clocal\u201d and trustworthy, preventing those panic-inducing \u201cAccess Denied\u201d screens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\ud83e\udde0 Also read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/the-5-question-are-paid-vpns-worth-it-in-2026\/\">The $5 Question: Are Paid VPNs Worth It in 2026?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Split_Tunnel_vs_Full_Tunnel_Security_Risks\"><\/span>Split Tunnel vs. Full Tunnel: Security Risks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While the split tunneling VPN feature is convenient, it introduces a human element into your security\u2014and humans make mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A standard full tunnel is like a heavy wool blanket; it covers everything. Split tunneling is like cutting holes in that blanket for your arms and legs. If you cut too many holes\u2014or cut one in the wrong spot\u2014you lose your warmth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you accidentally exclude a browser that you use for sensitive searches, or if a \u201cdirect-lane\u201d app (like a game launcher) starts updating and leaking data you wanted private, your ISP will see it. It breaks the guarantee of total protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\ud83e\udde0 Also read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/are-free-vpns-safe-hidden-risks-and-better-alternatives\/\">Are Free VPNs Safe? Hidden Risks and Better Alternatives<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"VPN_Split_Tunneling_The_Best_of_Both_Worlds\"><\/span>VPN Split Tunneling: The Best of Both Worlds<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In a perfect world, we would never turn our VPNs off. But the internet is messy. Printers need local networks, games need low ping, and banking apps get suspicious if you log in from Switzerland when you live in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where the benefits of VPN split tunneling vs. full-tunnel setups become obvious. The split-tunnel VPN transforms your app from a blunt instrument into a precision tool. Instead of choosing between total security and usable speed, you get both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, what is a VPN split tunneling feature actually good for? It is the only way to keep your privacy shield up 24\/7 without breaking the apps you use every day. It gives you the control to decide exactly what stays private and what stays fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\ud83e\udde0 Also read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/zero-log-or-no-log-vpns-explained-how-to-tell-which-ones-actually-keep-your-secrets\/\">Zero-Log (No-Log) VPNs Explained: How to Tell Which Ones Actually Keep Your Secrets<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span>FAQs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>What is a split-tunnel VPN?<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>It is simply a VPN setup with the split tunneling VPN feature turned on. It allows you to be in two places at once, dividing your internet traffic into two separate lanes: one encrypted lane that routes sensitive data through the VPN server and one direct lane that lets local apps (like printers or games) bypass the VPN entirely for maximum speed.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>What is the difference between a full-tunnel vs. split-tunnel VPN?<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>The difference between the two is simplicity versus control. A full tunnel routes 100% of your traffic through the VPN. A split tunnel lets you choose which apps use the VPN and which use the direct internet.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>How to set up a split-tunnel VPN?<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>The exact steps for how to split tunnel VPN connections depend on your provider, but generally, you go to your VPN app\u2019s settings, find the \u201cSplit Tunneling\u201d tab, and from there, you simply browse and add the <em>.exe<\/em> files of the apps you want to route (or exclude).<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>Can I use a VPN split tunnel on my phone?<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>Yes. Most major Android VPN apps support VPN split tunneling. However, due to Apple\u2019s strict operating system restrictions, split tunneling on iOS is much harder, and very few providers offer true app-based splitting on iPhones.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>Is split tunneling safe?<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>Yes, but it requires vigilance. As long as you correctly identify which apps contain sensitive data (browsers, torrent clients) and ensure they are routed through the secure tunnel, it is safe. The risk comes from user error, not the technology itself.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>Does a split tunnel affect speed?<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>It actually improves it. By offloading bandwidth-heavy, non-sensitive traffic (like downloading a Steam game update) to your direct internet connection, you reduce the load on the VPN encryption processor, often resulting in faster speeds for the apps that are using the VPN.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you use a VPN often, you might have seen this: with your VPN on, you try to print a document on your wireless printer. Nothing happens. Then you try to cast a YouTube video to your TV. The TV doesn\u2019t show up. You open your local banking app to pay a bill, and it&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/\" target=\"_blank\">Read more.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":25491,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"templates\/template-toc-on-top.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1157],"tags":[2797,1181,1189,1581,1753,2801],"class_list":["post-25411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vpn","tag-split-tunneling","tag-vpn","tag-vpn-and-privacy","tag-vpn-anonymity","tag-vpn-blocking","tag-vpn-split-tunneling"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Is VPN Split Tunneling? How to Use a VPN and Local Internet Simultaneously - Outbyte Official Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What is a VPN split tunneling? Learn how split tunneling works, when to use it, and how it lets you access local and VPN connections at the same time.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Is VPN Split Tunneling? How to Use a VPN and Local Internet Simultaneously - Outbyte Official Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What is a VPN split tunneling? Learn how split tunneling works, when to use it, and how it lets you access local and VPN connections at the same time.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Outbyte Official Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/outbyte\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-20T09:21:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-20T09:32:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Feb-20-2026-01_17_41-PM.