Look for the section on the right side of the screen. Copy the unique Username and Password displayed there. Scroll down to find the list of regional server locations.
Click , then Apply Settings . Verify connection status under Status > OpenVPN . PfSense Firewall
Configure and NAT Mapping rules to ensure traffic flows correctly through the new OpenVPN gateway. 3. TCP vs. UDP OpenVPN Configurations
Run the connection command: sudo openvpn --config [filename].ovpn .
When downloading your configuration files, ExpressVPN offers two protocol options: Performance Profile Ideal Use Case Fastest speeds, lower latency. Streaming, gaming, and daily browsing. TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) Slower speeds, error-correcting connection. Bypassing firewalls and unstable connections.
Allows deep tweaking of ports, encryption levels, and routing rules.
Manually configuring OpenVPN is different from using ExpressVPN's native app. The native app, available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and routers, is designed for ease of use. It automatically selects optimal protocols and servers, making it ideal for most users.
Enter your manual configuration username and password when prompted.
#obtain-config-files
ExpressVPN is renowned for its user-friendly, one-click apps. However, there are scenarios—such as using a router, a Linux machine, or specialized network hardware—where you need to configure the connection manually. This is where come into play.
Manual configuration is essential for devices that don’t support native apps, such as OpenWrt routers pfSense firewalls Synology NAS units
Switch from a UDP configuration file to a TCP file to bypass network firewalls.
ExpressVPN is best known for its sleek native apps, but it also provides manual OpenVPN configuration files for users who need CLI access, router support, or compatibility with non-standard devices (e.g., Linux without GUI, older DD-WRT firmware). This review assesses how well those .ovpn files perform.
Re-download the .ovpn file to ensure it is not corrupted.
Scroll down to find the list of regional server locations. Click on a region (e.g., USA, UK) to download the respective .ovpn file to your local drive. Step 2: Understanding OpenVPN Protocols (UDP vs. TCP)