Troubleshooting VPN Server Is Not Working Properly on TP-Link Wi-Fi Routers
Before following this thread for troubleshooting, please do confirm the VPN problem type based on VPN usage scenarios described here.
For VPN Client related issue on TP-Link Routers, please refer to this thread: VPN Client on Wi-Fi Router Is Not Working
For VPN Server related issue on TP-Link Routers, please refer to the following cases to troubleshoot.
Case 1: Remote phone/laptop fails to connect VPN Server
Step 1: Check the router’s WAN IP address to see if it is a public IP address
1) If it is not a public IP address, it means there is another router or NAT in front of the TP-Link router, which blocks the VPN connection, you will need to open a service port on the front router or NAT device for the VPN connection, and then change the private WAN IP address to your real public IP address in the .ovpn file (for OpenVPN) and .conf file (for WireGuard VPN).
For example, for OpenVPN, you could refer to Step 3 in this guide: How do I troubleshoot if the OpenVPN is not connecting
Note: If there is no any other NAT product in front of the TP-Link router, it means your ISP assigns a CGNAT IP address or private IP address to you, which will cause VPN Server, port forwarding etc. don't work, you need to contact your ISP to see if they could offer you a public IP address.
2) If it is a public IP address, please move to Step 2.
Note: If your WAN IP is public IP address but it is not static, please set up DDNS on the TP-Link router, or when the public IP changes, you will not be able to connect the VPN Server again without correcting the public IP address.
Step 2: For OpenVPN Server, please try to change the type from UDP to TCP
Step 3: Please make sure the VPN Client Software on your client device is installed and running under the ADMINISTRATOR Account.
Step 4: Ensure the same time settings on your VPN client device and the TP-Link router.
Step 5: Try disabling the firewall and security software on your VPN Client device
If the above steps still cannot solve the problem, please leave your comment or start a new thread and provide the following information for further troubleshooting:
1. Model no., hardware and firmware version of your TP-Link router, model no. of the VPN client device
2. Your specific network topology and what you want to achieve via VPN
3. The current problem phenomenon
4. The .ovpn file for OpenVPN or .conf file for WireGuard VPN, and screenshots of all VPN Settings
5. Log file of the VPN client if you have
Case 2: Remote devices connect the VPN Server successfully but cannot access internet any more
For this issue, please leave your comment or start a new thread and provide the following information:
1. Model no., hardware and firmware version of your TP-Link router, model no. of the VPN client device
2. The .ovpn file for OpenVPN or .conf file for WireGuard VPN, and screenshots of all VPN Settings
3. The current problem phenomenon
Case 3: Remote devices connect the VPN Server successfully but cannot access local resource of the VPN Server
Please refer to this guide for detailed troubleshooting: Why can’t I access or discover certain devices over VPN
Related Article:
Introduction and Configuration Guide of VPN Function on TP-Link Wireless Routers
Integration of VPN Services with Renowned Third-party VPN Providers NordVPN and SurfShark
1. Model no., hardware and firmware version of your TP-Link router, model no. of the VPN client device
Firmware Version: 1.2.6 Build 20231130 rel.36135(4555)
Hardware Version: Archer AX55 v1.0
