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Connect VPN using OpenVPN on Windows (all versions)

[youtube=https://youtu.be/sBJvoNhjoBE]

In this guide I will show you how to connect your Windows (all versions) PC/laptop to any VPN service that’s using the OpenVPN protocol. The OpenVPN Protocol is a fast, secure and very stable protocol and most VPN service providers will support it.

Before we start the connection setup process, you will need to find out the following details (best have them written or printed). If you are connecting to a paid VPN service, just login and your details and settings will be there. If you are connecting via a workplace, please contact your Network Administrator and ask them for the following details:

Required Info

  • Your VPN username
  • Your VPN password
  • The OpenVPN configuration files (.ovpn) which will be available from your VPN service provider (you may need to login to your account to access the files) or network administrator.

Once you have this info you can then watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

Connect using OpenVPN to VPN on Windows

  1. Visit this link to download the OpenVPN Windows installer package https://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/downloads.html
  2. Locate the downloaded program, right-click on it and choose Run as Administrator or choose to “Run” from your browser after it downloads
  3. Click Yes to allow the program to run, follow the app instructions to install
  4. Once the app is installed, download and find the OpenVPN configuration files from your VPN service provider (likely in a .zip folder) and unzip if necessary
  5. Enter the unzipped folder, then Ctrl + A to highlight all files, then Ctrl + C to copy
  6. Now enter the OpenVPN config folder, it will be located in C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\config
  7. Now Ctrl + V to paste the files into this folder, you may need to give Administrator permission for this, if so click Continue.
    NOTE* Windows VISTA & 7 users     you may need to alter file permissions on the config folder first, see this TechNet guide
  8. Now start the OpenVPN GUI app by going to Start Windows 10 Start Icon > All Programs > OpenVPN GUI
  9. Look for the OpenVPN taskbar icon as shown below and right-click on it (you may have to click the reveal arrow ^)
    OpenVPN Taskbar Icon
  10. You should now see either a single Connect item or multiple server locations, navigate to each and connect as required (see below)
    OpenVPN Connect Menu
  11. Once you click Connect, OpenVPN will attempt the connection and request your username and password so enter these as required
  12. OpenVPN will tell you if the connection was successful or not. For troubleshooting see this FAQ.
  13. All done!

Connect VPN using OpenVPN on Ubuntu or Debian

[youtube=https://youtu.be/mc0nxWNwEDI]

In this guide I will show you how to connect your Ubuntu/Debian Linux PC/laptop to any VPN service that’s using the OpenVPN protocol. OpenVPN is a fast and secure protocol and most VPN service providers and some workplaces will support it.

Before we start the connection setup process, you will need to find out the following details (best have them written or printed). If you are connecting to a paid VPN service, just login and your details and settings will be there. If you are connecting via a workplace, please contact your Network Administrator and ask them for the following details:

Required Info

  • Your VPN username
  • Your VPN password
  • One or more OpenVPN configuration files (.ovpn) which you can find via your VPN service providers website or Network Administrator

Once you have this info you can then watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

Connect VPN via OpenVPN on Ubuntu/Debian Linux

  1. Open Terminal by clicking on the Search Computer icon Ubuntu - Search Computer and type Terminal, click on the first result
  2. With Terminal open, type sudo apt-get install openvpn then hit Enter, press y key if required, Ubuntu should then install the OpenVPN app or tell you if it’s already installed
  3. Open your web browser and download your VPN service providers OpenVPN config files (.ovpn) you may have to login to access these files.
  4. Locate the downloaded files and if required tar or unzip them to /etc/openvpn/ such as: tar zxf /home/pchelp/Downloads/vpnconfigs.tar /etc/openvpn
  5. Important Note: If any of the unzipped config files have spaces in the name, you must replace them with hyphens – or underscores _ otherwise OpenVPN will throw an error
  6. Open Terminal and type sudo openvpn --config /etc/openvpn/config.ovpn replacing config.ovpn with the desired config file and hit Enter to connect
  7. The OpenVPN connection window will open and request your username and password, so enter those and click OK
  8. OpenVPN will attempt the connection and tell you if it was successful
  9. Further customization of the OpenVPN application is achieved via the example files at /usr/share/doc/openvpn/examples
  10. To disconnect type killall -TERM openvpn or press Ctrl + C
  11. All done!