How to set up OpenVPN manual connection
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How to set up OpenVPN on macOS

Updated:

In this tutorial, you will learn how to set up the OpenVPN with Tunnelblick app on your macOS device.

You will need a device running macOS and an active Surfshark subscription. You can find the available plans on Sursfhark's pricing page.

We will cover the following:

  1. Get your credentials
  2. Download configuration files
  3. Download and install the Tunnelblick app
  4. Connect to the VPN
  5. Ensure your connection was successful

 

Get your credentials

 

NOTE: These are not your regular credentials, such as your email and password.

  1. Enter the Surfshark login page and log in. Then, click on VPN > Manual Setup > Desktop or mobile > OpenVPN to generate your credentials.

  2. Once there, make sure that you are in the Credentials tab and click on Generate credentials.

    NOTE: Keep this tab open as we'll need it later.

 

Download configuration files

  1. Open the same page on another browser tab, go to the Locations tab, and locate the server that you wish to connect to.

  2. Download configuration files by clicking on the arrow pointing downwards next to your chosen location.
    mceclip2.png

  3. Choose which file to download: UDP or TCP.

    These are 2 different VPN protocols. We recommend the     UDP protocol because it tends to be faster, but feel free to find out more about Surfshark protocols and decide for yourself.
    mceclip3.png

 

Download and install the Tunnelblick app

 

  1. Download the Tunnelblick app from the official Tunnelblick website.

  2. Click the green arrow to download the latest Tunnelblick version.
    Click_the_Green_arrow_to_downoad_the_latest_version.png

  3. Locate the installation package in the Downloads or Recents folder on your Mac.
    Installation_package_located_in_Recent_folders.png

  4. To start the installation process, double-click on the Tunnelblick installation package. Wait_until_the_app_loads_up.png
  5. Double-click the Tunnelblick icon in the next window.Double-click_the_Tunnelblick_icon.png

  6. Confirm the action by pressing Open.Click_Open.png
  7. Set your preferences for the Tunnelblick app and click Continue.

    You can leave the default entries.    Click_Continue.png
  8. Click I have configuration files (refer to the Download configuration files section in this article). I_have_confguration_files_button.png
  9. Click OK.Click_OK.png
  10. Open the Downloads folder of your Mac and locate the Surfshark configuration files you already downloaded.Drag_the_file.png
  11. Open the Tunnelblick app by clicking on the Tunnelblick icon in the menu bar.
    Click_the_menu_bar_icon_and_the_app_will_open.png

  12. Click on the configuration file in your Downloads folder and drag it to the Configurations area in the Tunnelblick app.

    You can also install configuration files without opening the Tunnelblick app by dragging them to the Tunnelblick icon in the menu bar.
    Drag_the_file_to_the__Configurations_section.png

  13. You will get a pop-up. Select Only Me.
    Choose_Only_me.png

  14. You may need to enter your admin credentials to perform this action. Enter your Mac admin account password and press OK.
    Enter_the_password_of_your_computer.png

  15. The configuration files that you just installed will appear in the Configurations section on the Tunnelblick app.
    Newly_installed_config_files.png

Connect to the VPN

 

  1. Click on the configuration file of a specific location and press Connect.
    Choose_the_file_and_click_connect.png

  2. Enter Surfshark service credentials (refer to Get your credentials section in this article) and click OK.

  3. To save the service credentials for the next connection, make sure to check both Save in Keychain boxes.
    Enter_Surfshark_service_credentials.png

  4. You will see a pop-up window showing the connection status in the top-right corner of your screen. It will stay yellow while connecting and will turn green after the connection is successful.
    Connection_status_-_Connecting.png
    Connection_status_-_Connected.png

  5. To disconnect from the VPN, click the Disconnect button.
    Disconnect_button.png

  6. If you wish to connect to a different location, download the configuration for that server and repeat the Connect to the VPN section from the beginning.

     

Ensure the connection is successful

 

We always recommend checking if Surfshark VPN is working after setting it up for the first time. You can easily do it by performing Surfshark IP leak test and a DNS leak test. For your convenience, both are available on our website.




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