---
title: How to Connect to a VPN Server with OpenVPN Connect
canonical: https://openvpn.net/connect-docs/tutorials/tutorial--connect-to-vpn-server/
product: OpenVPN Connect Docs
description: Download our VPN client, OpenVPN Connect for free and follow this guide to connect to VPN servers.
---

# How to Connect to a VPN Server with OpenVPN Connect

## Overview

This tutorial covers connecting to a server with the [OpenVPN Connect](https://openvpn.net/client/) app.

With OpenVPN Connect v3, you can connect to:

- [Access Server](https://openvpn.net/access-server/).
- [CloudConnexa](https://openvpn.net/cloud-vpn/).
- Almost any other OpenVPN open-source-based server, including [OpenVPN Community Edition](https://openvpn.net/community/).

## Prerequisites

- A VPN server using the OpenVPN protocol.
  - This includes our business products: Access Server and CloudConnexa.

## Step 1: Download OpenVPN Connect v3

You can download the install files for OpenVPN Connect v3 for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS here:

- [OpenVPN Connect — VPN For Your Operating System \| OpenVPN](https://openvpn.net/client/)

For the Linux operating system, there is a command-line client available:

- [OpenVPN 3 for Linux](https://openvpn.net/openvpn-client-for-linux/)

You can also follow the tutorials for getting started with Access Server or CloudConnexa:

- [Connect to Access Server for the First Time with OpenVPN Connect](https://openvpn.net/connect-docs/tutorials/tutorial--get-started-access-server.md)
- [First time connecting to CloudConnexa with OpenVPN Connect](https://openvpn.net/connect-docs/tutorials/tutorial--get-started-cloudconnexa.md)

## Step 2: Launch OpenVPN Connect v3

After downloading OpenVPN Connect, install the program on your device.

After installing the program on your respective OS, you receive one-time messages about onboarding, the license agreement, and deprecated functions the first time you launch it.

## Step 3: Connect to the VPN server

With OpenVPN Connect installed, use the section below to connect to your VPN server.

### Connecting to Access Server

> **Tip**
>
> We recommend using Access Server's Client Web UI for a direct OpenVPN Connect download. The installation provided by your Access Server includes a connection profile so you can immediately connect after installation.
>
> The steps below show you how to import a connection profile after installation.

1. Launch OpenVPN Connect.
2. Click on the **+** icon on the main screen.
3. In the **Import Profile** window, enter the address of your server.
4. Click **Next**, and you'll be prompted to sign in with your credentials.
   - After successful authentication, the new profile is added to the list of profiles on your main screen. You can now easily connect and disconnect at any time.

### Connecting to CloudConnexa

Refer to [First time connecting to CloudConnexa with OpenVPN Connect](https://openvpn.net/connect-docs/tutorials/tutorial--get-started-cloudconnexa.md)

### Connecting to OpenVPN open-source

If you are connecting to an OpenVPN open-source-based server, you may [download the client from our website](https://openvpn.net/client/), and then import a configuration profile from a file on your computer:

1. Launch OpenVPN Connect.
2. Click on the **+** icon on the main screen.
3. Choose **File**.
4. Drag the profile file to the window or point the program to it by clicking **Browse** then **Open**.

   > **Tip**
   >
   > If you don't have a connection profile file, you get this from your VPN server. Refer to [How to Get Your Connection Profile](https://openvpn.net/connect-docs/get-connection-profile.md).
5. Ensure you click **Add**.
   - The profile displays on the main screen, where you can easily connect or disconnect.

---

Prev: [End-to-End tutorials](https://openvpn.net/connect-docs/tutorials/openvpn-connect-tutorials.md)
Next: [Connect to Access Server for the First Time with OpenVPN Connect](https://openvpn.net/connect-docs/tutorials/tutorial--get-started-access-server.md)
Index: https://openvpn.net/connect-docs/llms.txt