What’s new in ExpressVPN for Windows?

2024 June 24

Windows 12.82.0

• We trimmed the hedges and pruned the begonias, and now all is right again in your ExpressVPN garden.

2024 June 5

Windows 12.81.0

• A little fix here, and a little fix there. All worth doing, but nothing you’re likely to notice.

2024 May 13

Windows 12.80.0

• Just some minor tweaks that our perfectionist engineers insisted on.

2024 May 8

Windows 12.79.0

• Polished off a couple of rough edges to keep your VPN experience as smooth as possible.

2024 April 15

Windows 12.78.0

• We’ve done a few nips and tucks to keep our app in top form for you.

2024 April 4

Windows 12.77.0

• Introducing Lightway’s new Dynamic MTU feature, which automatically adapts to your VPN connection’s path MTU. This ensures a seamless connection over varied network environments.
• Security improvements related to split tunneling.

2024 March 20

Windows 10.53.0

Today marks the final release for Version 10 of the ExpressVPN app for Windows.

In this final release, we’ve disabled split tunneling for Windows 10 as part of our overall security enhancements.

We appreciate that ending support for Version 10 of the Windows app may cause inconvenience, and we seek your understanding that we make our product decisions with your privacy and security at heart.

Due to Microsoft no longer guaranteeing security updates for Windows 7, 8 and 8.1, we had to make the difficult decision to end support for Version 10 of the app.

We therefore both encourage and recommend you to update to Version 12 of the ExpressVPN app for Windows.

Version 12 comes with split tunneling, plus a host of other exciting features, such as our ad blocker and automatic updates. Version 12 will also continue to receive all of the latest feature and security updates.

2024 March 18

Windows 12.76.0

• We’ve implemented a few minor tweaks in the app that are too small to notice.

2024 March 4

Windows 12.75.0

• In this release, we’ve fixed an issue that was causing a warning message to appear cropped. You can now see the whole message, though we hope you have no reason to!

Windows 10.52.0

• Just a few nips and tucks to keep the app running in tip-top form for you.

2024 February 21

Windows 12.74.0

• Recommended update. Split tunneling returns for all Windows users on the Version 12 app, after it was removed while we investigated a bug (see previous update).
• We discovered and fixed another bug related to DNS requests and split tunneling—which was only an issue if other VPN apps were installed on a device. We have improved our filtering logic to further harden the security of our app when split tunneling is in use. Read more on our blog. 

Windows 10.51.0

• Recommended update. We discovered and fixed a bug related to DNS requests and split tunneling—which was only an issue if other VPN apps were installed on a device. To address this issue, we improved our filtering logic to further harden the security of our app when split tunneling is in use. Read more on our blog.
• As part of our overall security enhancements, we decided to remove split-tunneling functionality for users on older versions of Windows, for which Microsoft no longer guarantees security updates. This affects users on Windows 7, 8 and 8.1. It does not affect users operating Windows 10 and above.
• We appreciate that this may cause inconvenience for those users who are still operating these older systems, and we seek their understanding that we make our product decisions with user privacy and security at heart. All other VPN features will still work as usual on these systems.
• This update is recommended for all users, and required if you have other VPN apps installed on your computer.

2024 February 7

Windows 12.73.0

• Recommended security fix. We’ve temporarily removed split tunneling while we address an issue that might affect some users. This feature will return in future releases.

2024 February 5

Windows 12.72.0

• Check us out! We’ve made some improvements to our app to improve your user experience.

2024 February 5

Windows 10.50.0

• We’ve implemented a few minor tweaks in the app that are too small to notice.

2024 January 22

Windows 12.71.0

• Your VPN experience has just leveled up thanks to a few improvements and tweaks.

2024 January 8

Windows 12.70.0

• Just housekeeping! We’ve made some minor code changes that don’t impact users.

2023 December 19

Windows 12.69.0

In this release, we’ve:

• Added the ExpressVPN command line interface (CLI). That’s right! You can now control the ExpressVPN app for Windows in Windows Command Prompt. Check our support site for a full list of commands.
• Fixed an issue with the ExpressVPN app installer.

2023 December 18

Windows 12.68.0

• A little fix here, and a little fix there. All worth doing, but nothing you’re likely to notice.

