Android 17 may lastly repair one of the vital annoying VPN issues

[ad_1] <img class="e_lg" decoding="async" loading="eager" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="VPN Split tunneling" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VPN-Split-tunneling-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VPN-Split-tunneling-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VPN-Split-tunneling-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VPN-Split-tunneling-1920w-1080h.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VPN-Split-tunneling-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VPN-Split-tunneling-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VPN-Split-tunneling-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VPN-Split-tunneling-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VPN-Split-tunneling-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="VPN Split tunneling" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VPN-Split-tunneling-scaled.jpg"/> Adamya Sharma / Android Authority

TL;DR

Many widespread VPNs like Nord, Surfshark, and others already supply break up tunneling on Android, however implementations differ broadly. The characteristic is usually inconsistent, hidden in settings, or lacking completely in some VPN apps. Android 17 will standardize break up tunneling on the system degree, making it simpler and extra dependable for all customers.

Google is quietly tackling one of many greatest frustrations of utilizing a VPN on Android. With Android 17 Beta 3, the corporate is introducing a standardized, system-level means for VPN apps to supply break up tunneling, a.ok.a, the power to exclude particular apps from the VPN connection.

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<img class="e_lg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="9.375rem" title="google preferred source badge light@2x" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png 676w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x-64w-20h.png 64w" alt="google preferred source badge light@2x" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png"/><img class="e_lg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="9.375rem" title="google preferred source badge dark@2x" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png 676w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x-64w-20h.png 64w" alt="google preferred source badge dark@2x" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png"/> Which may sound like a distinct segment characteristic, nevertheless it may remedy a surprisingly widespread headache that comes with utilizing VPNs on Android units.

For those who’ve ever used a VPN on Android, you’ve doubtless run into apps that don’t work correctly whereas related. Banking, streaming, and different location-based apps usually block entry or behave erratically when a VPN is turned on.

Many VPN apps like Nord VPN, Proton VPN, and others assist break up tunneling, permitting you to exclude particular apps from the VPN. Nevertheless, every VPN app handles break up tunneling in a different way. With this new change, you’ll get a cleaner, extra predictable expertise, no matter which VPN you employ.

As an alternative of leaving break up tunneling completely as much as particular person VPN apps, Android 17 introduces a system-managed settings display. From there, customers can choose which apps ought to bypass the VPN.

“Android 17 is introducing a standardized means for VPN apps to supply app exclusion (split-tunneling) capabilities,” Google famous in its changelog for the Android 17 Beta 3 replace.

<img class="e_lg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="Android 17 system managed setting screen VPN" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Android-17-system-managed-setting-screen-VPN.jpeg 1080w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Android-17-system-managed-setting-screen-VPN-29w-64h.jpeg 29w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Android-17-system-managed-setting-screen-VPN-1000w-2244h.jpeg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Android-17-system-managed-setting-screen-VPN-642w-1440h.jpeg 642w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Android-17-system-managed-setting-screen-VPN-481w-1080h.jpeg 481w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Android-17-system-managed-setting-screen-VPN-385w-864h.jpeg 385w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Android-17-system-managed-setting-screen-VPN-169w-380h.jpeg 169w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Android-17-system-managed-setting-screen-VPN-535w-1200h.jpeg 535w" alt="Android 17 system managed setting screen VPN" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Android-17-system-managed-setting-screen-VPN.jpeg"/> AssembleDebug / Android Authority

These apps will use your common web connection, whereas all different apps proceed routing visitors by means of the VPN. Modifications take impact instantly if the VPN is lively, or the subsequent time it connects, with out you having to regulate them once more manually.

It’s vital to notice that that is at the moment a developer-facing change. So it appears to be like like your VPN app developer should set their app to invoke this system-managed setting display so that you can use it.

The benefit is that after VPN apps begin implementing this, you received’t must cope with how completely different VPN builders present break up tunneling inside their very own apps. VPN apps that don’t have break up tunneling would additionally profit from the characteristic being baked into Android itself.