When you are ready to disconnect from the VPN: The menu bar with this icon is shown here next to the WiFi icon. If you would like to be reminded that you are connected in this way, select the checkbox for the option “Show VPN status in menu bar”. In the Authentication Settings, enter the password (your user password to the network) and then the Shared Secret (the VPN passcode). Now that your service is listed, you can add the Server Address and Account Name. Choose the relevant VPN type, and give it a Service Name of your choosing. In the box that appears, click on the interface menu and select VPN.Ĥ. Click on the + in the bottom left to add a service to the list.ģ. Open your System Preferences and select Network.Ģ.

In short, you will add a new connection that directs your internet traffic through the VPN address you have been given:ġ. To connect to a VPN you will need to navigate the System Preferences, specifically the Network settings on macOS. All clear? Now what? Fortunately, you can use an existing VPN for Mac to connect. If you are unsure of what your credentials might be for your work VPN, contact your IT department. Somehow, this is your key to the office network that lets you work from home securely. You may have just been given a piece of paper with a string of numbers and dots followed by a complex password or two. Your boss may have told you to connect to the VPN while working from home. How to use a VPN on Mac and other devicesīuild your own VPN at home for use anywhere, anytimeĬonnect to an Existing VPN Using Free macOS Features On the VPN connection settings screen, click the 'Connect' button to start the VPN connection.The task of creating a virtual private network (VPN) no longer requires networking knowledge.īut not all VPNs are the same, so below we will discuss three potential scenarios for how to setup a VPN on Mac:Ĭonnect to an existing VPN using free macOS features Check the 'Send all traffic over VPN connection' and click the 'OK' button. After you input them, click the 'OK' button.Īfter return to the previous screen, check the 'Show VPN status in menu bar' and click the 'Advanced.' button. Specify the pre-shared key also on the 'Shared Secret' field.

Input your password in the 'Password' field. Next, click the 'Authentication Settings.' button. On this screen, you have to specify either hostname or IP address of the destination SoftEther VPN Server.Īfter you specified the 'Server Address', input the user-name on the 'Account Name' field, which is the next to the 'Server Address' field. Select 'VPN' as 'Interface', 'L2TP over IPsec' as 'VPN Type' and click the 'Create' button.Ī new L2TP VPN configuration will be created, and the configuration screen will appear.

Click 'Open Network Preferences.' in the menu.Ĭlick the '+' button on the network configuration screen. Initial configurations (only once at the first time)Ĭlick the network icon on the top-right side on the Mac screen.

How to create a vpn server mac