2023 December 13

Windows 12.67.0

As of this release, our suite of advanced protection security features is now available in all languages!

With advanced protection, you can block intrusive display ads, trackers, and harmful sites—all with the ExpressVPN app for Windows.

The advanced protection features include:

• Threat Manager: protect your online traffic from malicious sites and trackers
• Ad blocker: filter out most display ads and stop them from loading and appearing on your browser.
• Parental controls: have more control over you and your family’s digital well-being with our new adult-site blocker.

2023 December 12

Windows 12.66.0

• In this release, we’ve fixed an issue where the app would occasionally get stuck on a white screen. Now, rather than getting a blank white screen, you’ll see a set of instructions to help you solve the issue.

2023 November 28

Windows 12.65.0

• Just polishing bits of code here and there to keep your app running smoothly.

2023 November 14

Windows 12.64.0

• We’ve fixed an issue that caused the app to remain stuck on a blank white screen.

2023 November 1

Windows 12.63.0

• We’ve implemented a few minor tweaks in the app that are too small to notice.

2023 November 1

Windows 10.49.0

• We’ve improved connectivity in some countries.

2023 October 31

Windows 12.62.0

• We’ve fixed a rare bug that would cause the app to be stuck on a white screen upon launch.

2023 October 17

Windows 12.61.0

• Minor improvements have been rolled out to enhance your experience.

2023 October 12

Windows 12.60.0

• In this update, we’ve added a whole suite of new advanced protection features!

• These include:
  • Ad blocker: filter out most display ads and stop them from loading and appearing on your browser.
  • Parental controls: have more control over you and your family’s digital well-being with our new adult-site blocker.

These new features will roll out gradually to all users.

2023 October 4

Windows 10.48.0

• We’ve added post-quantum support to Lightway. This means you’ll get an enhanced connection experience and protection from attackers with access to powerful quantum computers.

2023 September 20

Windows 12.59.0

• We’ve added post-quantum support to Lightway. This means you’ll get an enhanced connection experience and protection from attackers with access to powerful quantum computers.

2023 September 7

Windows 12.58.0

In this release, we’ve:

• Rolled out Threat Manager for Windows users – a new feature that prevents apps and websites from communicating with trackers or other malicious third parties without your knowledge. This feature adds an extra layer of privacy to your device; turn it on in your app settings!
• Added DTLS 1.3 support to Lightway. This means you’ll get a faster and more secure connection experience.
• Fixed a bug that was preventing the app from auto-updating to v12.57.0.

2023 September 6

Windows 10.47.0

In this release, we’ve:

• Added DTLS 1.3 support to Lightway. This means you’ll get a faster and more secure connection experience.
• Fixed a bug that was causing you to experience long connection and disconnection times while using Lightway.

2023 August 22

Windows 12.56.0

• We trimmed the hedges and pruned the begonias, and now all is right again in your ExpressVPN garden.

2023 August 8

Windows 12.55.0

• A little fix here, and little fix there. All worth doing, but nothing you’re likely to notice.

2023 July 25

Windows 12.54.0

• Just some minor tweaks that our perfectionist engineers insisted on.

2023 July 12

Windows 10.46.0

• Check us out! We’ve made some improvements to our app to improve your user experience.

2023 July 11

Windows 12.53.0

• Our translators have been hard at work localizing several of our VPN locations into different languages.

2023 June 27

Windows 12.52.0

• We’ve done a few nips and tucks to keep our app in top form for you.

2023 June 14

Windows 10.45.0

• Your VPN experience has just leveled up thanks to a few improvements and tweaks.

2023 June 13

Windows 12.51.0

• A little polish to our engine always helps to make your app run smoother.

2023 May 30

Windows 12.50.0

• We’ve implemented a few minor tweaks in the app that are too small to notice.

2023 May 17

Windows 10.44.0

• Just housekeeping! We’ve made some minor code changes that don’t impact users.

2023 May 16

Windows 12.49.0

• We spruced up our internal engines; the app is running better than it was.

2023 April 19

Windows 10.43.0

• We trimmed the hedges and pruned the begonias, and now all is right again in your ExpressVPN garden.

2023 April 18

Windows 12.48.0

• Minor improvements have been rolled out to enhance your experience.

