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VPN and proxy protocol guides: setup, safety and troubleshooting

To connect an OpenVPN profile, start with the Windows instructions, Linux instructions or iPhone setup. To inspect a file first, use the .ovpn reading guide and config validator. If the client asks for a password or reports AUTH_FAILED, use the public-profile authentication checklist.

Understand OpenVPN, VLESS, Trojan, VMess, Shadowsocks, Hysteria2, TUIC, WireGuard and IKEv2, compare proxy and full-VPN designs, inspect configuration fields, find checked servers and solve connection problems.

2317Visible servers
2246Verified online
50Metrics pending
0Stale servers
21Failing servers
0Awaiting first check
113checked within 1 hour
2246checked within 72 hours
43Countries with online endpoints
114Countries observed in catalog
+38added last hour 3.3 Mbpsfastest recent median
LiveUpdated 4 min ago

HTTP and SOCKS proxy guides

Reference and downloads

VLESS and modern proxy protocols

Full VPN protocols

Technical comparisons

Start here

Core .ovpn guides

Choose your device

Choose protocol or port

Find a server

Fix common problems

OpenVPN setup

Use cases

Tools

Trust and methodology

How to use these guides

Start with the core .ovpn guides if you are new to OpenVPN profiles: learn what is inside the file, how to import it on your operating system, and how protocol or port choice affects reliability. Then open the country or speed list, download a fresh .ovpn profile, and follow the setup page for your device. Before using a public VPN for anything important, read the risk notes and check the profile contents in your OpenVPN client.

New to OpenVPN?

  1. Read: What is an .ovpn file
  2. Choose: fastest or country page
  3. Follow: setup guide for your device
  4. Verify: IP + DNS leak tools
  5. Read: public VPN risks

If you are building tools or monitoring workflows, start with the status, sources and export pages. They explain how the dataset is imported, which fields are available and why some imported profiles are not shown in public search pages.

Manual setup walkthroughs

The Windows and Android setup pages include step-by-step instructions, screenshot-style flow diagrams and troubleshooting notes for importing public .ovpn profiles. Use them when you need a hands-on path instead of only a server list.

Windows OpenVPN checklist

  1. Install OpenVPN Connect.
  2. Download a fresh checked .ovpn file.
  3. Import the file, connect, then verify the visible IP.

Open the Windows guide

Android OpenVPN checklist

  1. Install OpenVPN Connect or a compatible client.
  2. Save the downloaded profile from the browser.
  3. Import through the app or Android Files, then allow VPN permission.

Open the Android guide

Frequently asked questions

Where should I start on PublicVPNList?
Use countries for location testing, fastest pages for throughput, protocol pages for port restrictions, and tools for validating IP, DNS and .ovpn files.
Are these guides tied to live data?
Yes. The guide hub points to pages backed by the current checked OpenVPN dataset whenever possible.
Should I use public VPN servers for sensitive work?
No public third-party endpoint should be trusted blindly. Use them for testing and low-risk browsing unless you know the operator.