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1536\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sviat Soldatenkov\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sviat Soldatenkov\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Sviat Soldatenkov\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8e89980163e6450d6048693d64db6b31\"},\"headline\":\"What Is VPN Split Tunneling? How to Use a VPN and Local Internet Simultaneously\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-20T09:21:51+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-20T09:32:39+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/\"},\"wordCount\":1766,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Feb-20-2026-01_17_41-PM-1024x683-6.png\",\"keywords\":[\"split tunneling\",\"vpn\",\"vpn and privacy\",\"VPN anonymity\",\"VPN blocking\",\"vpn split tunneling\"],\"articleSection\":[\"VPN\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/\",\"name\":\"What Is VPN Split Tunneling? How to Use a VPN and Local Internet Simultaneously - Outbyte Official Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Feb-20-2026-01_17_41-PM-1024x683-6.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-20T09:21:51+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-20T09:32:39+00:00\",\"description\":\"What is a VPN split tunneling? Learn how split tunneling works, when to use it, and how it lets you access local and VPN connections at the same time.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Feb-20-2026-01_17_41-PM-1024x683-6.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Feb-20-2026-01_17_41-PM-1024x683-6.png\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":683},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"What Is VPN Split Tunneling? How to Use a VPN and Local Internet Simultaneously\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Outbyte Official Blog\",\"description\":\"See the latest  news and research from the Outbyte team on our official blog.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Outbyte Computing Pty Ltd\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/logo-header-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/logo-header-1.png\",\"width\":682,\"height\":218,\"caption\":\"Outbyte Computing Pty Ltd\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/outbyte\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCI6brHKmaiiUCcseAlcV3tQ\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8e89980163e6450d6048693d64db6b31\",\"name\":\"Sviat Soldatenkov\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b393c9e015487610965393e56e6ebffbf950f7f8afc93894769a01c06fc136bd?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b393c9e015487610965393e56e6ebffbf950f7f8afc93894769a01c06fc136bd?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Sviat Soldatenkov\"},\"description\":\"Sviat is a tech writer at Outbyte with an associate degree in Computer Science and a master\u2019s in Linguistics and Interpretation. A lifelong tech enthusiast with solid background, Sviat specializes in Windows and Linux systems, networks, and video\u2011streaming technologies. Today, he channels that hands\u2011on expertise into clear, practical guides\u2014helping you get the most out of your PC every day.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/author\/sviat_soldatenkov\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What Is VPN Split Tunneling? How to Use a VPN and Local Internet Simultaneously - Outbyte Official Blog","description":"What is a VPN split tunneling? Learn how split tunneling works, when to use it, and how it lets you access local and VPN connections at the same time.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What Is VPN Split Tunneling? How to Use a VPN and Local Internet Simultaneously - Outbyte Official Blog","og_description":"What is a VPN split tunneling? Learn how split tunneling works, when to use it, and how it lets you access local and VPN connections at the same time.","og_url":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/","og_site_name":"Outbyte Official Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/outbyte","article_published_time":"2026-02-20T09:21:51+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-02-20T09:32:39+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1536,"height":1024,"url":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Feb-20-2026-01_17_41-PM.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Sviat Soldatenkov","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Sviat Soldatenkov","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/"},"author":{"name":"Sviat Soldatenkov","@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8e89980163e6450d6048693d64db6b31"},"headline":"What Is VPN Split Tunneling? How to Use a VPN and Local Internet Simultaneously","datePublished":"2026-02-20T09:21:51+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-20T09:32:39+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/"},"wordCount":1766,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Feb-20-2026-01_17_41-PM-1024x683-6.png","keywords":["split tunneling","vpn","vpn and privacy","VPN anonymity","VPN blocking","vpn split tunneling"],"articleSection":["VPN"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/","url":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/","name":"What Is VPN Split Tunneling? How to Use a VPN and Local Internet Simultaneously - Outbyte Official Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Feb-20-2026-01_17_41-PM-1024x683-6.png","datePublished":"2026-02-20T09:21:51+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-20T09:32:39+00:00","description":"What is a VPN split tunneling? Learn how split tunneling works, when to use it, and how it lets you access local and VPN connections at the same time.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Feb-20-2026-01_17_41-PM-1024x683-6.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Feb-20-2026-01_17_41-PM-1024x683-6.png","width":1024,"height":683},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/what-is-vpn-split-tunneling-how-to-use-a-vpn-and-local-internet-simultaneously\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What Is VPN Split Tunneling? How to Use a VPN and Local Internet Simultaneously"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/","name":"Outbyte Official Blog","description":"See the latest  news and research from the Outbyte team on our official blog.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Outbyte Computing Pty Ltd","url":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/logo-header-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/logo-header-1.png","width":682,"height":218,"caption":"Outbyte Computing Pty Ltd"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/outbyte","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCI6brHKmaiiUCcseAlcV3tQ"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8e89980163e6450d6048693d64db6b31","name":"Sviat Soldatenkov","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b393c9e015487610965393e56e6ebffbf950f7f8afc93894769a01c06fc136bd?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b393c9e015487610965393e56e6ebffbf950f7f8afc93894769a01c06fc136bd?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Sviat Soldatenkov"},"description":"Sviat is a tech writer at Outbyte with an associate degree in Computer Science and a master\u2019s in Linguistics and Interpretation. A lifelong tech enthusiast with solid background, Sviat specializes in Windows and Linux systems, networks, and video\u2011streaming technologies. Today, he channels that hands\u2011on expertise into clear, practical guides\u2014helping you get the most out of your PC every day.","url":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/author\/sviat_soldatenkov\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25411"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25411\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/outbyte.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}