What is the OVPN file format?
A .ovpn file stores connection settings used by OpenVPN, a widely deployed open-source tool for managing virtual private networks. The .ovpn configuration file contains virtual private network access settings and client configuration. The format was developed by OpenVPN Inc. (founded by James Yonan) and is available under an open-source license.
Unlike binary config formats, .ovpn files are plain text and fully human-readable. Each profile contains directives such as client, remote, proto, dev tun, and cipher, which define how the VPN tunnel is established. A self-contained "unified profile" can embed the certificate authority, client certificate, and private key inline using <ca>, <cert>, <key>, and <tls-crypt> blocks - removing the need for separate .crt or .pem files.
Usage of .ovpn files
.ovpn files are used for creating a VPN session between a server and an OpenVPN client. VPN providers distribute .ovpn profiles directly to end-users for import into desktop and mobile clients. Both client-side profiles (typically named client.ovpn) and server-side configurations (e.g. server.ovpn) use the same directive syntax.
Location and names of .ovpn files
On Windows, .ovpn files are typically saved in the C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\config\ folder; common filenames include server.ovpn and client.ovpn. On Linux, configurations typically reside under /etc/openvpn/.
Security & safety
RISK: MEDIUMThe big risk is the FILE ITSELF being sensitive: a self-contained .ovpn often embeds the client PRIVATE key (<key>) and CA, so anyone with the file (and any password) may be able to connect to that VPN as you - store it securely, don't e-mail it in the clear, and revoke/reissue if it leaks. The opposite risk is malicious profiles: an .ovpn can contain directives that run scripts or commands on connect (up/down/route-up scripts, or with certain plugins) and can redirect ALL your traffic and DNS through the server in the file. Never import an .ovpn from an untrusted source - it could route your traffic through an attacker's server (a man-in-the-middle position) or execute commands. Open it in a text editor first to see which server it connects to and whether it includes script directives. Only use .ovpn files from your real VPN provider or your own IT.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open OVPN files
Windows3 apps
OpenVPN Connect
Free Install OpenVPN Connect, click Import -> File, choose the .ovpn, enter any username/password, and Connect.
OpenVPN GUI (community)
Open-source Place the .ovpn in C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\config (or %USERPROFILE%\OpenVPN\config), right-click the tray icon -> Connect.
Text editor (Notepad++, VS Code)
Open-source Open the .ovpn as text only to inspect/edit settings - handle carefully, it may contain a private key. 
macOS2 apps
Tunnelblick
Open-source Free macOS OpenVPN client - double-click the .ovpn to install the profile, then connect from the menu bar. 
Linux2 apps
OpenVPN (CLI)
Open-source Install via the package manager, then run 'sudo openvpn --config client.ovpn' (or 'openvpn3 session-start --config').
NetworkManager (openvpn plugin)
Open-source Install network-manager-openvpn, then Settings -> Network -> Add VPN -> Import from file -> select the .ovpn. 
Android2 apps
OpenVPN Connect
Free Install from Play Store, tap Import -> File, choose the .ovpn, enter credentials, connect.
OpenVPN for Android (Arne Schwabe)
Open-source Open-source client: import the .ovpn profile and connect; good for advanced options.
OpenVPN Connect
Free Install from the App Store, share/open the .ovpn into the app to add the profile, then connect. Technical details
deep spec| MIME type | application/x-openvpn-profile |
| File structure | Plain-text directives (one per line) with optional inline PEM blocks enclosed in <ca>, <cert>, <key>, <tls-auth>, and <tls-crypt> tags |
| File signature | None - no binary magic bytes; identified by OpenVPN directives such as `client`, `remote`, `proto`, and `dev` |
| Default VPN port | UDP 1194 (IANA-assigned to OpenVPN) |
| Tunneling modes | `dev tun` (layer-3 IP routing) or `dev tap` (layer-2 Ethernet bridging) |
| Transport protocols | UDP (recommended for performance) or TCP, set via `proto udp` or `proto tcp` directive |
| Encryption ciphers | AES-256-GCM (default since OpenVPN 2.4), AES-128-GCM, ChaCha20-Poly1305 (OpenVPN 2.5+); legacy AES-256-CBC also supported |
| Control-channel security | `tls-auth` adds an HMAC firewall layer; `tls-crypt` (OpenVPN 2.4+) fully encrypts and authenticates the control channel |
| Data-channel HMAC digest | `auth SHA256` or `auth SHA512` directive controls the packet authentication digest |
| Key renegotiation interval | Default 3600 seconds (1 hour), configurable via the `reneg-sec` directive |
| Compression | Optional LZO or LZ4 via `compress lzo` / `compress lz4`; legacy `comp-lzo` directive deprecated in OpenVPN 2.4+ |
| Inline credential embedding | Certificates, private keys, and CA data can be embedded as PEM blocks, producing a single portable file with no external dependencies |
| Typical file size | 2-20 KB for a self-contained unified profile with embedded certificates and keys |
| Windows config path | `C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\config\` |
| Linux config path | `/etc/openvpn/` |
| Released | 2001 (OpenVPN); .ovpn unified-profile convention popularized in the 2000s |
| Open standard | Yes · royalty-free |
| Specification | openvpn.net |
OVPN conversions
Community Q&A
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