If you’re looking for a reliable, user-friendly VPN service for your Mac, Surfshark is a great option. In this guide, we’ll show you how to install Surfshark on Mac with step-by-step instructions.
A VPN service encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a server in another location, which has a number of benefits. It geo-spoofs your location, it keeps you secure from hackers, and most importantly, it gives you access to geo-blocked services.
And with Surfshark’s 3000+ servers in more than 65 countries, you can easily connect to any region of the world to feast on its content.
Installing Surfshark on Mac is a quick and easy process, and we’ll walk you through it step-by-step in this guide. So let’s get started!
Short on time? Here’s a Short Summary of How to Install Surfshark On Mac
- Launch the Mac App Store and type “Surfshark” in the search panel.
- Install the VPN app by clicking on “Get“.
- After installation, launch the VPN app.
- Sign in with your Surfshark VPN credentials.
- Click on “Connect” for the fastest default server or navigate to “Locations” for a preferred server location.
To know more about Surfshark, visit our detailed guide: How Does Surfshark VPN Work
How to Install Surfshark On Mac?
Here are the three methods you can follow to install Surfshark on your Mac device:
- Install Surfshark VPN directly on your Mac from the App Store.
- Install Surfshark manually with the IKEv2 protocol.
- Install Surfshark manually with the OpenVPN protocol.
Method # 1: How to Install Surfshark On Mac From App Store?
You can install the Surfshark VPN app from Mac’s App Store. Follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open App Store and type “Surfshark” in the search bar.
Step 2: Click on the Surfshark app.
Step 3: Click on the “Get” button and install the Surfshark app.
Step 4: When the installation successfully completes, click on “Open“.
Step 5: A window will appear saying “We strictly don’t monitor, record, or log your online activities“, click on Agree & Continue.
Step 6: Sign in with your Surfshark email and password.
Step 7: Click on “Connect” for the fastest server.
Step 8: While connecting to the VPN for the first time, your computer will need you to enter your Mac password to add Surfshark VPN configurations. Enter your Mac password and click on Always Allow.
That’s it, you are now connected to the Surfshark VPN server and all your activities are encrypted.
You can also choose a location of your preference. Click on the “Locations” tab and connect to another server location.
Method # 2: How to Install Surfshark Manually On Mac With IKEv2?
If you want to install Surfshark manually on your Mac with the IKEv2 protocol, then follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to the Surfshark website and log in with your VPN credentials.
Step 2: Click on the drop-down menu “VPN” on the left panel and select Manual Setup.
Step 3: Select “Manual” under Setup Methods.
Step 4: Select the “Credentials” tab on the right panel and note down the credentials. We’ll need them later for Authentication Settings.
Step 5: Now click on the “Files” tab on the right panel and choose a location server you prefer. Whatever location you choose, note down or copy the domain name which is just under the country name (Ex: us-dal.prod.surfshark.com), we’ll need this later.
Step 6: Stay on the right panel and scroll down to the bottom. Under “Other configuration files“, download the IKEv2 certificate by clicking on the download button next to it.
Step 7: Once it is downloaded, open the file.
Step 8: You will see a window asking your permission to add the IKEv2 Surfshark certificate to your keychain. Click on Add.
Step 9: Now open the Keychain Application and find the “Surfshark Root CA” certificate. Press right-click on it and click on Get info.
Step 10: Expand the Trust section by clicking on the small triangle next to it.
Step 11: Click on the drop-down menu next to “When using this certificate” and select Always Trust.
Step 12: Close the keychain windows.
Step 13: Go to the System Preferences and then head to Network.
Step 14: Click on the (+) sign on the left panel to create a VPN connection.
Step 15: Select “VPN” for Interface, “IKEv2” for VPN Type, and enter a Service Name of your choice for your VPN connection.
Step 16: Click on Create.
Step 17: Select your newly created VPN connection on the left panel and paste the domain name from Step 5 in the fields of “Server Address” and “Remote ID“.
Step 18: Click on Authentication Settings and paste the credentials from Step 4 in the fields of “Username” and “Password“. Click on OK.
Step 19: Click on Connect and check the mark that says “Show VPN status in menu bar” so you can control it directly from the menu bar.
That’s all, you have successfully installed Surfshark manually on your Mac with IKEv2 and your online identity is now hidden from third parties.
Method # 3: How to Install Surfshark Manually On Mac With OpenVPN?
If you want to install Surfshark VPN manually on your Mac with the OpenVPN protocol, then follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to this Surfshark page and log in with your VPN credentials.
Step 2: Select “Manual” under Setup Methods.
Step 3: Then select the “Credentials” tab on the right panel. You’ll find your username and password, note them down somewhere or keep this tab open, we’ll need them later.
Step 4: Now click on the “Files” tab and select a server of your preference. Once you know which server you want to connect to, click on the download button next to it.
Step 5: Select your protocol type. Either choose TCP or UDP and download the file.
Step 6: Head over to the Tunnelblick website and download the software.
Step 7: Once the dmg file is downloaded on your Mac device, locate it and install the file by double-clicking it.
