Troubleshooting VPN Client on Wi-Fi Router Is Not Working
This Article Applies to:
All the Wi-Fi Routers that support VPN Client, such as Archer AX20, Archer AX21, Archer AX90, etc.
Issue Description/Phenomenon:
The Wi-Fi Routers that are being discussed here are the models that support VPN Client, which allows users to connect to a VPN server without the need to install VPN software on each device. If you are unable to connect to a VPN server when trying to configure the VPN client on the TP-Link router, this article provides some suggestions that may help you out.
However, if VPN server on TP-Link router is not working, please follow this thread for troubleshooting: VPN Server Doesn't Work Properly on TP-Link Wi-Fi Routers
Troubleshooting Suggestions & Solution:
Step 1
For OpenVPN, please follow this FAQ How to get configuration files from OpenVPN service providers to get correct configuration file and your VPN service credentials, which is the key to accessing the VPN service.
Step 2
Ensure you can successfully connect to the VPN server using a third-party VPN client software like OpenVPN Connect or OpenVPN or WireGuard App for WireGuard VPN on the local PC/Smartphone. This can ensure the .opvn or .conf file is configured and exported correctly.
For example, If you are trying to connect to NordVPN, please don't use NordVPN App since it doesn't require the .opvn at all.
Note: NordVPN service credentials are different from your NordVPN account credentials, namely your email address and your password. You'll need NordVPN service credentials to connect to the VPN using the manual OpenVPN configuration method in the router.
Step 3
If step 2 is confirmed good, but it still fails to connect to the VPN server when uploading the .opvn file into the TP-Link router, be sure the router's firmware is up-to-date. You can check for the updates on the Tether app or on the router web GUI, or you can download it from the local official website and then install it manually.
Step 4
If it still fails, please check the size of the VPN configuration profile you are trying to upload to the router, and how large that file is. You may download and install the Notepad+ application to delete the useless comment in the profile if that is too large, then try uploading it into the router again.
Step 5
It's also suggested to try TCP protocol on the VPN server if it's currently using UDP, then save the file and upload it into the TP-Link router again to check if that works.
If the VPN connection still fails, please comment below on this topic and be sure to provide the following information:
1. Model number, hardware, and firmware version of your TP-Link Router.
2. What kind of VPN server you are connecting to?
3. What kind of VPN type are you choosing on the TP-Link router, OpenVPN, or PPTP VPN?
4. What kind of VPN Client software you were using on the local PC or phone when it was connecting fine? Please test and make sure you can connect to the server with third-party software, such as OpenVPN Connect for OpenVPN and WireGuard App for WireGuard VPN.
5. Which step did you stuck in, any error message or screenshot?
6. Troubleshooting you've done before, and be sure the .opvn file for OpenVPN or .conf file for WireGuard is included when emailing to support.
Related Articles:
If you are not familiar with the VPN, visit Introduction and Configuration Guide of VPN Function on TP-Link Wireless Routers
If you want to check which model supports the VPN Client, visit Routers supporting the VPN Client.
If you are unable to connect CyberGhost OpenVPN Server, please try Manually create the unified format for OpenVPN profile(CyberGhost OpenVPN Server)
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Archer AX20_V2.0_210902
THE LINK DOES NOT WORK SEND ME TO THE SUPPORT PAGE NOT TO THE LINK OF THE BETA FILE IN ZIP FORMAT
BEFORE YOU COULD DOWNLOAD THE ZIP WITHOUT ANY DIFFICULTY, FIX THE LINK SINCE IT DOES NOT WORK IN VENEZUELA
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Would you please initiate a request to support service like previous time, so I could have an investigation with them. Unfortunately I lost that mail from the engineering team so cannot contact them.
Thanks much!
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hello
Thank you for providing me with the links for the version of my AX20 US V2 but unfortunately I require the beta version available since the last official version the VPN client when connected reduces the internet speed of my fiber optic very significantly and contact the technical support of My VPN provider and with its application the internet speed is the same so the conclusion was drawn that the TP-LINK VPN Client is the version 20210901 reduces the internet speed too much I need the latest beta version available for my AX20 US V2 device , thank you.- Copy Link
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We have an Archer Router we bought with the purpose of connecting to our VPN with the VPN client option. If this is successful we plan to buy more for other locations.
Firmware Version:
1.3.2 Build 20210901 rel.69096(5553)
Hardware Version:
Archer AX20 v1.20
We are connecting to our OpenVPN Server using OpenVPN, we use Windows.
4. Which step did you stuck in, any error message or screenshot?
The tplink router connects to our OpenVPN Server, but it doesn't reach the other subnets. I think it can be something about the routes. When I use the same ovpn file in my Pc it works correctly.
From the diagnostics on the router I can ping the VPN GW, but not the other subnets. IF I use the same ovpn certificate in my Windows PC it woks flawlessly.
In the CCD file for the ovpn server I push this routes
push "route 192.168.0.0 255.255.255.0"
push "route 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0"
In the active routing table I only see thes:
| Network Destination | Subnet Mask | Gateway | Interface |
|---|
| 0.0.0.0 |
0.0.0.0 |
192.168.100.1 |
WAN |
|
| 12.21.0.6 |
255.255.255.255 |
0.0.0.0 |
VPN |
|
| 192.168.3.0 |
255.255.255.0 |
0.0.0.0 |
LAN |
|
| 192.168.100.0 |
255.255.255.0 |
0.0.0.0 |
WAN |
So I guess the routes of the other subnets are not being added.
I can't connect ussing SSH to the router the add the routes manually. What can we do?
If you I can get in contact with a Support engeneer I can send my ovpn files so they can check.
Thanks for your help!
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Hello, can I also confirm what kind of OpenVPN server you are connecting to? As per your description, AX20 connects to the OpenVPN server fine, but it fails to be routed to the subnet behind the server, am I right? As far as I can understand, this should be decided by how the server handles the client connection. Is the static route configured on the server?
I will forward your case to the TP-Link support engineer once I got the details, they will contact you with your registered email address later then.
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Hello, I found you opening a new thread below, and I have just replied to you, please check:
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Thanks for you anser Kevin, we have the 2.4.7-1~bpo9+1 version of OpenVPN installed in our own Server.
In this server we have varios subnets:
12.21.0.0/16 : The VPN one
192.168.0.0/24
192.168.1.0/24
192.168.50.0/24 etc
The routes are added client side using the CCD directory ((client-config-dir)) of OpenVPN with the command push:
push "route 192.168.0.0 255.255.255.0"
push "route 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0"
When the AX20 connects it can ping the VPN subnet gw and other hosts in the VPN subnet but not hosts in the other subnets.
Maybe the openvpn client in the TPLink AX20 is not implementing the routes of the ccd file correctly. The same server config and ccd config and ovpn certificate ok in the Windows and Android OpenVPN clients.
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To assist you more efficiently, I've forwarded your case to the TP-Link support engineers who will contact you with your registered email address later.
Please pay attention to your email box for follow-up.
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@Attila63 In managed to solve the issue in the end. However the .opevpn file was working well using it with my OpenVPN client on Windows, the same file failed working while attaching it on the OpenVPN file configuration page. It turned out that I had to configure the username & password additionally, then it started to work and my OpenVPN client could connect and worked properly. I'm still not sure why it worked on Windows without configuring the username & password, but in the end it's fixed now. Thanks for your feedback and help. Cheers
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