Last updated:
Share in FacebookShare in TwitterShare in WhatsappShare in TelegramShare by email
Need a VPN for your router?
Get ExpressVPN Now
Love ExpressVPN? Want a free month?
Refer a Friend Now
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: 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.
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 theVPN 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 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.
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.
Back to top
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.
Sign in with your router’s username and password. By default, they are both admin.
In the sidebar, click VPN.
At the top, click the VPN Client tab. Then click Add profile.
Select the OpenVPN tab, then fill out the following details:
- Description: Something to help you recognize the VPN connection.
- Username: Copy the ExpressVPN manual configuration username you found above.
- Password: Copy the ExpressVPN manual configuration password you found above.
- Import .ovpn file: Upload the file you downloaded above. Click Upload. You will see a “Complete” message.
Click OK.
Click Activate to start the VPN.
Once the connection is successful, you will see 
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:
- 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.
- Log in with your username and password. By default, they are both admin.
- Under Advanced Settings, select VPN from the menu on the left.
- Along the top, select OpenVPN Clients.
- Next to Import .ovpn file, click Browse… and upload the .ovpn configuration file you downloaded above.
- After the file upload is complete, scroll down to Basic Settings. Copy-paste the ExpressVPN manual configuration username and password you found above.
- 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).
- If you see the Redirect Internet traffic through tunnel option, select Yes/VPN Director.
- 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
sndbuf 524288
rcvbuf 524288
Need help? Contact the ExpressVPN Support Team for immediate assistance.
Back to top
Share in FacebookShare in TwitterShare in WhatsappShare in TelegramShare by email
Was this article helpful?
We're sorry to hear that. Let us know how we can improve.
Which router model do you need help with?
Examples: Linksys WRT1200AC, Asus RT-AC56R
Please enter a valid email address.
A member of our Support Team will follow up on your issue.
