Search

Download App

OpenVPN Guide - PiFi

OpenVPN Guide - PiFi

Guide to OpenVPN on PiFi

Everything you need to know about OpenVPN on PiFI

Step 1: OpenVPN (Prerequisites)

You’ll need:

1.1 A VPN Account

(e.g NordVPN, Surfshark, PureVPN etc) — almost all VPN providers provide OpenVPN config files which should be compatible with PiFi

1.2 VPN Config File(s)

From the VPN provider website, download onto your phone whichever OpenVPN config files you’d like on your PiFi (these are server configuration files that let you connect to a region e.g UK, US etc)

You can typically find OpenVPN Config Files by searching, for example, “NordVPN + OpenVPN Configuration Files” in Google (substitute NordVPN for your actual provider) or consult your VPN provider documentation

1.3 VPN Credentials

You only need to enter this once in the app as the app will save it for all future OpenVPN config files - this is your unique server credentials (username and password) - often different from your VPN provider login.

To find your VPN credentials, search “Your Provider + OpenVPN Credentials” and it should pop up for you. For links to popular providers or consult your VPN provider documentation

Step 2: How to Setup OpenVPN

2.1: Open the app, and tap ‘VPN’

image

2.2: Ensure that Protocol is set to OpenVPN

image

If you would like to use the OpenVPN protocol with PiFi, confirm that the PiFi badge shows OVPN and that connect button shows ‘Connect OpenVPN’ - (both underlined in green, above).

If instead it shows WG under the PiFI badge or ‘Connect Wireguard’ - tap the toggle button (illustrated highlighted by yellow box in picture above) and then choose ‘OpenVPN’

Tip: If your VPN provider supports WireGuard and provides config files (not all do), you are likely to find much faster VPN speeds via WireGuard. Check the WireGuard Guide article for more information

2.3: Upload and Connect

image
  • Tap on ‘Connect OpenVPN’
image
  • Tap + Setup New then select ‘Upload OVPN File’
  • Choose the OVPN file you downloaded in step 1 from your phone files/downloads
  • Enter your VPN Credentials (as explained in step one above)
image
  • Tap on the OpenVPN Profile you just uploaded to connect

You’re All Set 🎉

image
💡
Important: đŸš„ When using PiFi software, the LED indicators on your Raspberry Pi function differently:
  • A red/orange LED on the Raspberry Pi means the VPN is off.
  • After booting, a green LED indicates the VPN is enabled.

This behavior differs from the usual LED pattern, especially on the Raspberry Pi 5, where a red/orange LED typically suggests a "shutdown state." However, in this case, it is nothing to worry about.

If you're using the PiFi USB Adapter, the blue activity LED only lights up when actively connected to a device. If it has no blue activity LED it suggests no device is connected to it, not that it’s not powered on.

Additional VPN Options

Rename VPN Files

An OpenVPN filename such as uk9282.nordvpn.udp1994 is not very great to look at but you can rename it to something like United Kingdom or London in the app. Just tap on App > VPN > Connect OpenVPN > Choose the ‘
’ button next to the VPN profile and select Rename

Force ‘AdGuard Home’ DNS

If you would like to force override your VPN providers DNS and use whichever DNS you have set in AdGuard Home you can do so by going to App > Settings > More Settings > VPN Client and toggle on Overrule DNS

Delete OpenVPN Credentials

You can view or delete saved OpenVPN credentials - which would then need re-added for any future config files - by going to App > Settings > More Settings > VPN Client > OpenVPN Credentials. To delete, tap the 
 menu button on the top right and select ‘Delete’

Copy OpenVPN Log

If you’re having trouble with OpenVPN not connecting and you’re not sure the issue, the OpenWRT OpenVPN log may provide some assistance. To obtain this you can use SSH, LuCI or alternatively go to App > Settings > More Settings > VPN Client > Copy OpenVPN Log

Need help or more tips, see the PiFi community