How to Set Up ApexGuard on Android

How to Download and Install ApexGuard for Android

1. Open the Google Play Store on your Android device.
2. Search for ApexGuard in the search bar and select the app from the results.
3. Tap Install to download and install the app.

Setting Up the ApexGuard Mobile App for Android

1. Open the installed ApexGuard app on your Android device.
2. In the main menu:
   • Tap Sign Up to create a new account.
   • Tap Log In if you already have an account.
3. When prompted, your browser will open to the ApexGuard account page:
   • If signing up, follow the steps to create an account and subscribe to a plan before using the service.
   • If logging in, simply enter your credentials to proceed.

How to Use the ApexGuard Android App

1. Connect to a Server:
   • Tap Quick Connect to connect to the fastest and least-loaded server automatically.
   • Select a server manually from the Country List or by using the Search Bar.
2. Explore Server Options:
   • Swipe up on the main screen to access all server options and features:
     • Quick Connect: Automatically connects to the best available server.
     • Specialty Servers: Choose from servers optimized for streaming, gaming, or extra security.
     • Search Bar: Find specific servers by country, city, or server number.
     • All Countries List: Browse available servers and tap a country to connect.
   • Use the map or pins to navigate to specific cities or servers visually.

Choosing Between Different Servers

1. By Country:
   • Swipe up to open the Country List and tap a country to connect to a server in that location.
   • Alternatively, select a country pin on the map or search for a country in the search bar.
2. By City:
   • Tap the three dots next to a country to choose a specific city.
   • Use the search bar to find servers in a specific city.
3. By Server Number:
   • If you know the server number, type it into the search bar to connect directly.

Adjusting VPN Settings

1. On the map screen, tap the user profile icon in the bottom-right corner.
2. Tap the gear icon at the top-right corner to access settings:
   • VPN Connection:
     • Auto-Connect: Automatically connects to a server when your device accesses the internet.
     • Split Tunneling: Specify apps to bypass the VPN connection.
     • DNS: Set custom DNS servers for the ApexGuard app.
     • Local Network Discovery: Stay invisible on the local network when disabled.
     • Metered Connection: Manage data usage for metered networks.
   • Tools:
     • Threat Protection: Blocks ads, trackers, and malicious domains via DNS filtering (requires an active connection to an ApexGuard server).
       • Note: Due to Google policies, ad-blocking is not available in apps downloaded from the Play Store. Download the app from the ApexGuard website to enable this functionality.
     • Kill Switch: Prevents internet access if the VPN connection drops.
     • Tapjacking Protection: Adds an extra step to avoid accidental VPN disconnections.
   • General:
     • Appearance: Switch between light, dark, and neutral display modes.
     • Help Us Improve: Share anonymous usage data for app improvement.

Auto-Connect Options

1. Select the networks where ApexGuard should auto-connect:
   • Mobile Networks: Automatically connects while on mobile data.
   • Wi-Fi and Ethernet: Auto-connects when using Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
   • Always: Auto-connects on any network.
2. Trusted Networks (Android 9 and below): Exclude specific Wi-Fi networks, such as your home Wi-Fi, from auto-connect.
   • Note: This feature is unavailable in Android 10 and later due to OS-level security changes.

Sideloading the ApexGuard App

If you cannot download ApexGuard from the Play Store, you can download the .apk file from the official website. Follow these steps to sideload the app:

1. Change your security settings to allow installation from unknown sources:
   • On Android 8.0 and later: Go to Settings > Security & Privacy > More Settings > Install Unknown Apps, select the browser used to download the file, and enable Allow from This Source.
   • On Android 7.0 and below: Navigate to Settings > Security > Unknown Sources and enable the option.
2. Install the .apk file and launch the app.