Introduction
In this article, you will learn how to set up NordVPN on your Keenetic router using the built-in OpenVPN client. This guide covers retrieving your NordVPN service credentials, preparing the OpenVPN configuration file, and creating the connection in the Keenetic web interface.
NOTE: This is a community-tested setup. Keenetic routers are not officially supported by NordVPN, so if something fails, contact Keenetic support.
Before you start
- You need the OpenVPN client system component installed on your Keenetic router. Install it from General system settings → Updates and component options → Component options.
Here's what to do
Step 1: Get your NordVPN service credentials
- Log in to your Nord Account and click NordVPN in the left menu.
- Scroll to Manual setup and click Set up NordVPN manually.
- NordVPN sends a verification code to your service email. Enter the code to continue.
- Open the Service credentials tab and copy the Username and Password shown there. These are different from your Nord Account email and password.
Step 2: Download the OpenVPN configuration file
- In the same manual-setup area, open the OpenVPN configuration files / Server recommendation tab.
- Download the
.ovpnconfiguration file for your chosen server.
Step 3: Edit the configuration file
-
Open the downloaded
.ovpnfile in a text editor. - Find and remove the line:
- Add the following section, inserting the service credentials from Step 1:
- Select all (Ctrl+A / Cmd+A) and copy (Ctrl+C / Cmd+C).
auth-user-pass<auth-user-pass>
SERVICE_CREDENTIALS_USERNAME
SERVICE_CREDENTIALS_PASSWORD
</auth-user-pass>Step 4: Create the connection on Keenetic
- In the Keenetic management console, go to the Other connections page.
- In the VPN Connections section, click Create connection.
- In VPN Connection Settings, tick Use for accessing the Internet and set Type (protocol) to OpenVPN.
- Enter a Connection name, then paste the copied configuration into the OpenVPN configuration field (Ctrl+V / Cmd+V).
- Open Show advanced settings: turn Work Schedule off and set Connect via line to Any Internet Connection.
- Save the settings and switch the connection On.
Additional tips
- Keenetic requires a single config file with all certificates and keys inline;
.ovpnfiles (or OpenWRT variants) are usually compatible. - If the log shows
auth-user-pass without inline credentials data is not supported, you still have a bareauth-user-passline - remove it. - If the log shows a
block-outside-dnserror, add:pull-filter ignore "block-outside-dns". - The OpenVPN config is not stored in
startup-config- back it up separately.