2023 April 4

Windows 12.47.0

• We’ve rolled out some refinements under the hood to give you a smoother experience.

2023 March 21

Windows 12.46.0

• Check us out! We’ve made some improvements to our app to improve your user experience.

2023 March 7

Windows 12.45.0

• Your VPN experience has just leveled up thanks to a few improvements and tweaks.

2023 February 22

Windows 10.42.0

• A little fix here, and little fix there. All worth doing, but nothing you’re likely to notice.

2023 February 21

Windows 12.44.0

In this release, we:

• Solved an issue where an “Unable to Connect” message would pop up after you disconnected from the app.

2023 February 7

Windows 12.43.0

In this release, we:

• Improved connectivity in some countries.
• Added a handy hint on the home screen of the app to let you know when updates are available if you have disabled auto-updates.

2023 February 3

Windows 10.40.0

• We improved connectivity in some countries.

2023 January 31

Windows 12.41.2

• We improved connectivity in some countries.

2023 January 10

Windows 12.41.0

In this release, we:

• Fixed a bug that was causing the app to get stuck in an infinite loading screen after the app restarted following an update.
• Fixed a UI glitch preventing shortcut icons from displaying correctly when you added website links in the “Shortcuts” section of “Options.”
• Translated the “Pick for Me” option in the VPN server location menu into all languages supported by our app.

2023 January 5

Windows 12.40.1

In this release, we:

• Translated the VPN server locations USA — Albuquerque and UK — Midlands into all languages supported by our app.
• Added German translations for all VPN server locations that include a hyphen in their name.
• Fixed a bug that was causing the “Manage connections on a per-app basis” checkbox to become unchecked if you selected “All apps use the VPN” and then left and revisited “Options.”

2022 December 29

Windows 10.38.0

• We’ve tightened up a few things here and there to keep the app running smoothly.

2022 December 20

Windows 12.39.1

In this release, we:

• Fixed a bug that might have prevented you from successfully installing.
• Implemented a few security improvements.

2022 November 30

Windows 10.37.0

• We’ve done a few nips and tucks to keep our app in top form for you.

2022 November 29

Windows 12.38.0

In this release, we:

• Fixed a bug that might have prevented you from uninstalling.
• Resolved an “unable to connect” error that might have appeared after waking your device.

2022 November 15

Windows 12.37.0

• We improved connectivity in some countries.

2022 November 3

Windows 10.36.0

• Improved connectivity in some countries.

2022 November 1

Windows 12.36.0

• A little code hygiene never hurts.

2022 October 18

Windows 12.35.0

• We improved connectivity in some countries.

2022 October 13

Windows 10.33.0

• Check us out! We’ve made some improvements to our app to improve your user experience.

2022 October 10

Windows 12.34.1

• We improved connectivity in some countries.

2022 October 5

Windows 10.32.0

• We improved connectivity in some countries.

2022 September 20

Windows 12.33.0

We sorted a couple of bugs in this release, where you may have:

• Seen a «Service Unreachable» message when starting the app.
• Been unable to browse after your attempt to connect to the VPN was rejected because of the simultaneous-device limit, even when Network Lock was set to “off.” (This suspension of internet access should only occur when Network Lock is set to “on.” Network Lock is designed to block access whenever your device is not connected to the VPN, to prevent any risk of data leaking outside the encrypted VPN tunnel.)

2022 September 8

Windows 12.32.0

We fixed a bug when you: 

1. Shut down the ExpressVPN app through the Task Manager.
2. Re-open the app and see the “Service Unreachable” screen, with the app hanging completely as none of the buttons was responsive.

The app should now quit as without hanging.

2022 August 31

Windows 10.30.0

In this release, we:

• Made minor security enhancements; we recommend updating to this latest app version.
• Improved connectivity in some countries.
• Fixed a bug that prevented some users from installing the app on Windows 11 computers.

2022 August 23

Windows 12.31.0

• We fixed a bug in Versions 12.23.1 and 12.24.0 that may have resulted in these error messages: “Service unreachable” or “Unable to start service.”
• We also improved connectivity for some countries.

2022 August 10

Windows 12.29.0

• Just some spit-and-polish to keep your app looking sharp.

