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Want easy app setup? If you have an Asus RT-AC68U (up to v3), RT-AC87U, RT-AC56R, RT-AC56S, or RT-AC56U, you can set up the ExpressVPN app for routers.

This tutorial will show you how to set up ExpressVPN on your Asus router using the OpenVPN protocol.

Not all ExpressVPN locations may be available for manually configured connections. To use the full list of VPN locations, use the app setup.

Important: The OpenVPN manual configuration does not offer the same security and privacy benefits as the ExpressVPN app. If your router does not support AES-NI (e.g., Asus RT-AC86U), you may experience occasional speed issues while using the OpenVPN manual configuration. If you are located in a country with a high level of internet censorship, you are recommended to use the ExpressVPN app for a more stable VPN connection.

Important: This tutorial only works for the following Asus routers:
RT-N66U, RT-AC56U, RT-AC66U, RT-AC68U (up to v3), RT-AC87U, RT-AC5300, RT-AC3200, RT-AC3100, RT-AC1750, RT-AC88U, RT-AC66R, RT-AC55U, and Merlin on Asus.

Important: While running OpenVPN 2.6, you may encounter a warning saying “–keysize is DEPRECATED”. This is due to ExpressVPN having the keysize option in the .ovpn file. This warning message will not affect VPN functionality as OpenVPN 2.6 will simply ignore the line with no further consequence.

If you want to remove this warning, open the .ovpn file with a text editor and either:

  1. delete the line containing keysize
    or
  2. add # in front of the keysize (#keysize 256).

Alternatively, you can ignore the warning without any negative effects.

If you are unable to connect on your router or see a DNS leak, please contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

The following video demonstrates the setup process using Asus stock firmware.

You will need to download the OpenVPN configuration file (.ovpn) for the server location of your choice.

Jump to…

1. Download the VPN configuration files
2. Configure your ASUS router

1. Download the VPN configuration files

Go to the ExpressVPN setup page. If prompted, enter your ExpressVPN credentials and click Sign In.

Enter your account credentials, then click "Sign In."

Enter the verification code that is sent to your email.

On the right, with OpenVPN already selected for you, you will see your username, password, and a list of OpenVPN configuration files.

With OpenVPN already selected for you, you will see your username, password, and a list of OpenVPN configuration files.

Click the location(s) you want in order to download the .ovpn file(s).

Keep this browser window open. You will need this information for the setup later.

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

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2. Configure your Asus router

Please refer to the section appropriate to your device below.

Asus stock firmware

In your browser’s address bar, enter router.asus.com to access the router admin panel.

If the address for your router’s admin panel was changed in the past, and you cannot remember it, you can find it in your device’s settings.

Enter router.asus.com in your browser.

Sign in with your router’s username and password. By default, they are both admin.

Sign in to the Asus admin with your admin username and password.

In the sidebar, click VPN.

Click "VPN.”

At the top, click the VPN Client tab. Then click Add profile.

Click "Add profile."

Select the OpenVPN tab, then fill out the following details:

Click OK.

Click "Upload."

Click Activate to start the VPN.

Click "Activate."

Once the connection is successful, you will see Check icon. under Connection Status.

A "tick" icon under connection status.

Check your location and IP address to confirm the VPN connection is working.

If you can’t connect, retry the steps above or repeat the process with a different OpenVPN configuration file.

To change VPN locations, upload a different OpenVPN configuration file, enter your OpenVPN configuration username and password, hit Apply at the bottom of the page, then turn the service state ON.

Asuswrt-Merlin

The Asuswrt-Merlin firmware is different from the regular Asus router firmware. To configure ExpressVPN on Asuswrt-Merlin:

  1. In your browser’s address bar, enter router.asus.com to access the router admin panel. If the address for your router’s admin panel was changed in the past, and you cannot remember it, you can find it in your device’s settings.
  2. Log in with your username and password. By default, they are both admin.
  3. Under Advanced Settings, select VPN from the menu on the left.
  4. Along the top, select OpenVPN Clients.
  5. Next to Import .ovpn file, click Browse… and upload the .ovpn configuration file you downloaded above.
  6. After the file upload is complete, scroll down to Basic Settings. Copy-paste the ExpressVPN manual configuration username and password you found above.
  7. Scroll down to Advanced Settings. Set Accept DNS Configuration to one of the following: Strict (if you intend to use ExpressVPN on all devices connected to the router) or Exclusive (if you only intend to use ExpressVPN on select devices).
  8. If you see the Redirect Internet traffic through tunnel option, select Yes/VPN Director.
  9. Under Custom Configuration, enter the following text and click Apply.

fast-io
remote-random
pull
tls-client
verify-x509-name Server name-prefix
ns-cert-type server
route-method exe
route-delay 2
tun-mtu 1500
fragment 1300
mssfix 1200
keysize 256
sndbuf 524288
rcvbuf 524288

Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.

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