@Kevin_Z 

I don't really know much about home networking, but this is my last hurrah before I just put my router in the dishwasher and go buy a new one! Hope someone can help.

1. Model Number - Archer AX1800
Hardware Version - Archer AX1800 v4.6
Firmware Version - 1.1.3 Build 20250904 Rel. 60739(5553)

2. Surfshark

3. Open VPN

4. Both the native Surfshark client as well as OpenVPN Connect were working fine.

5. The status is stuck on Connecting once the VPN is enabled.

6. Confirmed the VPN is working on multiple platforms. Tried both UDP and TCP .opvn files.

Thanks!

I have AX53 v1 stuck to connecting.

Firmware up to date.

No error. Just "Connecting"

VPN manual setup.

OpenVPN

FastVPN by Namecheap.

username and password credentials copied from clipboard ffrom FastVPN panel.

FastVPN works when using the app in endpoint devices.

Tried using many different ovpn files for different servers and on UDP and TCP, as well.

Any idea how to unstuck in Connecting?

- Model Number: AXE75(EU) V1

- Firmware just updated to 1.5.3 Build 20260209 re. 71708(4555) => before the firmware update, the VPN client worked!

- Connecting to NordVPN using OpenVPN

- Test with OpenVPN Connect successully passed (I had to remove some options from the NordVPN .opvn file - I tried the updated file on the AXE75, but it did not work)

- The AXE75 gets stuck on "Connecting"

- I have done all the troubleshhoting I could: TCP besides UDP, factory reset, even an attempt to firmware roolback, but it did not woirk (upload error)

- (P.S. I also tried the brick rescue procedure, but it does not work, neither holding the WPS button nor the reset button)

  @Kevin_Z 

1. Model number, hardware, and firmware version of your TP-Link Router.

Firmware Version

1.2.1 Build 20250729 Rel. 73566(5553)

Hardware Version

Archer AX12 v1.0

2. What kind of VPN server you are connecting to?
Fast VPN (fastvpndotcom)

3. What kind of VPN type are you choosing on the TP-Link router, OpenVPN, or PPTP VPN?
OpenVPN

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.

I'm using OpenVPN GUI openvpndotnet/community/
I can connect using the provided Fast VPN .ovpn in their page with OpenVPN GUI, using their username and pass also

5. Which step did you stuck in, any error message or screenshot?

When using router, it stuck in connecting, also using the same .ovpn that i use in OpenVPN GUI, that connecting fine in my PC

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.
Where can i upload their .ovpn? Haven't emailing anyone, or should i post their .ovpn? 
 

  @HxRaider 

I got a hunch from the NordVPN chatbot and I managed to connect to one server.

I loaded the .ovpn file that I had downloaded from the NordVPN site, then I clicked on "Import the CA file or edit the .ovpn file manually" => "Manual Settings": "Edit".

I edited some the fields shown on screen, removing blank lines and similar.

Then I tried to connect and it worked.

I tried again with another server file, but I was not able to reproduce the modifications and it did not connect.

I then selected the previous server and it connected.

I have no time to perform other investigations, because I urgently needed a VPN up and running.

If I can, I will try later on.

I think the problem is with the way the router's firmware formats the information loaded from the .ovpn file before sending it to the server.

I have opened a ticket with the TP-LINK Italian support, who were not very helpful, but I informed them about my experience and they said they are going to open an internal ticket towards the relevant department. 

Hope this can help other users.

  @Davide-Moretti 
Sadly i'm not very savvy at this VPN things, so i don't know very much what should i delete and what shouldn't
I also sent E-mail to TP-Link Support and provide the .ovpn, but I don't know whether they will help or not, no reply at all per this message; only automated message 

So far FastVPN already sent me their custom .ovpn, but it still not working 
Working with FastVPN, hopefully can found some solution