How to set up OpenVPN on Windows

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Supported platforms:

  • Windows 2000
  • Windows XP
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows 7

Older version of Windows are not supported.

Please read the entire page before you start installing.

Please note that your personal firewall may prevent OpenVPN from functioning. You should make sure that UDP port 1194 is not blocked. Questions about these type of issues should be sent to us here.

If you are having problems running OpenVPN with the Windows XP firewall enabled. Microsoft has released a hotfix which may address this issue: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/913522/en

  1. Please go to Client Area >> "My Services" >> "Services" >> "View Details >> and here you should have a downloads tab. At the download tab, please download the vpnfreak.exe and then install it.
  2. Right click on the downloaded file and select “run as Administrator” (Windows Vista/7 only)
    With Win XP/2000, run the downloaded file.
  3. Accept the request to install the virtual network adapter.
  4. Wait until the program lets you know that its finished, done.

After successfull installation, you should be able to find OpenVPN in your Start menu under Programs > OpenVPN, and an OpenVPN icon should be visible in the notification area of the taskbar in the lower right corner of your screen. When the VPN gateway is active, the icon in the notification area will appear green, otherwise it will appear red.

Establishing a connection

Start OpenVPN either through the Start menu or by right-clicking the icon in the lower right hand corner of your screen.

If you are using Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows 7 you MUST right click on the desktop icon and select “Run as Administrator”


After doing this, you are asked for your login information. Both your account name and password are encrypted before being transmitted.

After authenticating, it will take a moment for the VPN connection to be established. In the Connection window you will see a log file scrolling by of all events pertinent to this.

Eventually the Connection window will disappear from sight, the OpenVPN icon in the taskbar will turn green, and a balloon will appear next to it, confirming that the connection is now active. Inside the balloon you will also see the IP address assigned to your VPN gateway.

Your VPN connection is now ready to be used.

The log kept by OpenVPN can be examined by right-clicking the OpenVPN icon in the taskbar and selecting View log. The log may seem rather cryptic, but in case of a problem it is an indispensable troubleshooting aid.

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