How to set up OpenVPN on Windows 7

This tutorial will show you how to set up OpenVPN on Windows 7 using the SmartyDNS VPN services. If you don’t have a SmartyDNS account, you can try our services for free for 3 days.

Here are the steps you should follow:

1. In order to set up OpenVPN on Windows 7 you will have to download and install OpenVPN GUI first.
2. Download OpenVPN GUI.
3. Once the software is downloaded install it:
4. Click on “Next” (1).

   

5. Then click on “I Agree” (2).

   

6. Click on “Next” (3) again.

   

7. Now click on “Install” (4).

   

8. If the following message will appear click on “Install” (5).

   

9. Then Click on “Next” (6).

   

10. Click on “Finish” (7).

    

11. Now you will have to download the config files, then to unzip the downloaded file. Copy all the files to OpenVPN configuration folder. Usually it is located in C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\config. If you get an error about privileges, please move the zip archive to C:\ folder, extract it and move it back to C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\config\ folder.
12. Set the OpenVPN software to “run as administrator”. Right-click on the OpenVPN icon, then press “Properties”. Choose “Advanced”. Check the “Run as administrator” checkbox. From now on, OpenVPN software will always run as administrator.
13. To connect, right-click on the OpenVPN icon, select the server you want to connect to, then click “Connect”. You can choose between two different protocols for OpenVPN: TCP and UDP. We recommend UDP as it is usually faster.

To disconnect, simply right click on the OpenVPN server you then choose “Disconnect”.