BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS; SEPTEMBER 4, 2024—Leading consumer privacy and security company ExpressVPN today announced the launch of the ARM-compatible version of its VPN application, enhancing privacy and security for users of Microsoft’s latest generation of computers. This move makes ExpressVPN one of the first top-tier VPN providers to release an ARM-compatible application.
The launch of Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs powered by Snapdragon has brought a new generation of machines with next-level performance and battery life. This growing popularity of Copilot+ PC has also highlighted the pressing need for VPN compatibility. In light of this, ExpressVPN, in close collaboration with Qualcomm and Microsoft, accelerated its delivery of a fully compatible VPN app to ensure users of Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs can enjoy robust privacy and security.
New hybrid solution for ARM-based machines
ExpressVPN’s innovative approach to ARM compatibility marks a significant milestone in VPN technology. Previously, emulation—now used in ExpressVPN’s latest ARM-compatible app—posed performance limitations that could affect the app’s functionality.
With Lightway at its core, ExpressVPN has rebuilt its drivers specifically for ARM architecture and utilized Microsoft’s new built-in emulator, Prism, to emulate other backend services. This hybrid solution means ExpressVPN users get the best of both worlds—the full security of a premium VPN service and accelerated development time.
Peter Membrey, Chief Engineering Officer at ExpressVPN, says, “Snapdragon is one of the most exciting things to happen to the Windows platform in recent times, and we saw this as an opportunity to showcase a high-performance VPN solution tailored for ARM’s capabilities. By leveraging Microsoft’s enhanced emulation and Lightway’s adaptable architecture, we were able to solve for initial limitations and deliver this build efficiently.”
“We’re proud to be one of the first major VPN providers to demonstrate our commitment to this platform, and we will continue to optimize Lightway and our software to ensure that users can enjoy the best that Snapdragon, Microsoft, and ExpressVPN have to offer,” says Membrey.
Himmat Bains, Head of Product, Desktop Apps, at ExpressVPN, says, “While we initially planned a native ARM application, the enhanced capabilities of Microsoft’s latest Prism emulator in Windows 11 24H2 allowed us to pivot our approach. The emulator’s performance has reached a level that is now directly comparable to a native build—it just made sense for us to leverage it. With this release, we’re thrilled to be at the forefront of VPN technology on ARM-based machines with Microsoft and Qualcomm, and we look forward to further innovations this collaboration will bring.”
ExpressVPN ARM64 is available for download from the ExpressVPN website and the Windows store. Learn more about the launch here.
Note to the editor
- ExpressVPN on ARM is available in beta today, with a full production launch coming mid-October.
About ExpressVPN
Since 2009, ExpressVPN has empowered millions of users to take control of their internet experience. The company’s award-winning consumer VPN service is backed by its open-source VPN protocol Lightway, delivering user privacy in just a few clicks. ExpressVPN’s Keys password manager and Aircove router make digital privacy and security easy and accessible for all. ExpressVPN’s products have been extensively vetted by third-party experts, including PwC, Cure53, KPMG, and others.
ExpressVPN has been part of Kape Technologies since 2021. To learn more about ExpressVPN’s industry-leading privacy and security solutions, visit www.expressvpn.com.
Contact
ExpressVPN press team
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