- Proton VPN removes support for old OpenVPN manual configuration files
- Users must download new configurations or upgrade to WireGuard before February 28
- Proton VPN confirms that support for OpenVPN on its servers will remain
Proton VPN has announced that it is removing old manual configuration files from OpenVPN for security reasons, setting a hard deadline of February 28, 2026.
The change affects all users who rely on configuration files downloaded before September 2023. While users of official Proton VPN apps will not be affected, those running manual configurations on routers, Linux endpoints, or third-party clients will lose connectivity if they do not refresh their credentials.
In a blog post announcing the move, the company explained that the update is necessary to move users toward more modern and secure encryption standards that older configuration files did not support.
Why is this happening?
Old configuration files are removed to enforce the use of AES-256-GCM encryption, replacing the old CBC mode.
According to Proton, the move to GCM offers “built-in integrity, support for parallel processing and other efficiency improvements”, meaning it is faster and consumes less battery on mobile devices.
Additionally, new configurations implement TLS-Crypt, a feature that encrypts the control channel and packet headers. This hides the TLS handshake and metadata, making it much harder for firewalls and censors to identify that you are using a VPN.
What you should do
If you’re using manual OpenVPN setup, check when you last downloaded your configuration files. If it was before September 2023, or you’re not sure, the safest thing to do is to update them now.
Failing to update these files before the February deadline will result in a sudden loss of connectivity, potentially leaving your traffic exposed or your Internet access blocked entirely.
Here is the step-by-step process to ensure uninterrupted service:
- Connect to your Proton VPN dashboard via web browser.
- Access the Downloads in the left sidebar and select OpenVPN configuration files.
- Download and upload the new files to your router’s firmware (such as AsusWRT, DD-WRT or OPNsense) or your third-party network manager.
However, if your router or hardware supports it, we highly recommend move on to WireGuard instead of reinstalling OpenVPN.
WireGuard uses modern cryptography that is faster to execute, meaning you’ll likely see increased connection speeds and lower latency, which is vital for gaming or 4K streaming at the router.
Additionally, Proton’s custom implementation of WireGuard includes specific “stealth” obfuscation capabilities, making it much more difficult for ISPs or strict firewalls to detect and block your VPN tunnel compared to a standard OpenVPN connection.
Mullvad vs Proton: a different approach
This news comes just days after Mullvad VPN took a much more drastic step. On January 15, Mullvad completely stopped support for OpenVPN across its entire server network, forcing all users to adopt the new WireGuard protocol.
Proton’s approach is gentler. Even though the company admits that it plans to phase out OpenVPN from its appshe confirmed to TechRadar that server-side support isn’t going anywhere.
Speaking to TechRadar, David Peterson, general manager of Proton VPN, explained that even if WireGuard takes over, existing support remains a priority.
“Thanks to WireGuard’s superior performance, especially on mobile devices, and our extension of WireGuard for Proton VPN’s Stealth protocol, we have seen OpenVPN usage rate drop to a tiny minority of our user base,” Peterson said. “As such, over time we will begin to phase out support for OpenVPN in our client applications, particularly for mobile devices where speed and battery performance are concerns.”
However, Peterson drew a clear line between applications and servers: “We will continue to support OpenVPN on Proton VPN’s servers for the foreseeable future to support existing routers and other older devices that are not able to support WireGuard.” »
Follow TechRadar on Google News And add us as your favorite source to get our news, reviews and expert opinions in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
