How To Connect To A VPN Server With OpenVPN Connect

Introduction

This guide covers how to connect to a server with the OpenVPN Connect app.

With OpenVPN Connect v3, you can connect to:

OpenVPN Connect v3 downloads

You can download the install files for OpenVPN Connect v3 for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS here: OpenVPN Connect Client—our official VPN client.

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

You can also download the app for your OpenVPN Access Server or OpenVPN cloud connection:

Launching OpenVPN Connect v3

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

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

Connecting to OpenVPN Access Server

To connect to an OpenVPN Access Server with a Windows or macOS computer, we recommend a direct download. You can do this by signing in to your OpenVPN Access Server’s client web UI. When you download and install the OpenVPN Connect v3 client from the client web UI, it is pre-installed with the necessary configuration profile. You or your user can start the connection immediately after installation.

If you prefer to download the Connect app directly from our site, follow the instructions below to import a configuration profile.

To connect with an already installed client, simply import a configuration profile directly from your server or use a file on your computer.

Connecting to OpenVPN Cloud

Download the client from our website, then use the instructions below to import a configuration profile directly from the server. When a new user gets an invite to OpenVPN Cloud, they can follow the instructions in their email to connect.

Import a configuration profile from the server

You can import a configuration profile directly from a server for our official business VPN products, OpenVPN Access Server and OpenVPN Cloud. To do this, open the program and click on the + icon on the main screen.

In the Import Profile window, enter the address of your server. For Access Server, this could be https://vpn.yourcompany.com/. For OpenVPN Cloud, this is your cloud tenant ID with ‘openvpn.com’ such as https://yourcompany.openvpn.com/.

Note: When you create a new user from your OpenVPN Cloud portal, they receive an email invitation with instructions for downloading the client and connecting with their assigned username and a temporary password.

Click Next, and you will be prompted to sign in with your credentials. If you receive a certificate error message, this is because your Access Server uses a self-signed certificate. We recommend installing a valid SSL web certificate and using a fully qualified domain name.

A new cloud user authenticating with a temporary password, is prompted to create a new password within OpenVPN Connect.

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.

Starting a connection

On OpenVPN Connect's main screen, any configuration profile already loaded displays.

By clicking on the toggle next to a profile, you can start or stop a connection at any time. Once the connection establishes, statistics and information about the connection display.

You can easily disconnect at any time and return to the main screen.

Connecting to OpenVPN open source

If you are connecting to an OpenVPN open-source-based server, you may download the client from our website and use the instructions below to import a configuration profile from a file on your computer.

Import a configuration profile from a file

Importing a configuration profile from a file works for almost any OpenVPN server. You simply need the necessary file(s) saved to your device. Start by clicking on the + icon, then choose File.

Either drag the profile file to the window or point the program to it by clicking on Browse and then Open.

Make sure to click on Add, and the profile displays on the main screen, where you can easily connect or disconnect.