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Subscribe to ExpressVPN? You've unlocked a brilliant new feature that should make it easier to diagnose any issues with your secure connection. It's called Connection Copilot, and it's the first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered diagnostic tool specifically for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
It's available directly inside the desktop app, which was redesigned last year. The whole point is to take away all that technical headache when your VPN connection isn't working properly. You no longer need to understand networking protocols, server configurations, or other technical jargon to get things running smoothly.
The AI-powered assistant will run through some of the most common protocols to diagnose any issues with the secure VPN connection, applying the best technical solution to whatever you're doing at the time
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As the name suggests, Connection Copilot is an intelligent assistant built from the ground up to work out what's wrong with your connection and ensure it offers the best possible performance. Whether you're streaming your favourite boxset, playing games, or making a video call, Connection Copilot handles the technical side, so you don't have to be a network engineer to enjoy decent performance from your VPN.
Here's how it actually works in practice. When your connection feels sluggish or unstable, Connection Copilot can diagnose what's causing the problem. To do that, it'll run through all of the available protocols on servers near you, testing each one to see how it performs. This is a common fix recommended to those struggling with issues related to their VPN connection, but ExpressVPN handles all of this in the background.
You won't need to do any of this manually.
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The clever bit is what happens next. It scores each configuration based on what you're actually doing online – streaming a film, playing a game, or jumping on a work video call all need different setups. Traditional VPN speed tests just throw numbers at you and expect you to work out what they mean.
Connection Copilot uses AI to interpret those results for you. You might not realise, but the protocols that work best for streaming high-quality video aren't necessarily the same ones you'd want for low-latency gaming, or keeping your video calls stable. Each activity needs something slightly different.
Once Connection Copilot has found the best option, click once, and it will apply the optimal settings.
The whole process takes about a minute, and you're sorted without having to understand any of the technical details yourself. The timing of this launch isn't a coincidence. The FIFA World Cup 2026 has started, and ExpressVPN just became the first VPN brand to ever sponsor the tournament.
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Discussing the launch, ExpressVPN Chief Operating Officer, Shay Peretz, said: “With the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicking off this week, millions of fans will be streaming matches while travelling or away from home, and they shouldn’t be losing the first half to troubleshooting their connection.
"The VPN industry has spent years giving users more settings instead of better outcomes. Users shouldn't need to understand protocols, server selection, or network conditions just to get a stable VPN connection.
"Connection Copilot ends that. It replaces the guesswork with an intelligent diagnostic and recommendation tool built directly into the VPN. As the Official VPN Supporter of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we’re focused on delivering practical, real-world solutions that help fans get the best possible online experience, wherever they’re watching."
The good news is Connection Copilot is available to you right now if you're using ExpressVPN via the desktop app. There's no extra charge – it's included with your existing subscription.
If you're a mobile user, you'll need to wait a bit longer. The mobile version is still being developed and should arrive in the coming weeks.
There's another handy feature worth mentioning. If Connection Copilot can't find a working setup for you, the AI is designed to make calling for help far easier. You can open a support ticket that comes preloaded with all the technical diagnostics the support team at ExpressVPN will need to diagnose the problem. That means they can sort out your issue much faster than if you were trying to explain what's wrong yourself.
It cuts the back-and-forth you'd normally have when troubleshooting connection problems with support staff.