Set up Surflare VPN on MacOS

1

Download the app

System Requirements: macOS 13.0+

Download for Mac (Intel)

Download the DMG file and drag Surflare to your Applications folder.

Download Surflare DMG
2

Install the application

Open the downloaded DMG file, then drag the Surflare icon to the Applications folder.

Drag Surflare to Applications

After copying, you can find the app in Launchpad or Applications.

Surflare in Launchpad
4

Connect to VPN

After logging in, the server is set to "Auto Best" by default. Simply tap the Connect button to connect to the fastest server based on your location.

Surflare main screen

You can also choose a specific server location, configure routing modes, or enable Multi-Hop VPN as needed.

4.1

VPN Server Selection

  • Auto Detect (Recommended)

    Automatically connects to the fastest server. Best for general use when you don't need a specific location.

  • City

    If you need to access from a specific country or city, select the desired location. When multiple servers are available in one city, the app automatically connects to the fastest one.

  • Specific Server

    Manually select an individual server from the list if needed.

Server selection
4.2

Routing Modes

Smart Routing

Only encrypts popular apps like Google, Facebook, OpenAI, Claude, Amazon, Netflix, etc. Other applications will continue to access the internet directly through your local network. Best for users who want VPN protection for specific apps while maintaining local network speed for other activities.

Global Routing

Encrypts all internet traffic from your device. Choose this option if you want complete privacy protection for all your online activities.

Routing modes
4.3

Multi-Hop VPN (Transit Server)

This feature requires a Prime Plan subscription.
Enable Transit Server for distant servers

Surflare will automatically find the fastest nearby relay server to forward your data, significantly improving connection speed.

You can also specify a transit server manually if needed.

If the selected server is already nearby with low latency, enabling Transit Server is not recommended as the additional relay would add processing overhead.
Enable Multi-Hop VPN
Select Transit Server

Once you have configured your preferences, tap the Connect button to start your VPN connection.

Verify Your Connection

After connecting, check your internet IP address in the app to confirm you are connected. Try accessing apps and websites to ensure everything works as expected.