Glossary · VPN & tunneling

IKEv2

Also calledikev2 vpnike v2 protocol

Definition

IKEv2 is a VPN tunnel protocol optimised for mobile devices — it survives network switches (Wi-Fi to cellular) without dropping.

Explanation

In depth

IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange version 2) is the default VPN protocol on iOS and macOS built-in VPN clients because it handles network transitions gracefully — switch from Wi-Fi to cellular and the tunnel stays up without reconnection. That mobility resilience is its main selling point over OpenVPN. Cryptographically it is modern and secure. Downsides: less firewall-traversal-friendly than OpenVPN-over-TCP-443 (uses UDP 500 and 4500, both easy to block), and less obfuscated than WireGuard-with-plugins in restrictive-network scenarios. Corporate VPNs and iOS-heavy environments favour IKEv2; consumer VPNs mostly moved to WireGuard.

Related terms

VPNA VPN is a service that routes every network request from your device through an encrypted tunnel to a remote server.WireGuardWireGuard is a modern VPN tunnel protocol designed for simplicity, speed, and small code footprint — the 2020s default for most VPN services.OpenVPNOpenVPN is the veteran open-source VPN tunnel protocol — flexible, well-audited, and configurable over TCP or UDP.VPN tunnelA VPN tunnel is the encrypted connection between your device and a VPN server that carries all your device's network traffic.

Put the concept to work

Try AnyProxy free — no install, no signup, six regions.

Open a blocked page