Setup
This Guide assumes you are setting up macOS VPN Client configurations for the first time. Steps may vary slightly.
Requirements
- 🔓 Local System Admin Access
- Internet Connection (Cellular, Wi-Fi, or Wired)
- Server Address ( FQDN or Server IP )
- Account Name ( Email , Username , or Directory Username )
- Password (Unique to your Account )
- Shared Secret (Unique to VPN Server )
STEP 1
Click on Apple (), then select System Preferences …

STEP 2
Click on Network

STEP 3
Click Add ( + )

Select Interface VPN , then VPN Type of L2TP over IPSec , then Click Create

STEP 4
Click Configuration field and Add Configuration…

Name the VPN configuration appropriately (i.e. Office VPN , NY Office, etc.)

STEP 5
Enter Server Address ( FQDN or Server IP ) and Account Name ( Email , Username , or Directory Username ), then Click Authentication Settings…

Enter Password (Unique to your Account ) and Shared Secret (Unique to VPN Server ), then Click OK

Click Apply

STEP 6
Click Connect to test the connection, a successful connection should look as follows

Change Credentials
This Guide assumes you have already configured your VPN Client , and need to update credentials.
Requirements
- Performed Setup
- 🔓 Local System Admin Access
- Internet Connection (Cellular, Wi-Fi, or Wired)
- Password (Unique to your Account )
- Shared Secret (Unique to VPN Server )
STEP 1
Click on Apple (), then select System Preferences …

STEP 2
Click on Network

STEP 3
Select your VPN Interface (i.e VPN (L2TP) ), then Select the Configuration you want to Update Credentials on (i.e. Office VPN , NY Office, etc.) from the Configuration field, and the Click Authentication Settings…

Update Password (Unique to your Account ) and Shared Secret (Unique to VPN Server ), then Click OK

Click Apply

STEP 4
Click Connect to test the connection, a successful connection should look as follows

Send all traffic
This Guide assumes you have already set up your Mac VPN Client configurations. Steps may vary slightly.
Requirements
- Performed Setup
- 🔓 Local System Admin Access
- Internet Connection (Cellular, Wi-Fi, or Wired)
STEP 1
Click on Apple (), then select System Preferences …

STEP 2
Click on Network

STEP 3
Select VPN (L2TP), then Click Advanced…

Check Send all traffic over VPN connection, then Click OK

Click Apply

STEP 4
Click Connect to test the connection, a successful connection should look as follows

Send only VPN traffic
This Guide assumes you have already set up your Mac VPN Client configurations. Steps may vary slightly.
Requirements
- Performed Setup
- 🔓 Local System Admin Access
- Internet Connection (Cellular, Wi-Fi, or Wired)
STEP 1
Click on Apple (), then select System Preferences …

STEP 2
Click on Network

STEP 3
Select VPN (L2TP), then Click Advanced…

Uncheck Send all traffic over VPN connection, then Click OK

Click Apply

STEP 4
Click Connect to test the connection, a successful connection should look as follows

Add specific subnet(s)
Requirements
- Performed Setup and Send only VPN traffic
- 🔓 Local System Admin Access
- Internet Connection (Cellular, Wi-Fi, or Wired)
Open Terminal and edit /etc/ppp/ip-up
sudo nano /etc/ppp/ip-up
Add subnet(s) to interface script and Save
#!/bin/sh
/sbin/route add <subnet(s)> -interface $1
Allow everyone to read and execute /etc/ppp/ip-up
sudo chmod 0755 /etc/ppp/ip-up
Compatibility
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
Mac OS X 10.7 Lion
OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion
OS X 10.9 Mavericks
OS X 10.10 Yosemite
OS X 10.11 El Capitan
macOS 10.12 Sierra
macOS 10.13 High Sierra
macOS 10.14 Mojave
macOS 10.15 Catalina
macOS 11.0 Big Sur