Set Up vpn.now on Linux

Install vpn.now on a Debian or Ubuntu desktop with the protected system package, then sign in, connect, and verify the Linux tunnel.

VPN Setup help

Steps and answers

Before you start

Create a free vpn.now account if you have not already. You will sign in to the app with the same account.

The complete vpn.now app for Linux is a .deb for Debian and Ubuntu. It installs the normal-user interface and a narrow, root-owned tunnel helper through your package manager. A portable AppImage interface is also available, but it can connect only after that protected helper has been installed by a system package.

Recommended: .deb for Debian and Ubuntu

1. Download the .deb from the Linux download page.
2. Install it by double-clicking it, or run sudo apt install ./vpn.now-linux.deb.
3. Open vpn.now from your apps menu and sign in.
4. Pick a location and press connect. Polkit asks for authorization for the fixed tunnel operation.

The status turns green when your traffic is protected. Press connect again to disconnect.

AppImage and other distributions

1. The AppImage is a portable interface, not a privileged installer.
2. It connects only when VPN Now's root-owned helper is already installed by a signed system package.
3. Until an RPM is available, use the manual setup guide on Fedora, Arch, and other distributions.

This restriction prevents a user-writable AppImage binary or configuration hook from being executed as root.

Verify and troubleshoot

Run curl https://ifconfig.me before and after connecting. The IP should change to the VPN server's address. More checks are in verifying your IP changed.

If DNS stops resolving after you connect, the fixes in fixing DNS issues usually solve it.