OpenVPN Connect not opening

Official client software for OpenVPN Access Server and OpenVPN Cloud.
yv1993
OpenVpn Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2021 10:32 am

OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by yv1993 » Tue Oct 26, 2021 10:35 am

Hi everyone,

I tried a bit around with the cmd line options.
I can't launch it anymore now.

Even after uninstall and restart it just doesn't open anymore.
No Process is running nothing

ovpn.log is empty and agent.log says:
Tue Oct 26 12:26:21 2021 OpenVPN Agent 0.1.0 [OpenSSL]
Tue Oct 26 12:26:21 2021 HTTP Listen: http-listen \\.\pipe\agent_ovpnconnect NamedPipe 4 !ssl
Tue Oct 26 12:26:21 2021 HTTP Listen: http-listen \\.\pipe\agent_ovpnconnect NamedPipe 4 !ssl
Tue Oct 26 12:26:21 2021 HTTP Listen: http-listen \\.\pipe\agent_ovpnconnect NamedPipe 4 !ssl
Tue Oct 26 12:26:21 2021 HTTP Listen: http-listen \\.\pipe\agent_ovpnconnect NamedPipe 4 !ssl

I installed openvpn-connect-3.3.2.2475_signed.msi

Anyone any idea?

Thank you and best regards

theflakes
OpenVpn Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Feb 11, 2020 1:06 pm

Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by theflakes » Wed Nov 03, 2021 2:49 pm

I am seeing the same issue on Windows 11 right now. I've run through all the manual troubleshooting I can find. Uninstall / reinstall, remove and readd TAP driver, reset Winsock, ...

Both services are running ok and I can't find any relevant logs pointing to an error as yet.

theflakes
OpenVpn Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Feb 11, 2020 1:06 pm

Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by theflakes » Wed Nov 03, 2021 3:15 pm

Switching to the older GUi client works.

theflakes
OpenVpn Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Feb 11, 2020 1:06 pm

Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by theflakes » Wed Nov 03, 2021 7:39 pm

This fixed it for me from OVPN support: You might need to clean Temp folder if client doesn't start.
Win+R > %Temp% > Ctrl+A > Shift + Delete > Enter

thetick33
OpenVpn Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2021 1:31 am

Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by thetick33 » Sat Nov 06, 2021 1:48 am

yv1993 wrote:
Tue Oct 26, 2021 10:35 am
Hi everyone,

I tried a bit around with the cmd line options.
I can't launch it anymore now.

Even after uninstall and restart it just doesn't open anymore.
No Process is running nothing

ovpn.log is empty and agent.log says:
Tue Oct 26 12:26:21 2021 OpenVPN Agent 0.1.0 [OpenSSL]
Tue Oct 26 12:26:21 2021 HTTP Listen: http-listen \\.\pipe\agent_ovpnconnect NamedPipe 4 !ssl
Tue Oct 26 12:26:21 2021 HTTP Listen: http-listen \\.\pipe\agent_ovpnconnect NamedPipe 4 !ssl
Tue Oct 26 12:26:21 2021 HTTP Listen: http-listen \\.\pipe\agent_ovpnconnect NamedPipe 4 !ssl
Tue Oct 26 12:26:21 2021 HTTP Listen: http-listen \\.\pipe\agent_ovpnconnect NamedPipe 4 !ssl

I installed openvpn-connect-3.3.2.2475_signed.msi

Anyone any idea?

Thank you and best regards

exact same problem ive done everything netsh config ip install delete everything reinstall etc...startup client crashes within a minute that i open it....goes nowhere...downloaded proton vpn up instantly have removed taps etc...every suggestion i can find except below but this is a BRAND new set up so shoudnt have temp issues at all . so did check the temp files only files notepad is for proton vpn just started..have probably 60 folders empty 100% on msi for openvpn from past usage....also all folders probably 20 openinstaller openvpn is each empty....any suggestions is appreciated im only user on VPN i only need to work for me period.....need a good vpn and like that its open etc...

lopr
OpenVpn Newbie
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2021 2:01 pm

Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by lopr » Mon Nov 08, 2021 2:15 pm

same happened to me..
I either cannot open it at all or just with setting compatability mode to "vista sp2"
however it crashes constantly is is not really usable. both 3.3.1 and 3.3.2 are not working (the problem started with upgrading from 3.3.1 to 3.3.2)
however 3.2.3 is still working.

