Manual OpenVPN connection setup on iOS 15

Note: The OpenVPN app supports only 15 and newer versions of iOS. 

Please follow these OpenVPN setup instructions on your iOS 15 device:

  1. Go to the App Store on your iPhone/iPad.
  2. Tap on Search bar.
  3. Enter "openvpn connect" in the search bar.
  4. Find the OpenVPN Connect application and tap on its installation button.

    iOS App Store search results for 'openvpn' showing OpenVPN Connect app with the download button circled in red
     
  5. Once the app is installed, download the .ovpn configuration file. You may also use NordVPN server recommendation tool.

Follow the steps below to find the manual connection configuration files:

  1. Log into your Nord Account, and click NordVPN.

    Nord Account web portal showing Services > NordVPN page with NordVPN highlighted in the left sidebar
     
  2. Scroll down to Advanced Settings and click Set up NordVPN manually.

    Nord Account Advanced Settings section showing Manual setup card with 'Set up NordVPN manually' link circled in red
     
  3. Select the OpenVPN configuration files tab.
    Nord Account Configuration page with 'OpenVPN configuration files' tab circled in red
     
  4. Find the server you wish to connect to by using the Search bar or by scrolling down and download it by clicking Download UDP or Download TCP.
    Nord Account OpenVPN configuration files page listing servers with 'Download UDP' and 'Download TCP' buttons, first entry circled in red
     
  5. When connecting to OpenVPN & IKEv2 manually, you're going to need to use the Username and Password from the Service credential tab.
    Nord Account Configuration 'Service credentials' tab highlighted in red, displaying Username and Password fields for manual setup
  1. ​When the configuration is downloaded, select the Downloads button in the top right corner. After that, click on the downloaded configuration.

    iOS Safari browser Downloads panel showing the downloaded NordVPN .ovpn configuration file highlighted in a red rectangle
     
  2. ​When the downloaded configuration opens up, select Share button in the top right corner.

    iOS Safari showing an OpenVPN Profile file preview with the Share button circled in red at the top right
     
  3. In the Share sheet, tap Copy to OpenVPN button.

    iOS Share sheet for the OpenVPN configuration file with 'Copy to OpenVPN' option circled in red
     
  4. Inside the OpenVPN application, select File and tap Add to add the imported configuration.

    OpenVPN Connect iOS Import Profile screen with the FILE tab selected and ADD button highlighted in red
     
  5. You will get a pop-up asking for permission to add OpenVPN to your VPN configurations. Click Allow.

    iOS system dialog asking OpenVPN permission to add VPN configurations, with the Allow button highlighted in red
     
  6. Enter your NordVPN service credentials.

Follow the steps below to find the service credentials for manual connection setup:

  1. Log into your Nord Account, click NordVPN, and, under Manual setup, click on Service credentials. Here you'll find the Username and Password needed to connect manually.

    Nord Account Configuration 'Service credentials' tab highlighted in red, displaying Username and Password fields for manual setup
  1. Tap on the switch of the imported configuration to connect to a VPN server.

    OpenVPN Connect iOS Profiles screen showing the active connection toggle (green, highlighted in red) with connection stats below
     
  2. To change a server, tap on the slider button to disconnect. Tap on another imported profile to connect to the other server.

    iOS Settings VPN screen showing OpenVPN profile toggles for switching between imported server configurations
     
  3. To disconnect, tap on the same button you used to connect.
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