Arguably the most eye-catching client update has been released! As you'll soon see, our desktop client has received a huge facelift and it’s been a fun but challenging development sprint to make the interface more intuitive and integrated with the website. Shoot us a message at support@ovpn.com and let us know what you think!
Install on Windows
You do not need to uninstall an older version if you already have one installed.
- Download OVPN.exe
- Double-click the installation file
- Go through the installation steps
- Run OVPN via the start menu and connect
Install on OS X
You do not need to uninstall an older version if you already have one installed.
- Download OVPN.zip
- Unzip the downloaded file
- Double-click the installation file
- Go through the installation steps
- Run OVPN and connect
Install on Ubuntu (64bit)
You do not need to uninstall an older version if you already have one installed.
- Download OVPN_amd64.run
- Via the terminal/CLI type:
cd /path/to/OVPN_amd64.run - Then via terminal/CLI type:
sudo chmod +x OVPN_amd64.run && sudo ./OVPN_amd64.run - Go through the installation steps
- Run OVPN and connect
New connection tab and overall design changes
A completely new design layout has been put into place, with a new color palette and the removal of redundant margins to leave room for more valuable content and features.
The redesign initially started as an idea to move the majority of the information shown on the website to the client interface. The connection tab now features a top bar for tracking DNS leaks, a killswitch setup as well as a placeholder for integration with the upcoming browser extension.
We also thought that the information on the system tab could be better integrated into other parts of the interface, and was therefore scrapped entirely. As you can see, the server location, assigned IP address and add-on information are now shown on the connection tab.
Support and website integrations
Instead of retaining the now redundant system tab, we decided to make it easier for users to receive help and provide feedback directly via the desktop client interface. Users can also include client log files directly in their support messages, which will help the support team quickly debug any related issues.
Additional integrations include the ability to toggle IPv6 addresses on and off directly via the account tab instead of going to the website interface. Note, however, that just like before you'll need to reconnect in order to be assigned an IPv6 address after switching it on.
We've also added a feedback loop which randomly asks users to rate their experience with a simple 'thumbs up' or 'thumbs down'. This allows us to proactively address any potential server problems and helps us collect overall feedback, thus showing us where to direct our development efforts in the future.
Going forward...
This is perhaps one of the most radical changes in the desktop client so far, but we assure you, there is more to come, both in terms of functionality and overall layout. The development of the browser extension is progressing quickly, and the goal is to release it during the summer of 2017.
We still have a lot of plans to enhance the functionality of the desktop client. In addition to the browser extension, we are planning an extensive overhaul of the statistics page to display more dynamic and relevant information regarding your connection.
Release notes:
- Updated OpenVPN to version 2.4.3
- Updated DNScrypt version to 1.9.5 solving issue on older OS X versions
- Fixed bug with settings sometimes not being saved after restarting application
- Fixed bug with killswitch always being activated when it was turned off in settings (OSX)
- Fixed bug with firewall rules from getting stuck on disconnect (Ubuntu)
- Fixed bug with cancelling connection attempt after killswitch activation
- Improved parsing of assigned IP addresses
- Improved readability of desktop client logs
- Improved term and conditions formatting in desktop client installer
- Added OVPN logo to installer window (Ubuntu & OS X)
- Standard encryption is now AES-256-GCM
- Resolved issues with activating IPv6 via interface
What do you think of the new look? Let us know at support@ovpn.com (or contact us directly via the client interface)