GoKawiilAdamya Sharma / Android Authority
TL;DR Many popular VPNs like Nord, Surfshark, and others already offer split tunneling on Android, but implementations vary widely.
The feature is often inconsistent, hidden in settings, or missing entirely in some VPN apps.
Android 17 will standardize split tunneling at the system level, making it easier and more reliable for all users.
Google is quietly tackling one of the biggest frustrations of using a VPN on Android. With Android 17 Beta 3, the company is introducing a standardized, system-level way for VPN apps to offer split tunneling, a.k.a, the ability to exclude specific apps from the VPN connection.
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That might sound like a niche feature, but it could solve a surprisingly common headache that comes with using VPNs on Android devices.
If you’ve ever used a VPN on Android, you’ve likely run into apps that don’t work properly while connected. Banking, streaming, and other location-based apps often block access or behave erratically when a VPN is turned on.
Many VPN apps like Nord VPN, Proton VPN, and others support split tunneling, allowing you to exclude specific apps from the VPN. However, each VPN app handles split tunneling differently. With this new change, you’ll get a cleaner, more predictable experience, regardless of which VPN you use.
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