- Proton VPN app for Android now allows users to exclude specific cities and countries
- Allows you to automatically avoid being connected to certain regions
- “Excluded Locations” is available through the “Connection Preferences” menu
Using a VPN often involves a balance between convenience and control. We all love hitting that big “Quick Connect” button to get the best speeds instantly, but we don’t always love where we end up. For privacy-conscious users, accessing a server in a jurisdiction with invasive data retention laws, or simply a country with poor peering, can be a deal breaker.
Proton VPN just solved this headache with a subtle but powerful update to its Android VPN app. Announced by General Manager David Peterson at X, the new “Exclude Locations” feature allows users to blacklist specific cities and countries from the automatic server selection pool. This means you can continue using the “Faster” or “Random” connection modes without fear of being directed to a location you consider unsafe or slow.
The update is currently rolling out to Android users, giving them unprecedented granularity over their automated connections.
How to use ‘Exclude Locations’ in Proton VPN for Android
This feature is designed for those who want the speed of automation but the security of manual selection. If you’ve ever used “Quick Connect” only to find yourself routed through a server in the UK or US, nations that are part of the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance, you will immediately see the value here.
To configure it, you must navigate to the application’s connection settings:
- Open the Proton VPN Android application.
- Gonna Settings and locate Connection preferences.
- Touch Exclude locations.
From here, you can select specific countries (for example, “United States”) or drill down to specific cities (for example, “Texas” or “London”) to ensure that the app never automatically assigns you an IP address from those regions.
This level of control is rare. While many of the best VPN services allow you to mark servers as “Favorites,” very few allow you to explicitly “Block” them from algorithmic selection. This is particularly useful for users in restrictive regimes who want to avoid servers in neighboring countries with similar censorship laws, or for sports fans trying to avoid local blackouts while still using the fastest connection available.
We know that sometimes when you’re quickly connecting to @ProtonVPN, there are some cities and countries you might want to avoid. That’s why Proton VPN for Android now has an “Exclude Locations” setting to give you more control over your “fastest country” connections. pic.twitter.com/PuDtA5YZrcFebruary 9, 2026
A victory for ‘quality of life’
While headline-grabbing features like the “Stealth Protocol” or new encryption standards often steal the spotlight, it’s these quality-of-life updates that keep users loyal.
Users often rely on the “Random” connection feature to hide their traffic patterns, but true randomness carries risks if you route traffic through a compromised or hostile network environment. By applying a negative filter, telling the app “Anywhere but here,” users can maintain the benefits of randomization while mitigating the geopolitical risks associated with specific territories.
Currently, it appears to be an Android-focused update. As is common in Proton’s development cycle, features often debut on one platform before migrating to iOS or Windows, although an official timeline for other devices has not been confirmed.
For now, if you’re an Android user and want to make sure your “random” jump never takes you to a jurisdiction you don’t trust, it’s time to check your app for any updates.
