In today's tutorial I am going to show you how to connect to ExpressVPN using manual OpenVPN configuration files with third party OpenVPN clients for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.







This can be very useful if you are using ExpressVPN in China because the manual OpenVPN server IP addresses are different from the ones used in the apps. If the server IPs used in the apps get blocked by the Great Firewall, the manual OpenVPN server in the same location will often still work.





Even if you are not in China, some people still prefer to use manual OpenVPN connections because the client software is open source.





How to setup manual OpenVPN on Windows







Step 1 - Download the client





Download the latest version of the OpenVPN GUI client and install it. The OpenVPN website is blocked in China, but you can access it by using Simple DNSCrypt. Alternatively, you can download the client using the links below.





Download OpenVPN GUI v2.4.8 for Windows 7/8





Download OpenVPN GUI v2.4.8 for Windows 10





Step 2 - Download the ExpressVPN .ovpn config files





Go to the ExpressVPN website and log into your account.





If you are in China without another VPN installed and the above link does not work for you, try the alternative links on the China-accessible VPN links page.







After you log into your account, go to the setup page and choose Manual Config as shown below.