# How to set up an .ovpn file on Pop!_OS 22.04

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## An .ovpn file

An .ovpn file is a configuration file used by the OpenVPN (Open Virtual Private Network) software to establish a secure connection between your device and a VPN (Virtual Private Network) server.

OpenVPN is an open-source software that enables the creation of secure point-to-point or site-to-site connections in routed or bridged configurations and remote access facilities.

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## **Let's get down to business**

shall we?

![The-office GIFs - Get the best GIF on GIPHY](https://media1.giphy.com/media/BpGWitbFZflfSUYuZ9/giphy.gif align="center")

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### **Check your OS**

This step is just to make sure you have `Pop!_OS` installed.

```plaintext
uname -a
hostnamectl
lsb_release -a
cat /etc/os-release
```

Output

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1701960709361/81a5f20c-2703-45ff-83d3-440318836a26.png?auto=compress,format&format=webp align="left")

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## Open a Terminal

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## Update repository

```plaintext
sudo apt-get update
```

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## Install OpenVPN

```plaintext
sudo apt-get install openvpn
```

Output

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1702084070357/38f578c5-5628-46cb-8acf-d5ec80a08a2d.png align="center")

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## Check installation

```plaintext
openvpn --version
which openvpn
openvpn
```

Output

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1702084336650/683ee089-a621-4153-93b3-ca88a2871ba1.png align="center")

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## Create the directory

This directory is going to store the `.ovpn` file.

```plaintext
mkdir ~/.vpn-configs
```

---

## Copy the .ovpn file

```plaintext
cp somewhere/file.ovpn newplace/
```

It would look something like this

```plaintext
cp ~/Downloads/master-file.ovpn ~/.vpn-configs/
```

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## Verify the copy

```plaintext
ls ~/.vpn-configs/
```

Your `.ovpn` file should be in that directory.

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## Connect to VPN

```plaintext
sudo openvpn ~/.vpn-configs/master-file.ovpn
```

Output

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1702084989991/70aac9c9-2f46-4579-9977-f37753711d1d.png align="center")

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## **Done**

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## Celebrate

![Happy Season 2 GIF by The Office - Find & Share on GIPHY](https://media2.giphy.com/media/jQediRqu0oLXNdjDbN/giphy.gif?cid=6c09b952sfrdnl666a3hp1aeryp278rp59g3w8aj33myfbux&ep=v1_internal_gif_by_id&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g align="center")

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## **Let's network**

* [**Github**](https://github.com/alexcalaca)
    
* [**LinkedIn**](https://linkedin.com/in/alexandrecalacaofficial)
    
* [**Hashnode**](https://hashnode.com/onboard?next=/@alexandrecalaca)
    
* [**Youtube**](https://www.youtube.com/@alexandrecalacaofficial)
    

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## Final thoughts

Thank you for reading this article.

If you have any questions, thoughts, suggestions, or corrections, please share them with us.

We appreciate your feedback and look forward to hearing from you.

Feel free to suggest topics for future blog articles. Until next time!

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