Traveler's VPN — Support

Last updated: 29 April 2026

Traveler's VPN is a personal VPN client built for people who travel internationally. It routes Chinese, Japanese, and other regional services directly to local IPs (so banks, payment apps, and transit systems don't fraud-block you on a foreign IP) while sending the rest of your traffic through your own VPN server.

It is a "bring your own server" client — the app does not sell or operate VPN servers. You connect it to a server you already have access to, using one of the supported protocols.

Getting Started

1. Get a server

You need credentials for at least one of:

Shadowsocks — from Outline, JustMySocks, 3X-UI panels, v2rayN, or any Shadowsocks provider.
WireGuard — from Mullvad, ProtonVPN, Tailscale, wg-easy, or a self-hosted server. You can paste the config or import a .conf file.
Trojan — from Trojan-Go, Xray, V2Ray, or 3X-UI panels.

2. Add the server in the app

Tap the … menu in the top right → Add Server, choose your protocol, and either paste your access key / config or fill in the fields manually. You can also:

Tap a ss:// or trojan:// link in Mail, Messages, or Safari — it opens directly into the right form.
Open a WireGuard .conf file from Files, Mail, or AirDrop — the app will offer to import it.

3. Pick a routing profile

Tap the Routing Profile card on the main screen and choose one:

Travel in China — sends Chinese services (WeChat, Alipay, Baidu, Taobao, Bilibili, etc.) and Apple/iCloud direct, and routes everything else through your server. Apple services work better direct in China than through a foreign VPN.
Travel in Japan — sends Japanese services (Suica, JR, Yahoo Japan, LINE, Tabelog, NHK, PayPay, etc.) direct, and US streaming and banking through your server so they don't fraud-block on a Japanese IP.
VPN Only — everything goes through your server. No split routing.

4. Tap Connect

The first time you connect, iOS will ask permission to add a VPN configuration. Approve it. The shield icon at the top fills in when the tunnel is up.

Using the App

Switching servers

Tap the Server card to choose a different server from your saved list. If the VPN is already connected, switching reconnects automatically.

Switching routing profiles

Tap the Routing Profile card. The tunnel reconfigures itself; you don't have to disconnect first.

Reachability

The Reachability card pings well-known endpoints to show you what's reachable from your current network. Useful for spotting whether you're behind a captive portal or a country-level block before you bother connecting. Tap the refresh icon to test again.

Live Connections

Open … menu → Live Connections to see every active TCP/UDP connection: destination, protocol, bytes up/down, and which routing rule sent it through (direct vs. proxied). Updates in real time. Useful for confirming that the right traffic is being routed direct and the rest is proxied.

Routing Inspector

Open … menu → Routing Inspector to test what would happen to a hostname under your active profile. Type a domain (e.g. tabelog.com) and the app tells you whether it would go direct or via your server.

Diagnostics

Open … menu → Diagnostics for tunnel logs, the generated sing-box configuration, and current rule-set state. Useful if something isn't working and you want to send us details.

Home Screen Widget

Add the Traveler's VPN widget from the iOS widget gallery to see connection status and active server at a glance from your home screen or lock screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Traveler's VPN provide servers?

No. It's a client only. You bring your own server (Shadowsocks, WireGuard, or Trojan). We don't sell, operate, or proxy traffic through any infrastructure of ours.

Where do I get a server?

For most travelers we recommend a personal-plan provider that uses Shadowsocks (works well behind aggressive firewalls like China's) or WireGuard (fastest on stable networks). Examples: JustMySocks for Shadowsocks, Mullvad or ProtonVPN for WireGuard, or your own VPS running 3X-UI / wg-easy.

Why isn't all my traffic going through the VPN?

Because you've selected a travel profile that intentionally splits traffic. Local-region services go direct so they work properly (e.g. mobile Suica won't activate on a US IP). If you want everything through the tunnel, switch the profile to VPN Only.

Why doesn't iCloud / iMessage / FaceTime route through the VPN in China mode?

Apple services are deliberately routed direct in the China profile. They use Apple's local Chinese endpoints which are reliably reachable and faster, while routing them through a foreign server tends to break iCloud sync and push notifications.

The Connect button is disabled.

You need at least one server configured. Tap Add Server in the menu (or the Add button on the empty Server card) to add one.

The tunnel keeps failing to start.

A few things to check:

Is your server reachable from your current network? Use the Reachability card or Routing Inspector.
Are your credentials correct? Re-paste the access key or config to be sure.
Captive portal? Open Safari and complete any sign-in screen first.
Open Diagnostics and check the tunnel log for the actual error.

Can I connect to multiple servers at once?

No — only one server is active at a time. You can save many and switch between them with one tap.

Does it work on iPad and Mac?

Yes, the app runs on iPhone, iPad, and Mac (Apple Silicon).

Does it work in Airplane mode / on cellular / on hotel Wi-Fi?

It works on any network that gives your device a working internet connection. Some hotel networks block VPN protocols outright; in those cases the tunnel will fail to start. Switching to a different protocol (e.g. WireGuard → Shadowsocks) sometimes helps.

How much battery does it use?

Roughly the same as any always-on VPN client. The travel profiles route a lot of traffic direct (no encryption overhead for those flows), which tends to be lighter than VPN Only.

Does Traveler's VPN log my traffic?

No. The app does not collect, transmit, or log any data — not your traffic, not your usage, not crash reports. The tunnel statistics shown in the app are computed on-device and never leave it. See the Privacy Policy for full details.

I want to send a bug report or feature request.

Email us — see Contact below. If you can include a copy of the log from Diagnostics, that helps a lot.

Contact

Email: support@travelersvpn.com