If you’ve ever logged into your router’s settings, you’ve probably come across an option called VPN Passthrough. Does it create a VPN connection? Does it improve your online privacy? Or is it something you need to enable before using a VPN?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this guide, we’ll explain what VPN passthrough is, how it works, the different types of VPN passthrough, and whether you should enable or disable it on your router.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
VPN passthrough is a router feature that allows VPN traffic to pass through your router’s firewall without being blocked. Its main job is to recognize VPN connections and let them travel normally between your device and the VPN server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This feature was originally designed to help older VPN protocols<\/a>, such as PPTP, L2TP, and IPsec, work properly with routers that use NAT (Network Address Translation). These protocols don’t always interact well with NAT, so a router may mistakenly block or interrupt the connection. VPN passthrough solves this by allowing the VPN traffic to pass through correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you connect to a VPN, your device sends encrypted traffic through your router before it reaches the VPN server. Normally, the router checks and manages all incoming and outgoing traffic to keep your network running smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, some older VPN protocols don’t communicate with routers as cleanly as modern ones do. Since many home routers use NAT (Network Address Translation) to manage multiple devices on the same network, they may have trouble correctly recognizing or forwarding certain VPN packets. As a result, the VPN connection can fail or become unstable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n VPN passthrough solves this problem by recognizing supported VPN traffic and allowing it to pass through the router without unnecessary interference. Instead of treating the VPN packets as unfamiliar traffic, the router forwards them to the correct device, making it possible to establish and maintain the VPN connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most routers support three common types of VPN passthrough, each designed for a different VPN protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PPTP passthrough allows VPN connections that use the PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol). PPTP is one of the oldest VPN protocols and is known for its fast speeds. However, it has significant security weaknesses and is no longer recommended for protecting sensitive data. Today, it is mainly found in older devices and legacy business networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n L2TP passthrough supports VPN connections that use the Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP), usually combined with IPsec for encryption. Compared with PPTP, it offers stronger security but may be slower because of the additional encryption. Some organizations still use L2TP\/IPsec, although it has become less common in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read more: L2TP VPN Guide: How It Works, Pros, Cons & Comparison<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n IPsec passthrough enables routers to handle VPN traffic protected by the IPsec protocol. IPsec is widely used in business VPNs because it provides strong encryption and secure communication between networks or remote users. If you connect to a corporate VPN, IPsec passthrough is often the feature that keeps the connection working properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow Does a VPN Passthrough Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Types of VPN Passthrough<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
PPTP Passthrough<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
L2TP Passthrough<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
IPsec Passthrough<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
VPN Passthrough vs. VPN Router<\/h2>\n\n\n\n