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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Hi there.
I have a router from Vodafone (operates in a modem mode), which is getting Internet over coax. cable with dynamic IP. Then I have AX20 connected with 1gpbs UTP cable to that modem.
I was having a firmware - 1.3.1 Build 20210524 rel.40909
Actually, later same day I've tried to install beta as advised here and then I was able to get OpenVpn connection working, so it's partially solved the issue - means I've got around 20mbps instead of 5 on hidemy.name provider and up to 50mpbs with ExpressVPN.
Still, speed is less compared to what I can get by use of VPN client on the machine, so looking forward for TPlink to work on this in future firmware version(s), please.
Thanks a lot!
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version 1.3.2 Build 20210901 rel.69096(5553) is available for AX20. My hw version is 1.2.
Able to use the vpn client ovpn which prior version cannot.
tried it and it works.
btw, update is through the router web client. Clicked firmware update and will able to trigger new firmware.
1.3.2 Build 20210901 rel.69096(5553)
Regards
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glad to know the updated firmware 1.3.2 is available and works for you 👍.
it seems tp-link has not release it yet for AU @Kevin_Z
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This latest official version is releasing gradually, you should be able to get it in a week or so. Or you can check for the new updates on your router web page, are you able to get the new firmware?
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Hello,
I have an Archer AX21 HW 1.20 that could not connect to VPN provider using the Open VPN client. Loaded the AX21 beta firmware on this thread and could connect now but found that the bandwidth available over the VPN connection with the AX21 router is much lower that using another openvpn client. For example, if I use the built in open vpn client that is on Ubuntu 20.04.3 I got more than 200Mbps of download connecting to the same VPN provider server while with the open vpn client in the AX21 only got around 50Mbps. the Ubuntu machine is connected to one of the AX21 ethernet ports. Is this a known limitation in the AX21 open VPN client ? I do not seem to see the router CPU utilization go high in the routers status page while doing a download over the AX21 vpn client. Or was this fixed in the new firmware that some units are starting to get (No new firmware available yet for the AX21) ? It will be great if wireguard can be added as other users has mentioned in this forum. Is much easier on resources and many VPN providers offer support for it. Thank you.
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Hello, can we know the specific network layout that how is the AX21 connected to the network? How did you test the internet speed when connecting to the VPN service? Are there other services or applications running in the background?
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Hi,
The AX21 is directly connected to cable modem Arris SB8200.
Normal ISP with no vpn speedtest gives around 360Mbps download / 12 upload.
When using the Open VPN Client in the AX21 ran a speedtest on 3 different machines (Ubuntu one , a Windows pc and MAC) and (connected either wireless or ethernet) giving the same result around 50Mbps download. Upload seems ok hitting what my ISP provides (around 12Mbps). Then disabled the VPN client in the router and connected to VPN provider from the Ubuntu machine built in openvpn client and this morning was hitting above 300Mbps download while with the AX21 VPN client just hit max close to 50Mbps. Did a download when using the AX21 vpn client and the max throughput is indeed around 50Mbps. This test were done with nothing else using bandwidth in the network.
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I've discussed this concern with the engineers that 50Mbps for a speed between the VPN Client on the home wireless router and the VPN server is pretty good, it's not bad as you thought. Apparently, the router CPU's can't handle the VPN encryption as fast as a computer with the app can. When you create an encrypted tunnel between the router and the VPN provider, that will add overhead to the processer/resources of the router, which would cause a drop in performance which also means a drop in WAN to Internet throughput.
You can also compare the speed of the VPN Client on some other home wireless router if that is possible, you might get similar results.
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Understand. Was hoping to get more bandwidth when using the vpn client. Is there a chance that wireguard can be added to the AX21 ? It is lightweight than OpenVPN and we should benefit having more bandwidth from it. Thanks
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Still showing:
Latest Firmware Version:
1.3.1 Build 20210524 rel.40909
:(( How long "gradually" could take? I'm in Czech Republic
Thanks
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