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How to transfer the .ovpn file from a computer to an iDevice (e.g., iPhone or iPad)

Notes
  • Do not use email to load the .ovpn files to the iDevice
  • OpenVPN must be enabled - Current OpenVPN server status: RUNNING

Getting started

  1. Using the App Store install OpenVPN Connect on the iPhone / iPad
    • Do this first before continuing
  2. Unlock iPhone

On the Computer side

  • Open a window in the Finder 1
  • In the left sidebar locate iCloud and click on iCloud Drive
  • Create a new folder (e.g., let's call it myIPFire)
  • Copy the two recently created ovpn files, myPhone.ovpn and myPhone.ovpn12, to this folder

The .ovpn and ovpn12 files are now loaded into the iCloud Drive and should be available on the iDevice. The next step is to load the .ovpn and ovpn12 into OpenVPN Connect.

On the iPhone side

1) On the iDevice, locate and launch Files 2
2) Open the recently created directory named myIPFire. Then click on the "Install_first . . ." file.
3) Click the Share / Export icon
4) Click Copy to OpenVPN
5) The OpenVPN Connect app will auto-launch. Click ADD
6) Enter the password and click OK. This password is the PKCS12 File Password from OpenVPN webpage.
7) This page indicates the file was imported (there seems to be no other indicator)
8) Now for the second file. Locate and launch Files. Open the same directory created above - myIPFire. Then click on the second file. In this example it is called myPhone (actually it is myPhone.ovpn but the extension is hidden)
9) Click ADD
10) Click the Certificate down arrow and pick the Install_first_myPhone.ovpn12. Then click ADD
11) Click Allow
12) Approve the Add VPN Configuration with Touch ID, Face ID or the iPhone Passcode
13) When ready to connect, click on the slider switch
14) After properly connected you'll see this screen. When ready to disconnect, click on the slider switch
Done - You are good to go!

  1. The instructions below are on macOS Mojave version 10.14.6 

  2. The instructions below are on iPhone 8 with iOS 12.4.1 and OpenVPN Connect version 3.0.3