I will try cleaning the temp folder now.
edit: yeah cleaning the temp folder out did the trick. there was a lock file from openvpn connect that probably shutdown the startup process entirely

cdysthe
OpenVpn Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2021 4:43 pm

Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by cdysthe » Fri Nov 12, 2021 4:53 pm

theflakes wrote:
Wed Nov 03, 2021 7:39 pm
This fixed it for me from OVPN support: You might need to clean Temp folder if client doesn't start.
Win+R > %Temp% > Ctrl+A > Shift + Delete > Enter
I had the same problem. I tried "everything", uninstall, clean out all entries in the registry and reboot. Safe mode. No go. When I deleted everything in Temp I can open and set up the client up again. It's a bug and need to be addressed.

rchak
OpenVpn Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2021 11:28 pm

Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by rchak » Mon Nov 22, 2021 11:31 pm

One of my users on Win10 Enterprise had the same problem and clearing the Temp folder has fixed the issue for him. Thanks for posting the solution here.

ci7alex1
OpenVpn Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2021 4:07 pm

Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by ci7alex1 » Thu Dec 02, 2021 4:10 pm

hi all,
Unfortunately, in my case OpenVPN Connect.exe isn't starting. It was working only recently. I've installed the fresh version today. When clicked, nothing comes up. I can observe it in the Task Manager on Windows 10 how it momentarily appears in the apps and disappears again.
What is more interesting, it seems to work in another account on this same PC and GUI appears. I've cleared the Temp folder. No luck.

ANything else I could try? Reinstalling and manually obtaining --list-profiles or --version doesn't work either.
Thanks!

Elerphore
OpenVpn Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2022 7:51 am

Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by Elerphore » Fri Jan 07, 2022 7:51 am

cdysthe wrote:
Fri Nov 12, 2021 4:53 pm
theflakes wrote:
Wed Nov 03, 2021 7:39 pm
This fixed it for me from OVPN support: You might need to clean Temp folder if client doesn't start.
Win+R > %Temp% > Ctrl+A > Shift + Delete > Enter
I had the same problem. I tried "everything", uninstall, clean out all entries in the registry and reboot. Safe mode. No go. When I deleted everything in Temp I can open and set up the client up again. It's a bug and need to be addressed.
It did actually worked out for me, thanks!

pace_car
OpenVpn Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2022 7:39 am

Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by pace_car » Mon Jan 24, 2022 7:41 am

theflakes wrote:
Wed Nov 03, 2021 7:39 pm
This fixed it for me from OVPN support: You might need to clean Temp folder if client doesn't start.
Win+R > %Temp% > Ctrl+A > Shift + Delete > Enter
thanks, i have found a lock file in that folder...after removing that file , i was able to launch the client

many thanks!

mikehoopes
OpenVpn Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon May 16, 2022 3:07 pm

Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by mikehoopes » Mon May 16, 2022 3:10 pm

theflakes wrote:
Wed Nov 03, 2021 7:39 pm
This fixed it for me from OVPN support: You might need to clean Temp folder if client doesn't start.
Win+R > %Temp% > Ctrl+A > Shift + Delete > Enter
I encountered this issue after a Windows 11 update. I'm on Version 10.0.22616 Build 22616. Deleting files in the %Temp% folder worked for me.

ateebwaqar
OpenVpn Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Jul 16, 2022 9:36 am

Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by ateebwaqar » Sat Jul 16, 2022 9:36 am

This fixed it for me from OVPN support: You might need to clean Temp folder if client doesn't start.
Win+R > %Temp% > Ctrl+A > Shift + Delete > Enter

nerdjuice
OpenVpn Newbie
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2022 11:18 pm

Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by nerdjuice » Sun Jul 24, 2022 11:20 pm

Has this bug been addressed yet?

It seems most people have had success clearing their %temp% folder but that hasn't solved the problem for me. To clarify I deleted all files and folders in c:\windows\temp and C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\Temp

I even deleted the files in Safe Mode so there weren't any other locks.

Still no go.

