A Virtual Private Network is an awesome tool that will allow you to access private networks from anywhere around the world so that your online activities remain discrete. VPN server ensures that you can safely browse over public networks without disclosing your personal information. This is one of the safest ways to browse the internet. And, if you want to use a VPN on your Windows device, then this how-to setup VPN connection in the Windows 10/11 guide will walk you through it.
What is a Virtual Private Network?
A VPN network contains a VPN server that is located between the internal and external network and authenticates the external VPN connections. When VPN clients start the incoming connection, the VPN server ensures that the client is authentic and if the authentication process is accomplished successfully only then permission is issued to connect with the internal network. If the authentication process isn’t complete, then the incoming connection won’t be established.
Microsoft has given remote access VPN server installation in all Windows operating system versions. But, if you are the owner of Windows 10/8/7, then under this how-to guide, we will show the steps to connect with a VPN server on your Windows computers quickly.
How to set up a VPN server on Windows 10
To ensure that your PC is acting as a VPN server for safe web browsing, then you have to establish a new incoming connection for VPN access, which you can do by following the steps.
Before starting make sure you have a working internet connection, Note down your public IP address by simply searching in Google, “What is my IP?” And let’s follow the steps below to prepare the VPN server on Windows 10.
Step 02: Create a New VPN Incoming Connection
- Press Windows + R keyboard short, type ncpa.cpl and press Enter on your keyboard.
- This will open the Network Connection is opened on your computer screen,
- Select your active network adapter,
- Now On your keyboard, hold down “Alt + F” This will bring down the “File Menu.”
- Select “New Incoming Connection.”
Now, you have to select the user in your computer system that you want to access using VPN. Here, you can create more than one user to access the VPN.
You should enable the Through the Internet option and keep on pressing next. Now, at Networking Protocols, you have to specify which protocols you want to be available for the connected VPN clients or you can leave to the default setting.
By continuing with the default VPN server settings, you will enable the following protocols for incoming connections –
Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) – These will be the default, IP Addresses for connected VPN clients, which are assigned automatically from your network DHCP server. However, if you don’t have a DHCP server on your network or if you want to define IP address range, then you have to highlight Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click “Properties”. At properties, you can specify the VPN clients.
File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks – This default setting is enabled to connect all VPN users that have access to your network files and printers ever.
QoS Packet Scheduler – You should leave this option enabled to control the IP traffic of numerous network services such as Real-Time Communication traffic.
Also, select Internet protocol version 4 -> properties button to manually Specify IP addresses, Then enter a range of IP address that is not and will not be used on your LAN and click OK,
Once the default network settings are defined, then you have to click on the Allow Access Button and let the VPN installation wizard automatically complete the entire process. You will be given the option to print this information for further reference. Click on Close to finish the configuration process.
Step 2: Allow VPN connections through the firewall
- From the start menu search, Search for Allow an app through Windows Firewall, and click the top result to open the experience.
- Click the Change settings button.
- Scroll down and make sure Routing and Remote Access is allowed on Private and Public.
- Click the OK button
Step 3. Forward VPN Port
Once you have set up the incoming VPN connection, then you must log in to your Internet Router and configure it so that it can forward the VPN connections from external IP addresses to your VPN server. To configure your router, you have to follow these steps –
- Open a web browser on a Windows computer and in the URL box enter your Router IP Address and press Enter.
- Up next, you have entered your Router’s Administrator User name and Password which you can easily locate from the router device mainly on its lower side or it is mentioned on your router’s manual.
- In the configuration setup, forward port 1723 to the IP address of the computer where you created the new incoming connection, and that acts as a VPN server. And, you are done!
Extra Instructions
- To remotely access your VPN server, you must know the public IP Address of the VPN server.
- If you want to ensure that you always stay connected to your VPN server, it is good to have a Static Public IP Address. However, if you don’t want to pay for your setup, then you can use free DNS services on your router.
Connect to a VPN in Windows 10
The following are the steps for configuring the Outgoing VPN Connection in Windows 10.
- Click the Windows 10 “Start Button” and select Settings
- On the Setting, window Click the Network & Internet entry.
- Now From the column on the left side of the screen, select VPN.
- On the right side of the screen, click on the ‘+’ icon that says Add a VPN connection.
Fill the fields with the following settings
- VPN provider – Windows (built-in)
- Connection name – Give a memorable name to this connection. For example, name it CactusVPN PPTP.
- Server name or address – type the server name or address you want to connect. You can find the whole list in the Client area, under the “Package Details”.
- VPN type – select Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP).
- Type of sign-in info – select Username and password.
- In the “Username” and “Password” fields type your VPN username and password. Make sure you use your VPN username and password and NOT the client area credentials.
- Check all selected data once again and press “Save”
- Now you can see your VPN connection was created.
If you find this how-to setup VPN connection on Windows 10 guide helpful, then you should definitely try to secure your network today. And, don’t forget to share your experience with us.
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