Windows 10.28.0

• Tidied up a thing or two.

2022 July 26

For Windows 12.28.0

• We made some small adjustments that should keep your app tip-top.

2022 July 13

For Windows 10.27.0

• We resolved an issue that may have prevented connections if you selected the Lightway UDP or Lightway TCP protocols.

For Windows 12.27.0

• If you had switched server locations while using split tunneling, apps under the “Do not allow” list may have still been connected to the VPN. These apps will now remain outside the VPN tunnel, as expected.

2022 June 24

For Windows 12.26.0

• We’ve put some refinements under the hood to give you a smoother experience.

2022 June 16

For Windows 12.25.1

• We’ve implemented a few minor tweaks in the app that are too small to notice.

2022 June 1

For Windows 10.26.0

• A little polish to our engine always helps to make your app run smoother.

For Windows 12.24.0

In this release, we:

• Fixed the order of displayed locations in the Recommended tab for a smoother user experience.
• Updated our diagnostics to indicate whether a server shutdown on our end was what caused you to get disconnected.

2022 May 19

For Windows 10.25.0 

• Polished off a couple of rough edges to keep your VPN experience as smooth as possible.

For Windows 12.23.1

In this release, we modified what happens after your computer reboots. The app will now:

• Connect to the last connected server location instead of our recommended Smart Location.
• Auto-connect to the last connected server location.

2022 May 4

For Windows 10.24.0 

• We’ve made some refinements under the hood to give you a smoother experience.

For Windows 12.22.0

• You know those little messages that appear at the bottom of your app home screen? You may have noticed them disappearing after you rebooted your machine. But fear not! We’ve found them again.

2022 April 20

For Windows 10.23.0 

• We applied minor patches to improve the overall user experience.

For Windows 12.21.0

In this release, we:

• Updated our diagnostics to make a note if the app disconnected because of a server shutdown.
• Enhanced how the app responds to a disconnection. Before, the app would have attempted to reconnect to the same VPN server. Now, it will connect to whichever server offers the best connection. Your IP address may change as a result, but your location will stay the same.

2022 April 6

For both Windows 10.22.0 and Windows 12.20.0

• Just some minor tweaks that our perfectionist engineers insisted on.

2022 March 24

For both Windows 10.21.0 and Windows 12.19.0

In this release, we:

• Resolved an issue that may have caused you to be disconnected for 30 to 60 seconds, if you happened to be connected to a VPN server while it was rebooting. Now, your app will reconnect immediately when a server reboots, without interruption.

Windows 10.21.0 only

• Fixed some incorrect German translations in the Split-Tunneling settings.

Windows 10.19.0 only

• Fixed a bug where auto-connect would appear to be toggled on, but it was not functioning.

2022 March 9

Windows 10.20.0

In this release, we:

• Fixed a bug where auto-connect would appear to be toggled on, but it was not functioning.

Windows 12.18.0

• A little fix here, and little fix there. All worth doing, but nothing you’re likely to notice.

2022 February 23

We’re introducing an early preview of ExpressVPN for Windows Version 12, which has an improved infrastructure.

• Optimized for Lightway protocol for faster VPN speed
• Removed Speed Test feature and support for IKEv2 and L2TP protocols permanently
• Removed split tunneling feature temporarily

If you have any feedback about Version 12, we want to hear from you!

Note: To continue using split tunneling, stick with ExpressVPN Version 10 for now.

2022 February 15
version 10.18.0

• We’ve included security-related improvements in this release, so we recommend you update to this version.

2022 January 31
version 10.17.0

In this release, we:

• Included a smattering of security improvements, so we recommend that you update to this version.
• Improved the app Diagnostic Information to provide VPN server details to our Support Team. This should make it easier for us to troubleshoot the issues you’re facing.

2022 January 17
version 10.16.0

• We tweaked our defenses to beef up some security-related features. The previous app wasn’t unsafe, but this version adds some extra touches.

2022 January 3
version 10.15.0

In this release, we:

• Fixed a bug that was causing the “Need Help” and “New to ExpressVPN” links to disappear from the home screen.
• Fixed another bug that was causing Network Lock to toggle off after app updates. From now on, if Network Lock is on, it should stay on when you get a new version.