Yes i am on Windows 11

kuamojes
OpenVpn Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2022 4:07 am

Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by kuamojes » Mon Jul 25, 2022 4:08 am

Agree, clearing the temp file, works for me in windows 11 and windows 10. Thank you,

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openvpn_inc
OpenVPN Inc.
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Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2021 10:41 am

Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by openvpn_inc » Mon Jul 25, 2022 7:20 pm

nerdjuice wrote:
Sun Jul 24, 2022 11:20 pm
Has this bug been addressed yet?
Hi nerd,

The issue of an orphaned lockfile isn't necessarily a bug. The purpose of a lockfile is to ensure that more than one instance of the software cannot run at the same time. Ignoring an existing lockfile is not a fix; that would be a bug in itself.

Granted, there could be ways to check and determine that a lockfile is not valid; that it was associated with an instance which has gone away without cleaning up after itself, but in any case that could not be your issue. ...
nerdjuice wrote:
Sun Jul 24, 2022 11:20 pm

It seems most people have had success clearing their %temp% folder but that hasn't solved the problem for me. To clarify I deleted all files and folders in c:\windows\temp and C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\Temp

I even deleted the files in Safe Mode so there weren't any other locks.
... Your issue, obviously, is something else.
nerdjuice wrote:
Sun Jul 24, 2022 11:20 pm
Still no go.

Yes i am on Windows 11
One thing that works sometimes, to try to get information about a process not starting in a GUI, is to try starting it at a command line. Start a PowerShell and run (in the proper path of course) this command:

Code: Select all

OpenVPNConnect.exe
Perhaps you will see an error message the GUI has been hiding from you. Maybe PowerShell has a cmdlet for application debugging?

good luck, rob0
Image OpenVPN Inc.
Answers provided by OpenVPN Inc. staff members here are provided on a voluntary best-effort basis, and no rights can be claimed on the basis of answers posted in this public forum. If you wish to get official support from OpenVPN Inc. please use the official support ticket system: https://openvpn.net/support

nerdjuice
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Posts: 2
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Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by nerdjuice » Sat Aug 06, 2022 4:12 am

In case anyone with my very specific scenario lands here. Aronis Backup comes with a Cyber Security/AV Protection. I determined that by disabling this OpenVPN worked. However Whitelisting every openVPN Executable and every folder did NOT work. Only disabling protection all together. Also there is nothing in Acronis logs to indicate it blocked anything. I have opened a ticket with their support but I expect it will never reach anyone of importance.

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openvpn_inc
OpenVPN Inc.
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Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by openvpn_inc » Sat Aug 06, 2022 11:48 am

Thank you nerd,

In a broader sense it's quite often the case that AV and other "security" software will interfere with things. And not just OpenVPN. Please let us know if you get some information from their Support desk.

(Too bad so few companies are like OpenVPN, with real, technically competent people answering every support query. You don't even have to say Shibboleet!)

regards, rob0
Image OpenVPN Inc.
Answers provided by OpenVPN Inc. staff members here are provided on a voluntary best-effort basis, and no rights can be claimed on the basis of answers posted in this public forum. If you wish to get official support from OpenVPN Inc. please use the official support ticket system: https://openvpn.net/support

andrevianabcl
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Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:20 am

Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by andrevianabcl » Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:20 am

theflakes wrote:
Wed Nov 03, 2021 7:39 pm
This fixed it for me from OVPN support: You might need to clean Temp folder if client doesn't start.
Win+R > %Temp% > Ctrl+A > Shift + Delete > Enter
Works, thanks

GreenArrow
OpenVpn Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Apr 26, 2023 11:58 pm

Re: OpenVPN Connect not opening

Post by GreenArrow » Thu Apr 27, 2023 12:02 am

theflakes wrote:
Wed Nov 03, 2021 7:39 pm
This fixed it for me from OVPN support: You might need to clean Temp folder if client doesn't start.
Win+R > %Temp% > Ctrl+A > Shift + Delete > Enter
So this is almost mid-2023 and I could not get the latest version of OpenVPN Connect to even open... like the whole app wouldn't work at all... I tried updating my laptop and that opened Pandora's box... i see this solution, try it, and wth, the app works... how has this been over two years and not been fixed...

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