VPN Client device: Macbook Pro - Sonoma 14.5
2. The .ovpn file for OpenVPN or .conf file for WireGuard VPN, and screenshots of all VPN Settings
Copied the content of the file I downloaded from the NordVPN website
client
dev tun
proto tcp
remote 138.199.52.89 443
resolv-retry infinite
remote-random
nobind
tun-mtu 1500
tun-mtu-extra 32
mssfix 1450
persist-key
persist-tun
ping 15
ping-restart 0
ping-timer-rem
reneg-sec 0
comp-lzo no
verify-x509-name CN=us8362.nordvpn.com
remote-cert-tls server
auth-user-pass
verb 3
pull
fast-io
cipher AES-256-CBC
auth SHA512
<ca>
-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
MIIFCjCCAvKgAwIBAgIBATANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQ0FADA5MQswCQYDVQQGEwJQQTEQ
MA4GA1UEChMHTm9yZFZQTjEYMBYGA1UEAxMPTm9yZFZQTiBSb290IENBMB4XDTE2
MDEwMTAwMDAwMFoXDTM1MTIzMTIzNTk1OVowOTELMAkGA1UEBhMCUEExEDAOBgNV
BAoTB05vcmRWUE4xGDAWBgNVBAMTD05vcmRWUE4gUm9vdCBDQTCCAiIwDQYJKoZI
hvcNAQEBBQADggIPADCCAgoCggIBAMkr/BYhyo0F2upsIMXwC6QvkZps3NN2/eQF
kfQIS1gql0aejsKsEnmY0Kaon8uZCTXPsRH1gQNgg5D2gixdd1mJUvV3dE3y9FJr
XMoDkXdCGBodvKJyU6lcfEVF6/UxHcbBguZK9UtRHS9eJYm3rpL/5huQMCppX7kU
eQ8dpCwd3iKITqwd1ZudDqsWaU0vqzC2H55IyaZ/5/TnCk31Q1UP6BksbbuRcwOV
skEDsm6YoWDnn/IIzGOYnFJRzQH5jTz3j1QBvRIuQuBuvUkfhx1FEwhwZigrcxXu
MP+QgM54kezgziJUaZcOM2zF3lvrwMvXDMfNeIoJABv9ljw969xQ8czQCU5lMVmA
37ltv5Ec9U5hZuwk/9QO1Z+d/r6Jx0mlurS8gnCAKJgwa3kyZw6e4FZ8mYL4vpRR
hPdvRTWCMJkeB4yBHyhxUmTRgJHm6YR3D6hcFAc9cQcTEl/I60tMdz33G6m0O42s
Qt/+AR3YCY/RusWVBJB/qNS94EtNtj8iaebCQW1jHAhvGmFILVR9lzD0EzWKHkvy
WEjmUVRgCDd6Ne3eFRNS73gdv/C3l5boYySeu4exkEYVxVRn8DhCxs0MnkMHWFK6
MyzXCCn+JnWFDYPfDKHvpff/kLDobtPBf+Lbch5wQy9quY27xaj0XwLyjOltpiST
LWae/Q4vAgMBAAGjHTAbMAwGA1UdEwQFMAMBAf8wCwYDVR0PBAQDAgEGMA0GCSqG
SIb3DQEBDQUAA4ICAQC9fUL2sZPxIN2mD32VeNySTgZlCEdVmlq471o/bDMP4B8g
nQesFRtXY2ZCjs50Jm73B2LViL9qlREmI6vE5IC8IsRBJSV4ce1WYxyXro5rmVg/
k6a10rlsbK/eg//GHoJxDdXDOokLUSnxt7gk3QKpX6eCdh67p0PuWm/7WUJQxH2S
DxsT9vB/iZriTIEe/ILoOQF0Aqp7AgNCcLcLAmbxXQkXYCCSB35Vp06u+eTWjG0/
pyS5V14stGtw+fA0DJp5ZJV4eqJ5LqxMlYvEZ/qKTEdoCeaXv2QEmN6dVqjDoTAo
k0t5u4YRXzEVCfXAC3ocplNdtCA72wjFJcSbfif4BSC8bDACTXtnPC7nD0VndZLp
+RiNLeiENhk0oTC+UVdSc+n2nJOzkCK0vYu0Ads4JGIB7g8IB3z2t9ICmsWrgnhd
NdcOe15BincrGA8avQ1cWXsfIKEjbrnEuEk9b5jel6NfHtPKoHc9mDpRdNPISeVa
wDBM1mJChneHt59Nh8Gah74+TM1jBsw4fhJPvoc7Atcg740JErb904mZfkIEmojC
VPhBHVQ9LHBAdM8qFI2kRK0IynOmAZhexlP/aT/kpEsEPyaZQlnBn3An1CRz8h0S
PApL8PytggYKeQmRhl499+6jLxcZ2IegLfqq41dzIjwHwTMplg+1pKIOVojpWA==
-----END CERTIFICATE-----
</ca>
key-direction 1
<tls-auth>
#
# 2048 bit OpenVPN static key
#
-----BEGIN OpenVPN Static key V1-----
e685bdaf659a25a200e2b9e39e51ff03
0fc72cf1ce07232bd8b2be5e6c670143
f51e937e670eee09d4f2ea5a6e4e6996
5db852c275351b86fc4ca892d78ae002
d6f70d029bd79c4d1c26cf14e9588033
cf639f8a74809f29f72b9d58f9b8f5fe
fc7938eade40e9fed6cb92184abb2cc1
0eb1a296df243b251df0643d53724cdb
5a92a1d6cb817804c4a9319b57d53be5
80815bcfcb2df55018cc83fc43bc7ff8
2d51f9b88364776ee9d12fc85cc7ea5b
9741c4f598c485316db066d52db4540e
212e1518a9bd4828219e24b20d88f598
a196c9de96012090e333519ae18d3509
9427e7b372d348d352dc4c85e18cd4b9
3f8a56ddb2e64eb67adfc9b337157ff4
-----END OpenVPN Static key V1-----
</tls-auth>
3. The current problem phenomenon
Im using the NordVPN OpenVPN settings and the UI says its connected and assigns and IP but the devices that are connected to the VPN are not able to connect to the internet.
Im currently located. I have tried with both my iPhone and Macbook laptop but they were both unsuccessful to connect. I used both the TCP and UDP .conf files that are available in the NordVPN website here https://nordvpn.com/servers/tools
