Set up a VPN connection on Mac

To connect to a virtual private network (VPN), you need to enter configuration settings in Network preferences. These settings include the VPN server address, account name, and any authentication settings, such as a password or a certificate you received from the network administrator.

If you received a VPN settings file from your network administrator, you can import it to set up your connection. If you didn’t, you can enter the settings manually.

Import a VPN settings file

On your Mac, do one of the following:

• Double-click the file to open Network preferences and automatically import the settings.

• Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, click Network, click the Action pop-up menu , then choose Import Configurations. Select the file, then click Import.

Enter VPN settings manually

1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Network.

2. Click the Add button  in the list at the left, click the Interface pop-up menu, then choose VPN.

3. Click the VPN Type pop-up menu, then choose what kind of VPN connection you want to set up, depending on the network you are connecting to. Give the VPN service a name, then click Create.

   • L2TP is an extension of the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol used by internet service providers to enable a VPN over the internet.

   • IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) is a set of security protocols.

   • IKEv2 is a protocol that sets up a security association in IPSec.

4. Enter the server address and the account name for the VPN connection.

5. Click Authentication Settings, then enter the information you received from the network administrator.

6. If specified by your network administrator, click Advanced to enter additional information such as session options, TCP/IP settings, DNS servers, and proxies.

   The additional information you can enter depends on the type of VPN connection you’re setting up.

7. Click Apply, then click OK.

Select “Show VPN status in menu bar” to use the VPN status icon to connect to the network and switch between VPN services.

To remove the VPN configuration, select the VPN network connection service in the list and click the Remove button .