Troubleshooting VPN Client on Wi-Fi Router Is Not Working
This Article Applies to:
All the Wi-Fi Routers that support VPN Client, such as Archer AX20, Archer AX21, Archer AX90, etc.
Issue Description/Phenomenon:
The Wi-Fi Routers that are being discussed here are the models that support VPN Client, which allows users to connect to a VPN server without the need to install VPN software on each device. If you are unable to connect to a VPN server when trying to configure the VPN client on the TP-Link router, this article provides some suggestions that may help you out.
However, if VPN server on TP-Link router is not working, please follow this thread for troubleshooting: VPN Server Doesn't Work Properly on TP-Link Wi-Fi Routers
Troubleshooting Suggestions & Solution:
Step 1
For OpenVPN, please follow this FAQ How to get configuration files from OpenVPN service providers to get correct configuration file and your VPN service credentials, which is the key to accessing the VPN service.
Step 2
Ensure you can successfully connect to the VPN server using a third-party VPN client software like OpenVPN Connect or OpenVPN or WireGuard App for WireGuard VPN on the local PC/Smartphone. This can ensure the .opvn or .conf file is configured and exported correctly.
For example, If you are trying to connect to NordVPN, please don't use NordVPN App since it doesn't require the .opvn at all.
Note: NordVPN service credentials are different from your NordVPN account credentials, namely your email address and your password. You'll need NordVPN service credentials to connect to the VPN using the manual OpenVPN configuration method in the router.
Step 3
If step 2 is confirmed good, but it still fails to connect to the VPN server when uploading the .opvn file into the TP-Link router, be sure the router's firmware is up-to-date. You can check for the updates on the Tether app or on the router web GUI, or you can download it from the local official website and then install it manually.
Step 4
If it still fails, please check the size of the VPN configuration profile you are trying to upload to the router, and how large that file is. You may download and install the Notepad+ application to delete the useless comment in the profile if that is too large, then try uploading it into the router again.
Step 5
It's also suggested to try TCP protocol on the VPN server if it's currently using UDP, then save the file and upload it into the TP-Link router again to check if that works.
If the VPN connection still fails, please comment below on this topic and be sure to provide the following information:
1. Model number, hardware, and firmware version of your TP-Link Router.
2. What kind of VPN server you are connecting to?
3. What kind of VPN type are you choosing on the TP-Link router, OpenVPN, or PPTP VPN?
4. What kind of VPN Client software you were using on the local PC or phone when it was connecting fine? Please test and make sure you can connect to the server with third-party software, such as OpenVPN Connect for OpenVPN and WireGuard App for WireGuard VPN.
5. Which step did you stuck in, any error message or screenshot?
6. Troubleshooting you've done before, and be sure the .opvn file for OpenVPN or .conf file for WireGuard is included when emailing to support.
Related Articles:
If you are not familiar with the VPN, visit Introduction and Configuration Guide of VPN Function on TP-Link Wireless Routers
If you want to check which model supports the VPN Client, visit Routers supporting the VPN Client.
If you are unable to connect CyberGhost OpenVPN Server, please try Manually create the unified format for OpenVPN profile(CyberGhost OpenVPN Server)
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So, there are only two ways to do this, first thing first
1. If this is your own .ovpn, meaning you run your own OpenVPN server, using the normal methods to create your users you would have to execute
/path/to/easyrsa build-client-full <username> nopass
The issue with making not a "nopass" is that it asks you to set a password, when you set a password for the .ovpn you end up with BEGIN ENCRYPTED PRIVATE KEY whilst with a nopass, this is just BEGIN PRIVATE KEY and I only find this out because TP Link support inspected my .ovpn to tell me that their routers do not work with Encrypted Private keys.
2. You don't have your own server, you are using NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or any other VPN service, you can open the .ovpn you get provided in Notepad, and check the <key> section, is it ENCRYPTED or not, if it says BEGIN ENCRYPTED PRIVATE KEY you are out of luck and the only way to resolve your case is to contact the support team for that VPN service and ask if they can generate a .ovpn file for your account which does not have ENCRYPTED PRIVATE KEY or a nopass, and if they can you are in luck. If they brush it off, then unfortunately that VPN service is not supported by the router.
I think TP Link should add this to the FAQ because i spent days trying everything between heaven and earth inside the router, inside the server, network, multiple checks.
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thanks. As a complete novice to programming etc. how can I change the ovpn file? What software or program to use on a Mac. I shall appreciate if someone can provide step by step guide. Thanks.
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I just got a reply from a similar issue in a support ticket, it turns out that the .ovpn file cant have a
BEGIN ENCRYPTED PRIVATE KEY
if the .ovpn file was generated with an encrypted private key the router doesnt support it.
./easyrsa build-client-full (user) nopass
Will generate an .ovpn which has no pass and is thus BEGIN PRIVATE KEY and it will fly through 🙏
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open vpn for Nord vpn on other devices works fine. It's only when I set up vpn client on Tp-link AXE75 following all the instructions for Nord vpn, the connection status is stuck at "connecting" without success. This is frustrating.
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You mean the NordVPN doesn't connect either if you use OpenVPN Connect software/application on laptop/mobile directly?
If so, please contact the VPN proider Nord for help.
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yes done all that. Got and filled "service" credentials and not the account credentials. Tried ovpn files for different servers. Tried tcp as well as udp. The express vpn connects but not the nord vpn?????????
tried uploading ovpn from laptop as well as mobile. No luck. Did the same to try express vpn. That works fine. Odd????
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NordVPN service credentials are different from your NordVPN account credentials, namely your email address and your password. You'll need NordVPN service credentials to connect to the VPN using the manual OpenVPN configuration method in the router.
You could refer to this guide to find the NordVPN service credentials and also configuration files: How to get configuration files from OpenVPN service providers
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Hi, we would like to escalate your case to the support engineers, and they will help follow it up, if you are willing to do further analysis, please check your inbox and respond.
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