VPN on firestick always on?

When I load up the app in the firestick it already shows as connected. Is this always the case or does it turn off automatically until I load it up again or am I supposed to open the app every time. Is there a way to check if it’s turned on while not in the app also?

I would also like to know, but I expect the answer is it’s staying connected. I have PIA and windscribe and one of the reasons I’ve stuck with PIA is that the Windscribe app often does disconnect after a lengthy period of inactivity.