Your Express VPN app on Windows, Mac, and Linux just got more flexible and more reliable | Tech Radar
Overview
News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets
Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more
Details
Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards.
Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
Your Express VPN app on Windows, Mac, and Linux just got more flexible and more reliable
Version 14.3.1 lands on all three desktop platforms with Advanced Protection on every protocol, a rebuilt speed test, and a long list of fixes
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Express VPN has released version 14.3.1 for its Windows, Mac, and Linux apps
Advanced Protection's ad and tracker blocking now works beyond the Lightway protocol
The update also brings a rebuilt speed test, stronger screen reader support, and fixes for each platform
Express VPN has pushed out another update for its desktop VPN apps, and this one packs in more than the last few. Version 14.3.1 landed on Windows, Mac, and Linux on September 22.
The biggest change is that Advanced Protection, Express VPN's set of ad, tracker, and malicious site blockers, now works across all VPN protocols. There's also a rebuilt speed test, smarter split tunneling, and plenty of reliability fixes.
It's the latest in a busy year for one of Tech Radar's best VPN recommendations, following a visual makeover and a stable MCP server for AI tools in June.
Express VPN: Starting from
Advanced Protection finally works on every protocol
Until now, Advanced Protection on Express VPN's desktop apps only functioned with the VPN switched on and the Lightway or Automatic protocol selected.
Version 14.3.1 lifts that restriction, so you can now block ads, trackers, and harmful sites while using Open VPN or Wire Guard.
Proton VPN’s anti-censorship Stealth protocol finally lands on the stable Linux release
Ad Guard makes its open-source stealth VPN protocol native to mac OS with one-click setup
Proton VPN rolls out Rust-powered 'Proton Protocols' in beta across all major apps
That's a welcome change for anyone who switches protocols to cope with tricky networks, since you no longer have to give up those protections to do it. Express VPN notes the feature is rolling out gradually, so not everyone will see it straight away.
The built-in speed test has been rebuilt to run faster and deliver more precise results, which should make choosing the quickest server an easier job.
Split tunneling is more reliable for apps you exclude from the VPN, and the setup guidance has been refreshed. On Windows, the feature no longer keeps scanning for new apps when it's switched off, which cuts CPU usage. On Mac, split tunneling now leaves DNS traffic alone, so it can run alongside Advanced Protection.
On the accessibility side, screen readers can now navigate the location list, protocol settings, split tunneling, and auto-connect rules. The app also announces connection status and settings changes. That builds on the accessibility push in version 14.1.0, an area where our review rated the app just three out of five.
Express VPN joins the short list of VPNs built for Amazon's Vega OS Fire TV Sticks
Nord VPN gives Linux users a major upgrade with automatic GUI app installation
Proton VPN's anti-censorship Stealth protocol finally lands on Linux
Leave No Trace investigates the companies and governments putting our digital freedom at risk — and the people fighting back.
📩 Subscribe now to get every edition delivered to your inbox every Friday, launching this September.
Mac users get a fix that stops Docker containers from disrupting networking while connected, and the app now launches even when there's no network after waking or booting.
On Windows, the VPN stays connected when your screen turns off on Modern Standby PCs, and installation is more reliable on ARM64 devices.
Linux users benefit from improved Lightway routing and DNS configuration on systems that use resolvectl, including Pop!_OS, along with native desktop notifications. It's another step forward for Express VPN as a Linux VPN option, following the arrival of its rebuilt Qt-based Linux app in late 2025.
If you already use Express VPN, the update should install automatically. Otherwise, you can download the latest build from Express VPN's website. To confirm you're on 14.3.1, check the app version, which now sits at the bottom of the sidebar.
Follow Tech Radar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
Monica is a tech journalist with over a decade of experience. She writes about the latest developments in computing, which means anything from computer chips made out of paper to cutting-edge desktop processors.
GPUs are her main area of interest, and nothing thrills her quite like that time every couple of years when new graphics cards hit the market.
She built her first PC nearly 20 years ago, and dozens of builds later, she’s always planning out her next build (or helping her friends with theirs). During her career, Monica has written for many tech-centric outlets, including Digital Trends, Slash Gear, We PC, and Tom’s Hardware.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
US bill threatens to turn your VPN into a piracy blocklist
'This is no longer just about RAM and SSDs': XMG highlights component cost rises across the board as it hikes laptop prices — and Nvidia GPUs could suffer too
Microsoft takes down AI-boosted phishing tool that hit 12,000 accounts
Garmin could bring ‘muscle oxygen’ tracking to future watches — here’s why serious athletes will want it
Our Division quiz is perfect for fans of the post-apocalyptic looter-shooter looking for a way to test their knowledge of the series
Tech Radar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.
Key Takeaways
- News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets
- Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more
- Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards
- Unlock instant access to exclusive member features
- Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards
