How to Set Up OpenVPN on macOS (Tunnelblick)

This guide explains how to set up OpenVPN on macOS using Tunnelblick, a free, open-source OpenVPN client. It is a useful alternative if you can’t install the CyberGhost VPN app.

Jump To …

• Step 1: Download the OpenVPN Configuration Files
• Step 2: Download and Install Tunnelblick
• Step 3: Set up the VPN with Tunnelblick
• Step 4: Make Your First Connection
• Connecting from Different Countries
   

Step 1: Download the OpenVPN Configuration Files

1. Log in to your CyberGhost VPN account.

2. Select VPN from the left menu, then scroll down to Manual setup and select Configure Device.

3. On the next page, configure the settings as follows: 

• Protocol: Select either OpenVPN for a UDP connection or OpenVPN TCP for a TCP connection. UDP is faster but can occasionally interrupt downloads. TCP is more stable and slightly slower, so choose it if you get frequent disconnections.
• Country: Select the country you want to connect through.
• Server Group: Select a server group. This is the category of CyberGhost VPN servers you want to use. 

4. Your new configuration now appears under VPN in your device list. Select View next to it to see the generated connection details.

5. Then, make note of the following:

• Username: A username generated only for this connection. This isn’t your regular CyberGhost VPN account username; it's used only for manual configuration.
• Password: A password generated only for this connection. Use the copy icon to copy it. This isn’t your regular account password.

Once done, click Download Configuration and save the downloaded .zip file somewhere easy to find, such as your desktop. 

6. Extract the contents before continuing. 

Step 2: Download and Install Tunnelblick

1. Go to the official Tunnelblick website, and download the latest version of Tunnelblick.
2. Open the .dmg installer file. Double-click the Tunnelblick icon. You may need to confirm the installation using your macOS password.

Step 3: Set up the VPN with Tunnelblick

3. When Tunnelblick asks about configuration files, select I have configuration files.

4. Go to your Downloads folder or wherever you saved the CyberGhost OpenVPN configuration file earlier. Double-click the file you want to use.
5. You will be asked if you would like to install for all users. If the VPN is intended for all accounts on your Mac, select All Users. If the VPN will only be used by your current account, select Only Me.

6. Enter your Mac administrator password if prompted. 

Step 4: Make Your First Connection

1. Select the Tunnelblick icon in the menu bar, then select Connect [name of the configuration file].

2. Enter your OpenVPN username and password from the earlier steps. To save them for next time, select both Save to Keychain checkboxes. Don’t use your regular CyberGhost VPN account username and password here.

3. A status window appears in the top-right corner of your screen. It turns green once you're connected. 

Connecting from Different Countries

To use more than one VPN country location, you need to generate and download a separate configuration file for each. It's recommended to rename each folder so you can tell them apart. For example, if it's a USA server, you can rename the folder to CG_USA.ovpn.

Once done, double-click the folder to load it, then follow the same steps to connect.

Need assistance? Contact our Customer Support team:

• via email at support@cyberghost.ro 
• via online request at https://support.cyberghostvpn.com/hc/en-us/requests/new 
• via 24/7 Live Chat by clicking the Support button below