How to set up CactusVPN App for iPhone / iPad

In this tutorial we will show you how to install the CactusVPN app for iPhone or iPad and how to connect to VPN or Smart DNS using our app, but first let’s see what are our requirements.

First let’s see what are our requirements:

Installation

First, you have to install the CactusVPN app for iPhone / iPad. You can find it on App Store.

1. Tap on download icon (1).

   

2. Tap on Open (2).

   

Sign in

1. Type your CactusVPN account Email Address (3) and Password (4).

   If you forgot your password, you can reset it here.

   Tap on Sign In (5).

   

   On this screen you can also order our VPN + Smart DNS service if you still don’t have one.

2. If you have more than one active CactusVPN subscriptions, you will be asked to choose the service you want to use by default.

   Select the service (6) and tap on Continue (7).

   This will happen only once. You can change the default service anytime from the app Settings.

   

Connect to VPN

To connect to VPN:

1. Make sure the VPN tab (8) is selected, select the VPN server location (9) you want to connect to then tap on Connect button (10).

   

2. When you choose the VPN server location, you have the possibility to:

   • Find the fastest servers for you. Tap on Sort by speed and the servers will be sorted by the lowest ping to your computer.
   • Add your preferred VPN servers to favorites and to filter servers by different criteria.

   

3. When you connect to VPN first time, a notification will appear asking if you allow to add VPN configurations.

   Tap on Allow (12).

   

   In several seconds the app does its job and VPN connection on your iPhone / iPad will be created and you’ll see the You are connected message below the button – this means your connection is now active. Also a small VPN icon will appear on the top of the screen.

   To disconnect just tap on Disconnect button.

Connect to Smart DNS

To connect to Smart DNS:

1. Make sure the Smart DNS tab (13) is selected and tap the Enable Smart DNS button (14).

   

2. You will get a notification that our app is trying to create a VPN connection. Don’t worry! It will be a simulated VPN connection where both VPN server and client are your mobile device. We use it so you could have Smart DNS access regardless if you are connected to WiFi or using mobile data.

   Tap on Allow (15).

   

Settings

You can configure how the app works.

1. To do that tap on menu icon (16).

   

2. Tap on Settings (17).

   

3. You can make the following configurations:

   CactusVPN Account

   Default Service – You will see this option only if you have more than one active CactusVPN subscriptions. Here you can choose the service you want to use by default.

   VPN

   VPN Protocol – choose the VPN protocol your want to use – IKEv2 or WireGuard. (What protocol should I use?)

   Internet Kill Switch – you can set the app to stop Internet connection when VPN connection is dropped and reconnect automatically to VPN.

   Group servers by country when sorting by speed – when you sort VPN servers by speed, they will be grouped by country.

   Smart DNS

   Websites region – choose the region that will be used for multi-regional websites.

   DNS Server – choose the one that is closest to you.

   Update IP Automatically – set up the IP to be updated automatically. That’s useful when you ISP often changes your IP address. You should make sure that “Background App Refresh” is turned ON and that “Low Power Mode” is OFF in iOS Settings in order for this feature to work as supposed.

   General

   Sign in at app. start – sign in into your account when CactusVPN app starts.

   Connect VPN on sign in – automatically connect to VPN using the last used city and protocol after signing in.

   Enable Smart DNS on sign in – automatically enable Smart DNS after signing in.

   Hide app on VPN / Smart DNS connect – hide the CactusVPN app after connecting to VPN or enabling Smart DNS.