Are you a Google One subscriber and have you used their VPN? I bring you bad news: see if it works, because most likely it doesn’t: «Google VPN is no longer available» is a message that clueless people who didn’t know or forgot this was going to happen will find themselves.

In short, Google VPN is one of the add-ons that the company added to the Google One subscription, first to the most expensive plans and later to all others. Since the beginning of last year, every Google One user has had a functional VPN service at his disposal, with applications available for Android, iOS, macOS and Windows.

But, or rather but, VPN from Google, not what you think: in fact, and to reassure users, Google subjected the service to an external audit and released the API code, because let’s see who believes that the Internet giant protects their privacy. As it was, for what it cost and how well the Google VPN worked, it was the least of the problems.

The biggest one, if you can describe it that way, is that Google’s VPN, like any other app/service in its category, encrypted the device’s outgoing connection and masked its IP address; but it didn’t allow you to select any geographic location. That said, it lacked one of the essential characteristics of any self-respecting VPN. However, It was a Google One add-ona service focused mainly on increasing the cloud space of Google services (Gmail, Drive, etc.).

But there’s another VPN problem for Google, or that’s why they took it out of the way: nobody used itand who says no one means who knows, because for Google no one can be many millions of users. Be that as it may, last April we got some bad news: Google was going to remove Google One VPN… and so it did. With exceptions.

Holders are the exception branded devices such as Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Fold, 8, 8 Pro and 8a, who can continue to use the services as before, without interruption. Also those users who have signed a phone plan contract with Google Fi Wireless. Others… Let’s look for alternatives, although due to the peculiarities of Google’s VPN, it will be difficult to find something similar.

For now, Google recommends uninstalling or disabling the VPN depending on the system it’s being used on. See this help page for more information.