Key icon at the top of a Samsung or Pixel phone: what does it mean?
On Samsung Galaxy and Google Android phones the key means a VPN is connected.
What each maker says
- Samsung Galaxy — VPN service connected. The phone is connected to a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which Samsung says can help privacy by encrypting your internet traffic and masking your IP address.
Source: Samsung Canada support: Identify and understand the icons displayed in the top right corner of your Samsung Galaxy (checked 2026-09-29) - Google Pixel and Android — VPN on. Google’s Android Help shows the key as “VPN on” once you are connected to a VPN.
Turn it off: Open Settings, tap Network & internet, then VPN; next to the VPN tap Settings and turn it off.
Source: Google Android Help: Connect to a virtual private network (VPN) on Android (checked 2026-09-29)
- What it looks like
- A key lying on its side, round end on the left.
- Shown by
- Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and Android
- On other phones
- An iPhone shows the letters VPN in a box instead.
Icons to compare
Sources
Each meaning above is taken from the maker’s own support page, fetched and read on the date shown. The drawing is ours; the real icon on your phone may be drawn a little differently and can change with software updates.
- Samsung Galaxy — Samsung Canada support: Identify and understand the icons displayed in the top right corner of your Samsung Galaxy. OS: One UI; some icons marked One UI 7; last updated 4 September 2026. Checked 2026-09-29.
- Google Pixel and Android — Google Android Help: Connect to a virtual private network (VPN) on Android. OS: some steps Android 14 and up; not dated on the page. Checked 2026-09-29.