Android 17 beta 3 unveils system-level vpn split tunneling

Google has announced the third beta of Android 17, bringing with it a slew of new features, tools, and bug fixes. One notable addition is system-level VPN split tunneling, a functionality previously only accessible through certain VPN apps.

What is split tunneling?

Split tunneling is a feature that allows you to choose which apps use a VPN connection and which ones don't. This enables you to keep your VPN running continuously while only applying it to specific apps that require it, using your regular internet for everything else.

With Android 17 Beta 3, this feature is being implemented at the system level, meaning that any VPN app that chooses to utilize it will have access to this functionality. However, this also means that VPN providers will need to update their apps to take advantage of this system-level feature.

One step forward, one step back

While the addition of system-level split tunneling is certainly a welcome development, it does come with a caveat. Not all VPN apps will automatically support this feature, requiring users to find and use a VPN that has been updated to work with the new Android 17 capability.

For those who rely on split tunneling, this may be a minor inconvenience, especially given that many VPN providers already offer this feature in their apps. Nonetheless, it's a slight drawback compared to the seamless integration that was initially promised.