Download Your Config File
Summary
Where to find your .conf file in the dashboard, how to move it to your device safely, and how to import it on each platform.
On this page
Where the file lives
Every device you register has its own config file. To download it:
- Open the devices page in your dashboard.
- Find the device in the list.
- Click the download link next to it.
Each device gets a .conf file. The file is small, usually under 5 KB.
Tip: if you use the vpn.now app from your download page, you never touch a config file at all. The app creates and stores it for you. Config files are for manual tunnel setup.
Treat the file like a password
The config file contains the private key your device uses to connect. Anyone who has the file can connect as that device, so handle it with care:
- Do not email it to yourself or post it in chat apps.
- Download it directly on the device that will use it when you can.
- Delete spare copies after you import the file into the VPN app.
- If you think a config leaked, revoke that device on the devices page and create a new one. It takes seconds.
Getting the file onto a phone
The easiest path on iPhone and Android is to log in to your dashboard in the phone's browser and download the config there. The tunnel app can open the file straight from your downloads.
On desktop, just download the file and import it from the VPN app's menu.
Avoid emailing the file to yourself to move it between devices. It is faster and safer to log in to the dashboard on the device that needs it.
Importing the file
Importing works a little differently on each platform. The step by step guides cover all of them:
- Windows and macOS, where you choose "Import tunnel(s) from file".
- Linux, where the app signs you in and connects.
- iPhone and iPad and Android, where you import the file or scan a QR code.
For one combined reference with an example config, see the manual tunnel setup guide.
Re-downloading or replacing a config
You can download a config as many times as you need. The file is the same each time, so a fresh copy will not break anything.
- Lost the file? Just download it again from the devices page.
- Worried it leaked? Revoke the device and create a new one. This generates a new key, and the old config stops working within a minute.
- Changed the server? Download the config again so the new server details are included.