---
title: 'Tutorial: Enable DCO for a Windows Connector'
canonical: https://openvpn.net/connect-docs/tutorials/tutorial--enable-dco-in-openvpn-connect-on-windows/
product: OpenVPN Connect Docs
description: Data Channel Offload (DCO) improves the OpenVPN tunnel's performance by moving data packet processing from the OpenVPN userspace program to the kernel. You can enable DCO for your Windows Connector by following the steps below.
keywords: DCO for Windows
---

# Tutorial: Enable DCO for a Windows Connector

OpenVPN Data Channel Offload (DCO) improves the OpenVPN tunnel's performance by moving data packet processing from the OpenVPN userspace program to the kernel. On Windows, you can turn on DCO either from within the OpenVPN Connect app or by running commands with the `ovpnconnector.exe` service binary.

> **Note**
>
> OpenVPN Connect 3.4 and newer on Windows supports OpenVPN Data Channel Offload (DCO).

## Option 1: Enable DCO in the OpenVPN Connect app

1. Launch OpenVPN Connect.
2. Click **Menu \> Settings**
3. Expand **Advanced Settings**.
4. Set **Security Level** to **Preferred**.
5. Click the **Enable DCO** checkbox.
6. Return to the profiles screen and click or tap your profile to connect.

## Option 2: Enable DCO using ovpnconnector.exe (command line)

You can also turn on DCO when connecting to CloudConnexa using OpenVPN Connect's `ovpnconnector.exe` from the command line.

1. Import and configure the OVPn profile with the following commands:

   ```
   cd %ProgramFiles%\OpenVPN Connect
   ovpnconnector.exe install
   ovpnconnector.exe set-config Profile ovpnconnector.ovpn
   ovpnconnector.exe set-config log ovpnconnector.log
   ovpnconnector.exe start
   ```

   For a helpful CloudConnexa tutorial, refer to [Tutorial: Use OpenVPN Service Binary on Windows to Automatically Connect to CloudConnexa on Startup](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/tutorials/configuration-tutorials/connectors/operating-systems/windows/tutorial--use-openvpn-service-binary-on-windows-to-automatically-connect-to-cloudconnexa-on-startup.md) for more information on using `ovpnconnector.exe`.
2. Apply DCO to the active profile:

   ```
   cd %ProgramFiles%\OpenVPN Connect
   ovpnconnector.exe stop
   ovpnconnector.exe set-config dco true
   ovpnconnector.exe start
   ```

   > **Note**
   >
   > Enabling DCO will cause a temporary disconnect. The connection will restart automatically to apply the updated configuration.
3. Verify that DCO is active in the OpenVPN Connect log file or the `ovpnconnector.log` file:

---

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