2021 December 22
version 10.14.0

• We implemented minor improvements to make our app better for you.

2021 December 8
version 10.13.0

• We’ve fixed a bug where the ExpressVPN app installer was displaying text in English for Danish, Polish, Finnish, and Thai installations.

2021 November 11
version 10.11.0

• We’ve updated the latest open-source licenses in the “Acknowledgements” pop-up.

2021 October 26
version 10.10.0

• We’ve added high-contrast mode for the “VPN Location” and “Options” screens to make those screens easier to read.

2021 October 12
version 10.9.0

In this release, we:

• Improved the high-contrast mode on the main app screen for better legibility.
• Renamed “ExpressVPN Wintun Driver” to “ExpressVPN TUN Driver,” as Wintun is used under license from WireGuard LLC.
• Renewed WHQL certification for drivers on Windows 10 21H2 and Windows 11.

2021 September 28
version 10.8.0

• Added high contrast support to the app main screen.

2021 September 14
version 10.7.0

• Narrator and keyboard navigation (accessibility features introduced in v10.6.0) can now be used throughout the app.
• Added high contrast support to certain parts of the app.
• Localization updates.

2021 September 1
version 10.6.0

• Introduced two new accessibility features: narrator and keyboard navigation.

2021 Aug 19
version 10.5.0

• Localization updates.

2021 July 8
version 10.4.1

• Improved connection reliability when using Lightway.
• Removed option to “Only use ExpressVPN DNS servers when connected.” When connected to the VPN, all DNS queries are processed by ExpressVPN DNS servers.

2021 June 29
version 10.4.0

• Improved connection reliability when using Lightway.
• Localization updates.
• Bug fixes.

2021 June 7
version 10.3.0

• Improved connection reliability when using Lightway.
• Improved connectivity for some countries.

2021 April 29
version 10.2.4

• Bug fixes.

2021 April 15
version 10.2.2

• Updated to OpenSSL version 1.1.1k.
• Bug fixes.

2021 March 8
version 10.1.0

• Fixes rare cases of the app being stuck on “disconnecting” or “reconnecting.”
• Fixes rare cases of the app being unresponsive.
• Fixes cases of the app reconnecting unexpectedly when connected to the VPN using Lightway while on a network with high packet loss.

2021 January 18
version 10.0.9

• Fixed a rare issue that could show “Unexpected Error” after the Location Picker is clicked.

2021 January 18
version 10.0.8

• Introducing ExpressVPN’s new app design.

2021 January 4
version 9.5.0

• Reduced time to connect using the Lightway protocol.

2020 December 17
version 9.4.0

• Introduced automatic app sign-in through email, bypassing the need for an activation code.

2020 December 3
version 9.3.1

• Fixed an issue that could cause the “Unable to start service” error to appear during an app upgrade.

2020 November 23
version 9.3.0

• Improved speeds when connecting with Lightway on Windows 10.
• Added the ability to select an encryption cipher when connecting with Lightway.
• Bug fixes.

2020 October 22
version 9.2.0

• Improved connection reliability.
• Bug fixes.

2020 October 13
version 9.1.0

• Reduced time it takes to start reconnecting to Lightway when waking up the device or when unable to reach VPN servers.
• Fixed an issue where the app could be stuck on white screen/ app logo on start.
• Fixed an issue where the app was not releasing UDP sockets.
• Fixed an issue where running speed tests could render the app unresponsive.
• Improved reliability of captive portal detection.
• Improved installer reliability when not running on an administrator account.

2020 September 23
version 9.0.5

• Introducing Lightway (beta), ExpressVPN’s next-generation VPN protocol that delivers a faster, more secure, and more reliable VPN experience.
  Go to Options > Protocol, then select the Lightway protocol.
• Security fix for a privilege escalation.

2020 September 17
version 8.0.0

• Simpler way to set up additional devices.
• Improved connectivity in some countries.
• Fixed an issue where a black rectangle could appear on the side of the app.

2020 August 21
version 7.12.1

• Improved connectivity in some countries.

2020 August 4
version 7.12.0

• Security fix for a local privilege escalation via insecure MSI file.

2020 July 30
version 7.11.2

• Security fix for a privilege escalation.

2020 July 22
version 7.11.1

• Bug fixes.