Step 8: Double-click the Tunnelblick icon in this window.
Step 9: Click Open.
Step 10: Click Continue.
Step 11: Click on “I have configuration files“.
Step 12: Click OK.
Step 13: Locate the configuration file in the Downloads folder which you downloaded earlier in Step 5.
Step 14: Launch the Tunnelblick app.
Step 15: Drag the configuration file from the Downloads folder and place it in the configurations area of the Tunnelblick app.
Step 16: Click on Only Me.
Step 17: Enter your Mac username and password if required.
Step 18: Once the configuration files installation completes in the Tunnelblick app, select the file and click on Connect at the right bottom corner.
Step 19: Now enter your Surfshark credentials from Step 3 and click OK.
Step 20: A window will appear in the top right corner displaying your connection status. 
The yellow color displays that the VPN is “connecting“. Green means that you have “connected” to the VPN.
Why You Should Use Surfshark On Mac?
Here are a few reasons why you should use Surfshark VPN on Mac:
Security & Privacy
Surfshark offers military-grade encryption that will keep you anonymous on the web and hide your online activities from prying eyes. It also comes with a strict no-logs policy, ensuring that your personal data is never stored or monitored.
With advanced protocols like IKEv2, WireGuard, Shadowsocks, and OpenVPN, Surfshark will encrypt your traffic and route it through a secure tunnel to keep third parties like your internet service provider or government authorities away from snooping on your online activities.
Surfshark also offers a kill switch feature, which will immediately cut off your internet connection if the VPN connection drops for any reason, ensuring that your identity is never revealed.
Streaming Geo-Restricted Content
If you want to watch your favorite shows and movies on Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, or any other streaming platform, Surfshark will help you bypass geo-restrictions and give you access to content that is not available in your region.
With over 3000+ servers in 65 countries, Surfshark can unblock any content that you want to access from anywhere in the world.
For example, if you want to watch US Netflix, just change your Netflix region to the US and you’re good to go. Surfshark can unlock almost 20 Netflix libraries with its vast server network.
Surfshark is also one of the few VPN providers that can unblock Disney+ and other streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Hotstar, and more.
Unlimited Simultaneous Connections
Even top-tier VPN providers like ExpressVPN or NordVPN only offer 5 to 6 simultaneous connections. It is the limit for the number of devices you can use with a single account, at the same time.
Surfshark, on the other hand, does not have any limit on the number of devices you can connect to its servers.
Whether it’s your Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android device, or any other platform, you can use Surfshark VPN on an unlimited number of devices with a single account.
This is extremely useful if you have a large family or if you want to use Surfshark VPN on all your devices.
Handy Features
Surfshark comes with a number of features that make it one of the best VPNs for Mac.
CleanWeb is a feature that blocks ads, trackers, malware, and phishing attempts. This ensures that you have a safe and smooth browsing experience without any interruptions.
Split Tunneling is another feature that lets you choose which apps should use the VPN connection and which should use your regular internet connection.
This is useful if you want to use a VPN only for certain activities like streaming or browsing and not for everything.
With Whitelister, you can create a list of apps that should always bypass the VPN connection.
For example, if you want to access your banking app or any other app that doesn’t work with a VPN, you can add it to the whitelist and it will always use your regular internet connection.
User-Friendly Interface
Surfshark comes with a user-friendly interface that is easy to use and navigate.
The dashboard is well-designed and displays all the important information that you need to know about your connection.
It also has a number of features that are easily accessible from the dashboard.
Active Money-Back Guarantee Offer
Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which means that you can try it out for a month and if you’re not satisfied with the service, you can get a full refund.
This is a great way to test out the service and see if it’s right for you. And if you want a refund, the process is easy too.
All you need to do is contact customer support from the live chat button on the Surfshark website and they will process your refund within a few days.
Surfshark VPN Plans & Pricing
Surfshark offers a number of pricing plans to choose from.
- One-month plan: $12.95
- One-year plan: Billed $47.88 for the first time and then $59.76 annually.
- Two-year plan: Billed $59.76 for the first time and then $59.76 annually.
All the plans require an upfront payment and all the plans are covered with the 30-day money-back guarantee offer.
You can pay for your subscription plan with a variety of payment methods including credit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, and cryptocurrency.
To compare Surfshark’s prices with other providers, visit our guide: How Much Does a VPN Cost
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Surfshark work with Netflix?
How many devices can I use with a single account?
Is Surfshark safe to use?
Does Surfshark offer a free trial?
How much does Surfshark cost?
What protocols does Surfshark offer with Mac?
Can I use Surfshark with my router?
Conclusion
In this guide, we walked you through how to install Surfshark on Mac with step-by-step guidelines. Surfshark is a user-friendly VPN service that offers a number of features such as Whitelister, Active Money-Back Guarantee Offer, and User-Friendly Interface.
It also supports almost 20 Netflix libraries. You can use an unlimited number of devices with a single account and the prices start at $12.95/month.
The easy method (Method 1) is to directly install the Surfshark VPN app from the App Store but you can also configure it manually with OpenVPN (Method 3) or IKEv2 (Method 2) if you prefer a customized setup.
