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Setup Tutorials

How to set up OpenVPN on macOS

In this tutorial we will show you how to set up OpenVPN on macOS but first let’s see what are our requirements and recommendations.

Requirements

In order to set up the OpenVPN you will need:

  1. A CactusVPN account. If you don’t have one you can try our services for free.
  2. Your VPN username and password. You can find them in your account on our website, by going to Settings -> VPN Username & Password.
  3. The OpenVPN configuration files. You can find them on the Downloads page on our website.
  4. The Tunnelblick plug-n-play VPN client. You can download it from here for free.

Recommendations

To skip the manual setup and for more features we recommend to use the CactusVPN App for macOS.

If you still want to set up OpenVPN manually, go step-by-step through following instructions:

OpenVPN Setup instructions

Tunnelblick is a plug-n-play VPN client for macOS X. It provides easy control of CactusVPN SSL VPN client connections.

  1. Download the latest stable version of Tunnelblick (1).

  2. Open the downloaded file and double-click on the Tunnelblick icon to install Tunnelblick (1).

    How to set up OpenVPN on macOS: Step 1

  3. Click Open (2).
    How to set up OpenVPN on macOS: Step 2

  4. Click Launch (3).
    How to set up OpenVPN on macOS: Step 3

  5. You will be asked if you have configuration files. Click I have configuration files (4).
    How to set up OpenVPN on macOS: Step 4

  6. Click OK (5).

    How to set up OpenVPN on macOS: Step 5

  7. Download OpenVPN Configuration Files and unzip them.

    Select all the config files (or only config files you want to use) and right click on them.

    Click on Open With and click on Tunnelblick (7).


    How to set up OpenVPN on macOS: Step 6

  8. Click on the Tunnelblick icon (8), choose the server you want to connect to (9) click on it to connect.


    How to set up OpenVPN on macOS: Step 7

  9. Enter your VPN username (10) and password (11).

    You can find your VPN username and password in your account on our website, by going to Settings -> VPN Username & Password. Make sure you use your VPN username and password and NOT the website account credentials (What is the difference?).

    Click OK (12).


    How to set up OpenVPN on macOS: Step 8

  10. If you want to delete or add a new connection, click on the Tunnelblick icon and on VPN Details… (13).


    How to set up OpenVPN on macOS: Step 9

  11. If you want to delete a connection, click on the connection and click on the icon (14).

    If you want add a new connection, just open the folder with downloaded connections and drag and drop the need .ovpn file from the folder to the Tunnelblick Configurations zone (15).


    How to set up OpenVPN on macOS: Step 9

  12. Once you are connected, the connection will be active as long as you do not end it or log out of your computer. If your computer turns to sleep mode or you lose contact with the server, Tunnelblick’s will attempt to re-establish the connection.

    Use Disconnect from the drop-down menu to end OpenVPN on macOS connection; use Quit to leave the program and to prevent Tunnelblick from starting itself at your next login at your computer.

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